The Azzurri will begin the tournament as rank outsiders once again despite finishing above wooden spoon winners Scotland in last years competition.

But the former All Black insists there is a feel-good factor running through Italian rugby ahead of their opening clash with Ireland on February 6.

There is so much attention on us and this is a positive feeling, Kirwan told www.federugby.it. It means everybody is waiting for us to do something.

It is a good feeling which makes us proud and loved by our fans and inspires us to get better and better.

The team is improving. My task is to create a squad of 30 players capable of playing at a very high level, and I'm convinced if we go into it (the RBS 6 Nations) without any physical problems and assemble the best team possible on the pitch, we can be competitive against any team.