With a solitary win over regular wooden-spoon rivals Scotland, Nick Mallett did not disappoint in his maiden Six Nations as Italy coach, but he did not surpass expectations either. Results-wise, the campaign is a step back from last season, when the Azzurri secured their best showing of two wins under his predecessor Pierre Berbizier.
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/ 19 September 2007
Italy recorded their second unconvincing win in as many World Cup group-C matches when they were made to work hard for a 31-5 victory against minnows Portugal at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday. It was hard to believe that Italy had thrashed Portugal 83-0 as recently as October.