Italy coach Nick Mallett believes the International Rugby Board is doing his side few favours in the run-up to the 2011 World Cup.

The Azzurri play two Tests against Australia and one against New Zealand in the next three weeks and are scheduled to play teams all ranked higher than them through to the next World Cup in New Zealand.

"In 16 games in charge we still haven't played a team lower than us in the IRB rankings and between now and the World Cup there won't be a single game against a team seeded below us," Mallett said.

"Rugby should be a mix of playing against teams who are better than you, at the same level and weaker than you.

"But if you're continually playing against sides vastly better than you then it takes a very special kind of team spirit to go out there and keep trying."

South African Mallett said even if he was coaching the Springboks, which he did to 17 consecutive wins between 1997 and 1998, he would not be happy with having to play Australia and New Zealand over three consecutive weekends.

He added: "So when you're coaching Italy, it's obviously going to be a huge challenge for the guys."

He told the Sunday News: "We've got a few new guys and the key will be to keep a really good spirit on the tour.

"From a playing point of view, after the Six Nations, which was very disappointing for us, this is a hell of a hard tour."