ITALY coach John Kirwan is still unable to name his side to face Wales in Saturday's vital World Cup-tie in Canberra because of a string of injury problems - but he is relying on divine intervention.

Lock Marco Bartolami and wing Mirco Bergamasco are ruled-out while skipper/scrum-half Alessandro Troncon (neck and back) and centre pair Manuel Dallan (ankle) and Andrea Masi (hip) are doubtful.

An apologetic Kirwan said today he would have a team by 6pm tonight BST, the deadline under International Board regulations.

"Two are out, we've got serious problems with Troncon. Dallan and Masi we have got to bracket with others, we'll send the IRB 26 or 27 players.

"I have explained the situation and they understand it. I need until midday tomorrow until I actually name a side. At this stage Marco Bollesan (team manager) and Giacomo Mazzochi (media officer) are in the line-up!"

But Kirwan is completely laid back about the situation. "You don't coach in a position like this, you rely on courage and commitment and on the players to believe in themselves. It's fun, you've got to think a bit differently," he said.

"I hear the Welsh have got 15,000 supporters here, but we've got The Man," he added, looking skywards.

"Unfortunately the injuries happened in the last game, but Italians are fantastic in adversity. It's the way they live if they're passionate about something.

"When we beat Wales in the Six Nations in Rome we found at 12.30pm that someone forgot to order the bus and the jerseys hadn't arrived, but to the players it didn't matter.

"We stole a couple of buses, the jerseys turned up an hour before the game and we went out and won.

"All our guys are positive, they have worked very hard and my message last night when they were up to their neck in holy water (the water Kirwan said yesterday they ordered from the Pope before leaving) was that these are the things which make a difference.

"We had a walk last night and we had a talk about some of the things Wales do.

"But we couldn't run them, we just put them in the hot and cold pool which the boys hated. The holy water was in the cold pool, you've got to finish in the cold or you'll end up like a jelly fish."

On a more serious note, Kirwan indicated Mauro Bergamasco, the talented flanker who has also played on the wing but is now displaced, could well start against Wales.

"A coach has to make decisions, but it's all open again for Saturday," he said.

"The federation in Italy is improving and Italian rugby is in growth. Talented young players are getting the opportunity, we have got the youngest team in the World Cup and we need to keep working with them.

"The guys have sacrificed and they deserve to win.

'It's not all about winning, but the players making the best of their ability and playing with spirit."

ITALY coach John Kirwan is still unable to name his side to face Wales in Saturday's vital World Cup-tie in Canberra because of a string of injury problems - but he is relying on divine intervention.

Lock Marco Bartolami and wing Mirco Bergamasco are ruled-out while skipper/scrum-half Alessandro Troncon (neck and back) and centre pair Manuel Dallan (ankle) and Andrea Masi (hip) are doubtful.

An apologetic Kirwan said today he would have a team by 6pm tonight BST, the deadline under International Board regulations.

"Two are out, we've got serious problems with Troncon. Dallan and Masi we have got to bracket with others, we'll send the IRB 26 or 27 players.

"I have explained the situation and they understand it. I need until midday tomorrow until I actually name a side. At this stage Marco Bollesan (team manager) and Giacomo Mazzochi (media officer) are in the line-up!"

But Kirwan is completely laid back about the situation. "You don't coach in a position like this, you rely on courage and commitment and on the players to believe in themselves. It's fun, you've got to think a bit differently," he said.

"I hear the Welsh have got 15,000 supporters here, but we've got The Man," he added, looking skywards.

"Unfortunately the injuries happened in the last game, but Italians are fantastic in adversity. It's the way they live if they're passionate about something.

"When we beat Wales in the Six Nations in Rome we found at 12.30pm that someone forgot to order the bus and the jerseys hadn't arrived, but to the players it didn't matter.

"We stole a couple of buses, the jerseys turned up an hour before the game and we went out and won.

"All our guys are positive, they have worked very hard and my message last night when they were up to their neck in holy water (the water Kirwan said yesterday they ordered from the Pope before leaving) was that these are the things which make a difference.

"We had a walk last night and we had a talk about some of the things Wales do.

"But we couldn't run them, we just put them in the hot and cold pool which the boys hated. The holy water was in the cold pool, you've got to finish in the cold or you'll end up like a jelly fish."

On a more serious note, Kirwan indicated Mauro Bergamasco, the talented flanker who has also played on the wing but is now displaced, could well start against Wales.

"A coach has to make decisions, but it's all open again for Saturday," he said.

"The federation in Italy is improving and Italian rugby is in growth. Talented young players are getting the opportunity, we have got the youngest team in the World Cup and we need to keep working with them.

"The guys have sacrificed and they deserve to win.

'It's not all about winning, but the players making the best of their ability and playing with spirit."