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Prop Salvatore Perugini has denied there is a split in the Italy squad ahead of Saturday's clash with Wales.

The Azzurri are winless, lie bottom of the Six Nations table and have conceded more than 100 points in three games.

Reports in the Italian press allege a group of players have written a letter to Italian bosses questioning coach Nick Mallett's leadership.

"It's a complete lie. None of us have written anything against Mallett," said Perugini.

"The group is united, compact and aware of our own limits."

The Azzurri go into this weekend's game at Rome's Stadio Flaminio in desperate need of a win if they are to avoid the wooden spoon.

Perugini is aware of the task his team face against the reigning champions and is under no illusion as to how difficult it will be to defeat them.

"We are inferior to Wales," said Perugini. "The foreign press are right about that and we should not be offended by it.

"The problem is that the Italian press lacks reality and objectivity.

"France, Wales and England can do without top players without losing quality and intensity in play.

"People write that we can win here and there and that creates false expectations.

"What we need to do is to fly low and if in doing that we manage to play the right game and if others underestimate us, then winning is not impossible."

Wales' hopes of back-to-back Grand Slam titles were ended with a 21-16 defeat in France a fortnight ago and coach Warren Gatland has responded by making 12 changes for this weekend's game.

That reshuffle is, however, of little consolation for the Azzurri.

"What can I say?" said Perugini. "They have a right to do that but then again, they will have to face our willingness on the pitch."

Can't see the    having any problems here

 :Jimmie O':  

f**king hell


Italy 12-10 Wales after 61 mins.

     

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Italy (9) 15
Pens: Marcato (5)

Wales (7) 20
Tries: S Williams, Shanklin Cons: Hook (2) Pens: Hook (2)

A 72nd-minute try from replacement Tom Shanklin kept alive Wales' hopes of defending their Six Nations title.

Gavin Henson set up Shane Williams for a dazzling first-half try, but Italy's fired-up pack rocked Wales and Andrea Marcato's boot gave them a 12-7 lead.

Wales sent on their bench and James Hook's boot gave them a 13-12 edge.

Shanklin conceded a penalty, Marcato's fifth kick opening up a potential upset at the Stadio Flaminio, but a fine Hook break gave the centre the crucial try.

Italy seemed to have been stoked by rumours of splits within their camp in the build-up, and their powerful forwards - led superbly by man-of-the-match Sergio Parisse - ripped into Wales from the outset.

When the visitors' new front row of John Yapp, Huw Bennett and Rhys Thomas was blasted off a scrum Azzurri full-back Marcato slotted the resultant penalty.

The confidence of the home side was shown as they booted another kickable penalty to touch, but a fumble from the line-out drive eased the pressure on a Wales side that was looking disjointed with nine changes in personnel.

Hook boosted the hordes of visiting fans enjoying the Roman sunshine with a delightful midfield step and break, but the movement broke down when he spilled the ball in the off-load.

 
Shane Williams steps inside Sergio Parisse for Wales' first-half try
The fly-half - starting ahead of Stephen Jones for the first time this season - was struggling to control territory and possession, and he blew a simple penalty at goal.

Wales finally began to get their phase play together, dragging the Italian defence from right to left.

The Azzurri cracked, conceding a penalty under the shadow of the posts, but Wales continued to play the advantage and won the reward, a try created by the off-the-ball running of Henson.

The centre, making his first Wales start for a year, looped off new captain Alun Wyn Jones' pass, drew his man, and fed winger Williams.

Wales' record try scorer made no mistake with the simple finish, ignoring an overlap to step inside the covering Parisse and score near the posts.

Hook converted, but Italy fired straight back with another powerful scrum that led to Marcato's second penalty.

Another Marcato kick restored the Azzurri lead, skipper Jones conceding the penalty with an over-eager attempt to steal ball at the ruck.

The home side came agonisingly close to adding a try before the break as Luke McLean's cross-kick into the 22 was allowed to bounce between Lee Byrne and Mark Jones.

The ball squirmed free over the line when the Welsh pair attempted to gather under pressure from Giulio Rubini.

A scrabbling Jones was just able to minor the ball for a scrum five, where Yapp was warned for dropping the set piece.

The re-set scrum creaked but held out, before Marcato missed a drop-goal attempt, the final move of the half.

Wales' nervousness increased as Italy controlled the start of the second period, and when Williams was isolated in a tackle Marcato built the lead with a long-range 56th-minute penalty.

Wales coach Warren Gatland immediately sent on experienced replacements from the bench, Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and regular captain Ryan Jones making their entry.

Hook landed an excellent long-range penalty to cut the deficit to 12-10 as Wales immediately found a new tempo to their game.

A sweeping attack stretched the Azzurri defence and they conceded a penalty at the ruck, Hook holding his nerve to boot Wales ahead from the sideline.

Shanklin came on for the injured Byrne, and immediately conceded a penalty trying to steal the ball in the tackle, Marcato's fifth kick making it 15-13.

But the centre soon made amends in style, Hook dummying inside before breaking outside, his pass drawing in the cover defence to allow Shanklin to power home.

Hook's excellent conversion from the sidelines left Italy needing a try.

Late replacement Stephen Jones - seeking to close a pre-match 23-point deficit to title rivals Ireland - tried a long-range kick at goal in injury time, allowing the Azzurri one last attempt at a counter attack, but their blunt attacking edge was easily nullified.

Ireland's 22-15 win over Scotland means Wales must beat Declan Kidney's Grand Slam-chasing side by more than 13 points to have a chance of the Championship when they meet at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium next Saturday.

France will also be in the title mix if they beat England at Twickenham this Sunday.

 :Jimmie O':