Kirwan seeks Italian style

Rugby Six Nations championship: Having ended speculation about his future as Italy coach with his side's victory over Scotland, the former All Black wing John Kirwan is relaxed and cheerful ahead of Saturday's trip to Dublin. In fact, he actually seems to be relishing his side's status as underdogs.

"The best thing about the word underdog, for me, is the 'dog' part," he says. "That's what we need to be on Saturday, we need to just not let up - moving forward, getting off the line, tackling - we just need to be totally committed, tenacious till the end."

Indeed, Kirwan is demanding his men serve up their best ever performance on Saturday.

The Azzurri coach was satisfied by Italy's 20-14 home victory over Scotland, but by no means sated. "I see Scotland as a starting point," he says. "The most important matches are the next two against Ireland and Wales . . . I expect these to be the best games Italy have ever played and if I don't get that, I'll be very disappointed."

When asked if he thinks Italy are expected to lose in Dublin, an upbeat Kirwan warns doubters to "expect the unexpected."

Kirwan stops short though, of predicting that Italy will earn their first ever away victory in the Six Nations at Lansdowne Road. "I'm not asking the team to win," he says, perhaps in recognition of the formidable challenge Ireland pose for his young outfit.

"But I am asking for a great performance. Total, utter commitment for 80 minutes of football."

Though not impressed by Ireland's opener against France, Kirwan believes his opponents have progressed to become the most in-form team in the tournament. "I think they've got a great balance, I think they're really using their forwards well, they've got a competitive lineout," the 39-year-old says. "They're using their big men well, they've got good ball carriers. I just think they're very complete."

Unsurprisingly, Kirwan picks Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll as one of the players he rates most. "He's a big man with good footwork, you can't beat it."

The Italy coach admits his side will have to improve on their last performance - even though it was a winning one - against the scalp-takers of World Champions England.

Top of his list of priorities is sharpening the Azzurri attack. Italy failed to cross the try-line against England and France.

When they finally did - against Scotland - it was with a hint of fortune. Video evidence suggests hooker Fabio Ongaro actually knocked on before grounding the ball. Kirwan is aware that Italy "have to play with a bit more flair if we're going to trouble Ireland."

Attack was also an issue at last autumn's World Cup, where Italy were better than expected but at times struggled to turn possession into chances. To remedy this problem Kirwan drafted in former Australian assistant coach Glen Ella to work with the backs before the start of the Six Nations. But Kirwan's men have yet to show the "risk-taking rugby" he wants to see.

Another area Kirwan may be anxious about is the lineout, recognising that the havoc Ireland wreaked there at Twickenham was key to their win over England. "You're probably looking at one of the best lineouts," he says. "They've got three very tall men, they've got three very good blocks - in defence and in attack - so I see the Irish line as probably the best (in the Six Nations)."

What's more, this phase of play has been a weakness for Italy in the recent past. Against France, they spent most of the match defending, largely because they couldn't secure any decent lineout possession.

So there is no doubt Kirwan's men still have much room for improvement.

But there can be no doubting either, the progress Italy have made since he took over from his compatriot Brad Johnstone in March 2002.

Italy's defence is much more solid now. Furthermore, Kirwan has upped fitness levels, stamped out indiscipline - which had often leaked costly penalties in the crucial opening phases of matches - and blooded youngsters. In fact, by the time of the World Cup Italy had the youngest squad on the international scene, with an average age of 24.

He has also managed to build confidence, shaking off the losing mentality acquired during a run of 14 straight Six Nations defeats under Johnstone.

Perhaps what his players have most warmed to though, is that unlike Johnstone, Kirwan has an Italian side to his character and his coaching. Despite scoring 34 tries in 63 Tests with the All Blacks between 1984-1994, Kirwan now considers himself "totally" Italian. He has an Italian passport and speaks the language fluently. He met his wife Fiorella, the mother of his three children, while playing for Benetton Treviso in the late 1980s.

"John has tried to come closer to our way of thinking (than Johnstone did)," said Italian captain Andrea De Rossi.

"Clearly he's bringing all his experience as an All Black to the job too, but he has managed to understand Italy's natural style of play, instead of trying to force a style of play on Italy."

This is something Kirwan feels has been one of his biggest contributions to the Italian national team so far. "I think it's really important that the Italians find their own style of football. And that's what we're trying to achieve here. I think it's important that Italians play like Italians, we've got to find the right balance. But I think we're getting there."