The Azzurri have just completed a pre-season training session in Aosta, one which Berbizier described afterwards as hard but positive.

The team have proved to be no pushovers in recent years and were particularly impressive in this year's RBS 6 Nations, even though they only picked up a solitary point thanks to a draw in Wales.

Berbizier, who insists the door is still open for any player wishing to secure a place in his squad, is eager to see a continuous growth up until the World Cup, which starts in September, 2007 in France.

We cannot allow ourselves to underestimate anyone in the 14 games we will play this season ahead of the qualification rounds of the World Cup, said the Frenchman.

Hopefully you will find an improvement in each of these games and in our game itself.

A year goes by very quickly and we should be working at a continuous growth to find us in the right shape by the World Cup.

For this reason the Azzurri group remains open to all and I am still keeping my eyes open.
Berbizier had a squad of 38 players gather in Aosta for the six-day training session and he was encouraged by what he saw.

Things went rather well in every sense, he added.

Above all, what pleased me was the spirit of the group and the enthusiasm that surrounded us, which is very important to have ahead of the hard season that awaits us.