Azzurri are 'close to big win'

ITALY v AUSTRALIA: ITALY HOPE to have an edge up front in Padua today, according to hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini.

"I'm hoping we are superior in the forwards. We showed in the Six Nations and on tour against South Africa and Argentina in June that we have an excellent pack," Ghiraldini said. "I think we are ready in the scrum."

The Azzurri bullied the Wallabies' scrum two years ago in Rome in their last meeting, when the twice world champions scraped an 25-18 victory with the help of a late Stirling Mortlock try.

"We did really well in terms of the physical impact in the scrum. It was an extra weapon for us," said the 23-year-old Calvisano player.

Italy will be encouraged Australia coach Robbie Deans has not picked his strongest side, making eight changes to the starting line-up who lost 19-14 to New Zealand in Hong Kong last weekend.

Four of the changes are in the pack, including the selection of loosehead prop Ben Alexander, who gets his first start for the Wallabies, while several top players are saved for next week's clash with England at Twickenham.

Ghiraldini said Italy's performances over the last 12 months under new coach Nick Mallett give them grounds to believe they can cause a major upset soon. These include a 23-20 win over Scotland and a 23-19 defeat to England in the Six Nations, and a 13-12 victory in Argentina in June, when an injury-hit side also lost 26-0 to South Africa in Cape Town.

"We are close to a big win," said the hooker. "We have to keep giving our all and concentrate on our game, instead of looking at how others play, and exploit our qualities. In this way I think we can go beyond just winning the odd Six Nations match."

ITALY: Masi; Robertson, Canale, Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco; Marcato, Canavosio; Perugini, Ghiraldini, Nieto, Del Fava, Bortolami, Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse (capt). Replacements: Ongaro, Aguero, Reato, Zanni, Toniolatti, Orquera, Pratichetti.

AUSTRALIA: Ashley-Cooper; Turner, Mortlock (capt), Tahu, Ioane; Barnes, Burgess; Alexander, Moore, Dunning, Chisholm, McMeniman, Mumm, Waugh, Brown. Replacements: Polota-Nau, Kepu, Palu, Pocock, Giteau, Cooper, O'Connor.