Burton says Wales side set to crack

Thu, Mar 8, 2012, 1:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

Australian-born Italy five-eighth Kris Burton believes Wales have had things too easy in their three-game winning start to this season's Six Nations competition.

And the Treviso kicker says Italy need to become the first team to put the grand slam favourites under pressure.

Wales have recorded impressive victories in Ireland and at Twickenham.

They have just two games remaining, starting with the visit of Italy on Saturday followed by the probable crunch title decider against France in Cardiff.

Italy, for their part, have lost all three of their matches and are heading once again to a probable wooden spoon clash with Scotland in Rome.

But Burton still believes they can cause an upset in Wales.

"They're well balanced with a good mobile forward pack, good scrum and big backs," he said.

"They can vary their game, they can play close, they can play wide and vary it during the game depending on the situation.

"They're a good, well-rounded team and they look to have the tools to play against any team in the world.

"We've just got to look to do what they do and put pressure on them because I don't think they've been put under a lot of pressure yet, they've had everything as they want to have it."

Italy were thumped 42-10 by Ireland last time out with Burton starting on the bench, although he has now regained his position from South Africa-born Tobias Botes.

And he says the Azzurri must find a way to avoid the second half collapse that saw the Irish notch up 25 unanswered points.

"Obviously I'm happy to start again and hopefully we can have a better result than in the first three matches," said Burton.

"We hope to play for 80 minutes and put a lot of pressure on Wales."

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