Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Gower insists he's Italy's premier fly-half

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Gower insists he's Italy's premier fly-half

9 December 2009, 12:49 pm

By Sportsbeat

Craig Gower maintains he can be the long-term solution to Italy's fly-half problem despite only playing a handful of games in the position.

The stand-off role has been a problem for Azzurri coaches ever since the great Diego Dominguez hung up his boots in 2003.

Former Australia rugby league captain Gower has turned in some mixed displays since Nick Mallett converted him into a fly-half during their summer tour.

But the 31-year-old believes he can make the No.10 shirt his own.

He said: “The biggest challenge when you make the switch to fly-half is the tactical awareness you require and I know that will be magnified even more at Test level.

“I feel I have all the attributes to do well (at fly-half) and I am not intending on playing a couple of Tests there.

“I want to be playing in the national team for a long time to come and hopefully this is just the start for me in the Italy shirt.”

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