Mallett unconcerned by wooden spoon after Italy sneak win

By Paul Virgo

ROME (Reuters) - Coach Nick Mallett said he was unconcerned about finishing last in his maiden Six Nations after Italy edged a 23-20 win over Scotland on Saturday.

"No, it (the wooden spoon) does not bother me at all," Mallett told a news conference following his first win with the Azzurri.

"We managed to sneak a win today. If we'd played with the southern hemisphere system, where you get a point for finishing within seven points of the opponent, we'd have finished ahead of Scotland.

"This competition is to win and if you don't win it, it is to see how you can improve your rugby. Notwithstanding some disappointments, the team did very well."

He admitted Italy were fortunate in the second half when captain Sergio Parisse managed to intercept a Dan Parks pass and set up Gonzalo Canale's match-turning try.

Mallett added that he did not consider the victory to be Italy's finest performance of the championship.

"I'm happy about the win, but for me Italy's best match was (the 25-13 defeat) against France," he said, referring to their previous game in Paris.

"It was very important to see the players' reaction after losing (47-8) to Wales," he added of their third match.