Kirwan wants Italians to win Six Nations within five years

John Kirwan, the new Italian coach, has declared his intention to win the Six Nations' Championship within five years. The former All Black, who yesterday announced his squad for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand, said: "I want Italy to win the Six Nations in about five years.

"I want to create an elite group of about 75 players to work and reach a high standard as soon as possible.

"To do that I will need the help of the clubs and a technical staff who can guarantee quality and continuity."

Kirwan faces a massive task if he truly expects to turn the Azzurri into a European force. He took over last month from compatriot Brad Johnstone, who led Italy to just one win in three Six Nations campaigns. There were rumours of a split in the Italian camp during the last Six Nations, with half of the team thought to have lost faith in Johnstone.

Kirwan, who had worked under Johnstone, pledged to build a team able to compete with England and France and he has specific goals for the build-up to the next Six Nations.

"I want two victories from the team in the New Zealand matches, qualification for the World Cup, the victory against Argentina in the friendly on 16 November and a good game against Australia a week later," Kirwan said. "And in the next Six Nations we want at least one victory."

The first matches for Kirwan will be in the tour to his homeland, New Zealand, which begins on 29 May with a match against Manawatu in Palmerston North, then against a Divisional XV in Taupo on 2 June and a one-off Test against the All Blacks in Hamilton six days later.

That will be the All Blacks' first international of the season and coach John Mitchell's first game in control since taking over from Wayne Smith.

* Ian McGeechan has named five newcomers in a 38-strong Scotland squad ahead of their game against the Barbarians on 1 June. The new boys are Orrell centre Andy Craig, Worcester full-back Ben Hinshelwood, Glasgow Hawks centre Tom Philip, Hawick wing Nick Walker and Stirling County back-row forward Allistern.