Revenge not on Azzurri agenda

Nick Mallett: Looking forward not back

Italy coach Nick Mallett insists his side will not be looking for revenge when they play Scotland in the final game of the Six Nations in Rome on Saturday.

Scotland beat Italy 18-16 back in September to reach the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup, before Mallett took charge in October.

However, Azzurri boss Mallett claims he is only interested in winning what he foresees being a tough final game of the tournament.

"I wasn't Italy coach back then, so there's no revenge to be taken," he said of Italy's last defeat to the Scots.

"I'm only thinking about this game. Scotland impressed me on Saturday against England, they're incredibly organised and for us, as always, it'll be a tough match.

"We want to win, and to win playing well as a group. We've shown in the first four games of the tournament that we can do good things both with the scrum as well as the three-quarters and that's why I say we want to win and want to do so with a great contribution from every man on the pitch."

Mallett has made no changes for the game in Rome's Stadio Flaminio.

Despite seeing his team lose 25-13 to France in Paris at the weekend, Mallett has decided to give continuity to his side.

Calvisano's Alessandro Zanni will once again replace Mauro Bergamasco, who is unavailable through suspension.

The Azzurri go into the last encounter of this tournament looking for their first triumph in 2008 after four consecutive slips, but Mallett believes the home advantage could stand them in good stead.

He said: "Italian fans are very passionate, and in the game against England they showed a splendid attitude toward our squad.

"They inspired us to give our best and were grateful to us despite the defeat.

"It'll be great to play Scotland in a Flaminio packed out with our supporters again."

Since joining the championship back in 2000, Italy have beaten Scotland three, including last year's 37-17 triumph at Murrayfield that marked their first win on the road.