Bergamasco gives Azzurri hopes a kick along

If Italy are to progress to the quarter-finals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time in their history in New Zealand, Mirco Bergamasco will be central to their hopes.

The wing has been Italy's first-choice goal-kicker since November 2009, when he took over in the role against Samoa and landed nine points in a 24-6 win.

Since then he has scored 146 points from conversions and penalties.

Last November he kicked eight penalties from eight to lead Italy to a 24-16 victory against Fiji and in this year's Six Nations he slotted 17 points in the 22-21 triumph over France.

With the Azzurri beginning their RWC 2011 campaign against Australia on 11 September, the ability to take any points on offer with the boot will be crucial to his side's performance against the two-time world champions.

“If we have a penalty kick it is important that I kick it because the team has worked to put us in that position and it is a chance to score points," Bergamasco said.

Initially reluctant

The 28-year-old is not the first-choice kicker for club side Racing Metro Paris and was initially reluctant to take on the role for Italy but he has grown into it.

Against France he showed he has the mental strength to succeed. Early in the match he missed two kicks from in front of the posts but managed to convert Andrea Masi's try from the touchline and added a further three penalties to seal victory.

“Philippe (Doussy - academy coach) saw me kick a few times and that I didn’t seem to suffer from nerves when I kicked," Bergamasco said.

"He gave me a test of 25 kicks in front of (Italy coach) Nick Mallett and I kicked 21 from 25.

“I don’t kick every weekend like (New Zealand's) Dan Carter or (England's) Jonny Wilkinson but I’m happy to be first-choice kicker for Italy.

“I know I have a lot of improving to do and at my age it is not so much about being a natural kicker as being someone who has to work on it.

Aiming high

"I have a very good kicking coach in Philippe from the academy and have taken advice from people who have been kickers in the past. I know you can’t reach perfection but I have to aim for it.''

Carter and Wilkinson are well-known for their dedication to their art, spending hours on the training paddock to improve their success rate.

And Bergamasco appreciates the need to work hard on his technique to earn rewards on the field of play.

“I have to enjoy kicking the ball through the posts and I challenge myself when I do it," he said. "I don’t do less than 20 minutes which is about 50 balls.

"We have to train in all weathers, be it sun or rain. For instance if it is rainy on Sunday I need to have trained in the rain.”