Italy launch their Six Nations campaign on Saturday as one of three teams under a new coach, the Azzurri having captured the services of former Springboks head Nick Mallett.

Last season Italy produced their finest Six Nations return when they won twice and finished fourth in the table, ahead of both Wales and Scotland.

This year, they will try to emulate that feat and the Italian Rugby Federation have given their players the best possible chance by hiring the outstanding South African coach Nick Mallett (pictured).

Mallett's enthusiasm for the job was clear at last week's tournament launch in London, and his CV shows that he has always managed to get the very best from his teams - no matter the level of rugby.

With South Africa, he produced to a record-equalling run of 17 Tests undefeated. At under-performing Stade Francais, he secured consecutive French championship titles.

Lower down the grade, he achieved promotion with French club Bourgoin and came within a whisker of a Currie Cup semi-final while in charge of unfashionable Boland.

Articulate, multi-lingual and engaging, it is easy to see how he might coax an athlete to perform above themselves.

In this regard he is an ideal coach for Italian rugby.

Confidence is crucial to any rugby side and who better to impart this quality than someone who, as a student cricketer at Oxford University, chose to take on England great Ian Botham and hit him for three sixes in one over.

Just for the record, Mallett was also a rugby blue at Oxford, played number eight for Wetern Province and won two caps for South Africa.

Mallett's goal is to try and convince the Italian squad that they have what it takes to beat their Six Nations rivals on a regular basis.

"It would be fantastic to achieve the same as last year, it will be very tough but every single game is one we will attempt to win," Mallett explained.

"The players believe they can be competitive in every game and beat any of the sides they play against. Whether it is England at home or France away they are going to give it a full crack."

One of Mallett's first acts was to appoint a new skipper in Sergio Parisse, the athletic Stade Francais number eight replacing Marco Bortolami, the Gloucester lock, who will miss the first two games through injury.

"Sergio is a certainty in terms of selection and also plays at number eight, which I think is an excellent position from which to captain the team," continued the South African.

"But what is also great about Sergio is that he has never played rugby at any level where he hasn't felt he's been as good as anyone else.

"As a coach I've always felt my teams can beat anyone and if the captain feels the same way then there's no reason why the rest of the team won't."

Mallett explained there are three areas he would be focusing on in the near future to try and boost Italy's Six Nations chances: developing a decent half-back pairing, embracing more of an all-round game and increasing his pool of players.

After a disappointing World Cup, in which Italy lost their winner-takes-all group decider with Scotland, Mallett's admits he must look to build on the Azzurri's traditional strength up front.

"I can assure you that (England prop) Andrew Sheridan would not have pushed Martin Castrogiovanni around like he did the Australian front row during the World Cup," Mallett added.

"The Italy pack is a match for any in the world, but we must make sure that as a team we can compete for a full 80 minutes.

"Too many times Italy have been in contention or leading after an hour, but then failed to win the game.

"In the past Italy may have had a slight inferiority complex as they are the newest addition to the Six Nations.

"They no longer have that complex, but I hope to make them psychologically tougher so they can see out these tight games."

Italy open their campaign against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and have England at home eight days later.

Away trips to Wales and France follow before they complete their championship against Scotland at the Stadio Flaminio.

Mallett is under no illusion how difficult Italy's task is over the next couple of months in what is likely to be the most unpredictable championship for years.

But if anyone can help the Azzurri take the next step up in international rugby it is the South African.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport