Italians struggle to plug the gaps

Italy coach Brad Johnstone admitted his options were limited as he turned his mind to their next Six Nations match against England.

Having lost their opener to Ireland New Zealander Johnstone has to work out how to plug several gaping holes in his inexperienced side.

Fly-half Diego Dominguez should be fit for the Twickenham match but scrum-half Alessandro Troncon is almost certain to be suspended after the sending-off for his punch on Peter Stringer.

Winger Corrado Pilat, also Dominguez's kicking deputy, is also struggling with an ankle injury sustained in scoring the first try of the match.

Pilat had been recalled at the last minute to cover Dominguez as goalkicker.

Asked if Dominguez would play against England, Johnstone put his hands together in a praying posture and looked skywards.

"I think Diego will be in a position to play on the 17th - we expect he will be fit to take the field against England," he said. "As far as Pilat is concerned we are awaiting a medical bulletin.

"Obviously I can't speak for the judiciary about Troncon. But he got sent off and he's going to have to face the music."

The only positive note for Johnstone was another fine performance by his forwards. The scrum troubled New Zealand in November and on Saturday hooker Alessandro Moscardi had the edge in his duel with Keith Wood, something Wood admitted himself.

The Kiwi was even moved to speak pigeon Italian, describing his scrum as "forte" and his forwards as "excellente".