Italy's speedsters set to cut loose

With a victory over Russia in their next match paramount to Italy's hopes of a first Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearance, the Azzurri backline are hoping to emerge from the shadow of their much-vaunted forward pack.

In their opening match with Australia, much of the Italians' focus was on keeping the defence tight. It was a plan that worked until half-time when they went in level at 6-6. The effort took its toll after the restart, though, as the Wallabies found gaps that were not there in the first period to run in four tries.

Now Italy's players are well aware they need to take the initiative if they are to progress from Pool C.

"In the first match we had a game plan and we stuck to it," scrum half Pablo Canavosio said.

"Now we hope to get more chances to attack in this match.

"But we must not forget that our strength is in the forwards and that we need them to help us win. Everyone has to contribute in attack and defence, whether they are a forward or a back."

The Italians did create a few chances to score tries against Australia but failed to convert them.

Full back Andrea Masi came close early on when his opposite number Kurtley Beale just beat him to the ball in the Australia in-goal area.

Fluffed a kick

In the second half, Sergio Parisse fluffed a kick ahead after intercepting and racing away from the halfway line. Later the number 8's lack of control at the back of a scrum meant another five points went begging.

"It seemed like all we did was defend but if you look back at the match we went close three times," said Italy's flying wing Giulio Toniolatti.

"There was the pushover from the scrum at the end, from the grubber kick in the first half that Masi missed by only a few centimetres and the interception.

"Of course they (Australia) scored four tries from six or seven chances, whereas we took none from three of four chances. It is always difficult to attack against Australia and the conditions weren't ideal.

"We need the forwards to work hard to give us backs the chance to show what we can do."

In 2006 Canavosio scored one of the most memorable tries in Italian rugby history. In the Six Nations match against Wales in Cardiff he raced away from inside his own half to help the Azzurri to an 18-18 draw that gave them their first ever away point in the championship.

Now they aim to match the clinical finishing of the Australians against Russia.

"We had a couple of chances to score against one of the top teams in the world," said Canavosio.

"We were able to create them but weren't able to take them. We know we have to take chances when we get them and not let them slip by."