Italy winger Massimo Mascioletti will take over as national team coach with immediate effect, the Italian Rugby Federation said on Wednesday. Mascioletti was named on Sunday as successor to Frenchman Georges Coste but had been expected to take charge only after the World Cup in Britain in October. However, the federation said Coste had since asked to be replaced immediately because of Italy’s dismal June tour of South Africa, where they were thrashed 74-3 and 101-0 by the Springboks. Mascioletti, who played at the 1987 World Cup, is one of the most experienced figures in Italian rugby and has worked as Coste’s assistant in recent seasons.