Italy chief slates players

Italy disappoint Kirwan Match report: Wales 44-10 Italy

Italian rugby federation president Giancarlo Dondi insists only scrum-half Paul Griffen is worthy of retaining his place after their 44-10 loss to Wales.

The Azzurri ended their Six Nations campaign in Cardiff with what coach John Kirwan called their "worst performance" of the tournament.

"If I was in charge I would get rid of the players," Dondi said.

"Of the team that lost to Wales I would keep only Griffen. The players have to take responsibility."

Dondi added the Italian federation (FIR) would not rush into a decision over the future of Kirwan, whose contract expires at the end of May.

Whenever we take a step forward we immediately take two back Giancarlo Dondi

"Kirwan has his faults and we will take our time to decide over his future," he said. "But the team appears to have very little motivation.

"Maybe against Wales they went out there thinking they had already won the match before it had even started and their complacency handed our opponents an easy victory.

"Our lack of concentration was incredible and we made too many mistakes. There are ways of losing, but the defeat against Wales undid all the good work that went before it.

"Whenever we take a step forward - beating Scotland for example - we immediately take two backwards."

Italy have yet to win an away match in the tournament since their introduction in 2000.

The victory over Scotland was only their third in five years.