Italy to attack Wallabies shaky scrum

Italy coach Jaques Brunel has dismissed Wallabies complaints about refereeing treatment of their struggling scrum as the Azzurri aim to target the tourists’ shaky set-piece in Turin.

Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has fired off a lengthy submission to the International Rugby Board after believing his scrum was the unfair victim of a poor history in last weekend’s 20-13 loss to England.

McKenzie says he was baffled by a string of calls and inconsistencies by Irish referee George Clancy who whistled seven scrum penalties to England and none to the Wallabies.

But Brunel felt the complaints, ahead of a crucial match for McKenzie, were par for the course as match officials can rarely adjudicate get the complex set-piece correctly.

“No teams are happy with the way the scrum is refereed,” the Frenchman said ahead of Sunday morning’s (AEDT) clash.

Australia’s pack has waned under the new soft-engagement scrum laws and Italy are not making any secret of the fact they will “attack” the tourists’ set piece.

The Azzurri’s strength is their scrum and a demolition job up front would put them well on track for a major upset and their maiden Test win over Australia following 15 losses.

“I hope so,” Brunel said through an interpreter. “While definitely the Australian scrum isn’t weak, maybe it’s not their strongest (area).”

McKenzie has continued to keep faith in his front-row of James Slipper, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander, and also stuck by bulky locks Sitaleki Timani and James Horwill to keep size and weight in the scrum.

While there’s a feeling Italy, who scored Six Nations upsets over France and Ireland at home this year, may be facing Australia at the right time, the Wallabies could feel fortunate about the timing themselves as Italy will sport a new-look front-row.

The Azzurri have stalwart hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini on the bench due to a shoulder injury, inspirational prop Martin Castrogiovanni is battling a virus and veteran loosehead Andrea Lo Cicero has just retired.

Lo Cicero’s replacement, Michele Rizzo, admitted he had a real opportunity to hurt the Wallabies scrum and lay the platform for a special victory at Stadio Olympico.

“If there is one point where we can put pressure on Australia then it I’m sure it is up front,” he said.

“If you can dominate at the scrum you can dominate, much better, the game. So it’s very important for us to do very, very well in the scrum.

“We have to try and attack them with every scrum.”

Rizzo said they would not underestimate Australia’s pack but they were ready to stop them from illegally wheeling the scrum.

“They are very good to do the side step and not keep the pressure straight,” the 31-year-old prop said. “So we have to work all together and stay low and straight.”

Townsville-born Luke McLean will start at fullback in his 50th Test for Italy while former Scottish under-20 flyhalf Tommy Allan is set to make his debut off the bench.