Australia aim to keep Italy winless

Australia have no intention of ending their winning streak against Italy when the teams clash for the first time in a Rugby World Cup at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday.

The Wallabies have won all 13 previous encounters with the Azzurri and coach Robbie Deans signalled his intent to continue that domination by naming what he described as Australia's best line-up for the opening match.

Deans has retained the starting XV that overcame the All Blacks in Brisbane to claim the 2011 Tri Nations. James O'Connor, Tatafu Polota-Nau and James Slipper make their way on to the bench in the only changes.

"It's definitely our best line-up because we want to win and we have a lot of respect for the Italian side," Deans said.

Much of this respect would have arisen from Italy's rousing performances in the 2011 Six Nations, culminating in a shock 22-21 win over France.

"I've watched them play some great rugby. I've watched them develop," Deans said.

No pushovers

"I watched them live earlier in the year when they should have tipped over Ireland. They probably should have beaten Wales. They did beat France. And we've struggled ourselves against them in recent times."

Italy have been no pushovers against the Wallabies in their most recent meetings, with a late Quade Cooper try the difference in 2008, and a last-minute try creating a deceptively convincing 32-14 scoreline in November.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named his strongest team for the clash. Sergio Parisse leads the team from number 8 and is flanked by Alessandro Zanni and Robert Barbieri, whose performances during the Six Nations earned him the nod ahead of fit-again Mauro Bergamasco.

At second row, Cornelius van Zyl wins only his third cap, alongside Carlo del Fava, who makes his 54th appearance.

"I have picked the most experienced and in-form side for this match," South African Mallett said.

"Fabio Semenzato and Luciano Orquera have played together a lot of times. It is the back row from the Six Nations and they did extremely well against France.

Huge pressure

"Cornelius van Zyl played excellently in the warm-up match against Scotland and we won 100 per cent of our lineouts in the second half and stole three of theirs.”

As ever, Italy have named a fearsome front row. Vice captain Leonardo Ghiraldini begins at hooker with Martin Castrogiovanni and Andrea Lo Cicero either side of him.

In the past they have put their Australian counterparts under huge pressure but know it will take a phenomenal effort to do so on Sunday.

“Without a doubt Australia like to play a lot through their scrum half and fly half and like to get the ball out to their backs. They can only do this, though, because of the work of their forwards," Ghiraldini said.

"Their scrum has improved a lot over the last few years and they are very strong in the lineout. Plus their back row is world class. It is a very big challenge ahead of us.”

Australia's forward's are well aware of the threat that Italy provide and are determined to show that they are more than just a collection of light-footed backs.

"We've had people writing off the Australian scrum for years," Wallabies prop Ben Alexander said. "It's water off a duck's back now."