Australian speedster Mack Hansen says his Irish team may need to “rough up” Ange Capuozzo to help prevent Italy’s “super-quick whippets” derailing their quest for grand slam glory.
Andy Farrell’s men go into Saturday’s tricky trip to Rome sitting in pole position for the Six Nations title on the back of bonus-point wins over Wales and France.
The resurgent Azzurri snapped a 36-match losing streak in the championship by defeating the Welsh in 2022 and backed up that shock result with a historic success over Australia.
Hansen, the Australian winger who qualifies for Ireland through his Cork-born mother, is wary of “genuine superstars” in the opposition ranks.
And the man from Canberra feels Toulouse full-back Capuozzo, who created his country’s winning score in Cardiff before claiming two tries against the Wallabies in the autumn, requires special attention.
“He’s an eyes-up player so I think if we can get our hands on him and rough him up a bit that would help us,” he said of 23-year-old Capuozzo.
“He’s not the world’s biggest player but he’s so quick that we’re probably going to have hunt in threes to take care of him.
“But when it comes to it, we’re going to have to focus on every player in that backline as well – they’re all super-quick whippets.
“I’ve done a little bit of footage on him. He’ll be dangerous but we’re ready for him.”
Mack Hansen is tackled by Antoine Dupont. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty I
Capuozzo was also on the scoresheet as Italy continued their improvement by giving Six Nations champions France a major scare during a 29-24 defeat at the start of this year’s tournament.
Hansen feels the Azzurri, who lost 31-14 to England in round two, have never been stronger.
“Anyone would be kidding themselves if they said they’ve seen a better one,” the Connacht player said of Italy’s team. “They got a great win in Wales, and against Oz.
“They genuinely have some genuine superstars in their team now that are carrying it. They’re not just good, solid Italian players but they’re actually world-class players.”
Hansen is in line for his third successive start of the competition at Stadio Olimpico but is still searching for his first try. The 24-year-old looked certain to score in Ireland’s 32-19 round-two win over Les Bleus before somehow being hauled off the try-line and into touch by the brilliance of Antoine Dupont.
“It just showed his brute strength first of all but it also just shows how smart of a player he is,” Hansen said of France’s captain. “I’ve seen plenty of people in the same situation where they just try to tackle a player out and that’s kind of it.
“I’ve never seen anybody go directly for someone’s hips to lift them up so they can’t go forward. I don’t know what else I could have done. If I was in that situation again, maybe I’ll just dive or jump in the air or something like that, something a bit different but it was some play from him.”
Wales’ Six Nations match against England in Cardiff will go ahead after potential strike action from Welsh players over a contract dispute was averted.
Players had gathered at Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan to discuss a range of issues with Professional Rugby Board members, with many of them out of contract at their regional teams at the end of this season.
The threat of players taking Six Nations strike action occurred as a result of a new six-year financial agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union and its four regions not being confirmed while no playing budgets had been finalised.
But acting WRU chief executive Nigel Walker said: “I’m pleased to announce that after extensive conversations and discussions over the last week the Wales-England game will go ahead as scheduled.
England’s Ollie Lawrence. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“It’s important going forward that we continue the dialogue over the last week or so, but not under the circumstances we’ve had over the last week or so.
“Ken (captain Ken Owens) and I and some of the senior players will be meeting more regularly than perhaps we have in the past.”
Owens said: “We are obviously happy. There has been huge frustration over the last number of months that it got to this stage. We felt we had to make a stand, but the conversations that have taken place over the last 10 days or so have shown that some positive resolutions can be found. The players are satisfied, hence why the game is on on Saturday.
“It has been very tough, hugely frustrating. It has been a difficult period, but we have fronted up in training and prepared as we would for any Test match and we are looking forward to getting out there and going toe-to-toe with England.
“Of course, it has been a distraction with everything that has been going on, but I have got to commend the players’ professionalism in this. When we have crossed that white line at training, we’ve done our work as professional players. We are really ready for Saturday.”
Sione Tuipulotu has called on buoyant Scotland to treat this weekend’s showdown with France like a “grand final” as he prepares for another “biggest game of my career”.
The Scots head to Paris on top of the Six Nations table after starting with bonus-point wins away to England and at home to Wales.
Victory at Stade de France on Sunday would leave them in prime position to go for a first grand slam since the 1990 Five Nations, with back-to-back home games against Ireland and Italy to come in March.
Tuipulotu, the Victorian-born former Australia Under-20 player, explained that there is a blend of optimism and steely focus as Gregor Townsend’s side gear up for their high-stakes trip to the French capital.
“We haven’t started like this before so there is an extra buzz around that and everyone’s a little happier around camp,” said the Glasgow centre.
Sione Tuipulotu. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“But there’s also an intensity about the group now because we know what an opportunity we have.
“Right now, this is our grand final and that’s what we’ve got to treat it like. If we win this game we put ourselves in a good position.”
Tuipulotu, who qualifies for Scotland through his Scottish grandmother, only made his international debut 16 months ago and the 26-year-old has been humbled by the magnitude of matches he has been involved in during that time.
“I feel like for the last year I’ve been in this thing where every couple of months it’s the biggest game of my career,” he said.
“We had the All Blacks come to Murrayfield (in November) and for me growing up in Australia and with the All Blacks having that aura about them, I suppose that was the biggest game of my career at that point.
“Then you go into the first game of the Six Nations and you play England at Twickenham and you ask yourself, ‘is that the biggest game of my career?’
“I’d never played at Twickenham before this tournament and now I’m going to Paris and I’ve never played there either. It’s going to be a crazy experience for me.
“From where I was three years ago to where I am now, getting the opportunity to play in these big games, I am truly grateful.
“It’s a massive opportunity and I want to take it with both hands and represent the country well.”
Ireland five-eighth Johnny Sexton will miss the Six Nations leaders’ trip to Italy this weekend, with lock James Ryan named as captain for the game.
The loss of Sexton, who suffered a leg injury in the 32-19 win over France last time out, will likely open the door for fellow Leinster outside half Ross Byrne to make just his third start for Ireland and first in the Six Nations.
While the more experienced Munster No.10 Joey Carbery was recalled by coach Andy Farrell as cover earlier this week, Byrne has impressed off the bench in Ireland’s last three games.
Ryan’s choice as captain may also mean that Peter O’Mahony, who has led his country on 10 occasions, is set to be rested on Saturday with the likes of Jack Conan and Gavin Coombes vying for a first start of the campaign.
The loss of the brilliant 37-year-old Sexton is a big blow to the Irish, who have looked in commanding form with him at the helm, winning both games so far, highlighted by the statement victory over reigning champions France.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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