Italy hope Castrogiovanni revives try form

Italy's Martin Castrogiovanni is one of the few props around who can say he has scored a hat-trick of tries in a Test match, a feat he achieved against Japan in 2004.

To show it was no fluke, he was Italy's leading try scorer in the 2008 Six Nations with three, and has scored 10 in total for the Azzurri since making his Italy debut against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2002.

With Italy needing bonus-point wins against Russia and USA, Nick Mallett's side will need Castrogiovanni to be at his best when they are near the try line.

"I was younger and I had more hair. I was a little bit lucky that day," Castrogiovanni said.

"I was happy with it because it was something I had never done before, but I don't think I can do it again as I'm not as quick as I was."

Castrogiovanni is due to make his 80th appearance for Italy in the clash against Russia on Tuesday, though he will start on the bench and come on as cover for either Lorenzo Cittadini or Salvatore Perugini.

"I'm on the bench, which isn't the way I would have wanted it, but so be it," Castrogiovanni said.

Interested spectators

"It is not the end of the world (being on the bench). Everyone needs to play. When I get on, my job will be to help change the flow of the game."

Italy were interested spectators on Saturday evening as Ireland beat Australia 15-6 to take control of Pool C.

The result means the Azzurri still need to beat Ireland in their final pool match in Dunedin on 2 October, but will probably need to score four tries against both Russia and USA.

"I don't think it will change anything for us," Castrogiovanni said. "We have four games and now need to win three of them.

"You need to approach each team differently and the game plan (we had) for Australia will be different from that for Russia.

"Our defence has been really good and we will need to have a good mix between defence and attack."