The Azzurri were left with the wooden spoon last year after losing all five of their matches and face a tough opening encounter against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on February 4.

However, Berbizier is keen for his side to serve notice against Eddie O'Sullivan's men that they will be no easy touch during this year's tournament.

We must always be competitive,'' he said.

We must compete in every game at 100 per cent, ready to take any chances, and capitalise on even the smallest mistake by our opponents.

Berbizier, who replaced New Zealander John Kirwan following the 2005 RBS 6 Nations, is refusing to set any unrealistic goals for his side though and concedes that life is likely to be very tough.

We have a young squad who are working very hard to be ready in the near future, he added.

However, a difficult RBS 6 Nations is waiting for us on the horizon.

Italy follow the Ireland clash with a home match against England the following weekend.

With just over a week before the teams run out at Lansdowne Road, Azzurri captain Marco Bortolami revealed the mood in the camp is relaxed.

The atmosphere is calm and peaceful, he said.

We have to trust in the work that we are developing together with our coach Pierre Berbizier.

And we all know that the RBS 6 Nations tournament gives nothing for free. The results that we gain will be the fruit of our work.

Following the match against England in Rome, Italy then travel to Paris to meet France as the Azzurri play back-to-back matches against the two teams Berbizier feels are favourites for the title.

Between them, England and France have won all but one of the Six Nations tournaments since their inception in 2000, but Berbizier warned the big two that things dont always go to plan - citing last years Grand Slam success for Wales.

France and England are the favourites for overall victory, but what is really attractive about this tournament is the fact that an underdog team can be very dangerous, he stressed.

Last year France and England seemed to have a gear more than everybody else and instead, look what Wales did.