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The unforgiving statistics show Italy have moved backwards in coach Nick Mallett's second Six Nations in charge, after a law change rendered one of the team's main tactics ineffective.

Italy suffered five defeats from five for the first time since 2005, and finished the campaign with a points difference of minus-121 and just two tries scored compared to 21 conceded.

"Italy zero in everything," read a headline in Sunday's La Gazzetta Sportiva after the Azzurri's 50-8 defeat to France in the final game. "Luckily it's over."

Short-term solutions may be hard to come by.

The low standard of domestic rugby does not produce a big pool of talent, especially in the backs.

The Italian federation wants to address this by having teams admitted to the Magners League of Irish, Scottish and Welsh sides, but that is unlikely to help in the near future.

It is also true that law changes have effectively taken away one of the coach's main tools, the maul, by allowing defending sides to collapse without being penalised.

"Italy scored six tries last year and three came from driving mauls," Mallett said. "When they change the laws it affects some teams more than others.

"This year we weren't able to use the driving maul as a means to get penalties, as a means to kick three points or dominate the opposition.

"Italian rugby has never been known for its back-line play like France has. But the new laws demand that you play with your backs and your forwards. I think Argentina and Italy are the two teams that have been penalised the most."

Mallett has taken a long-term view this season.

After assessing his limited options at scrum-half, he decided his best option for the 2011 World Cup might be to convert flanker Mauro Bergamasco.

He threw Bergamasco in at the Twickenham deep end on the opening day following injuries to three specialist number nines and the result was a 36-11 defeat.

While individual errors have also hit the team's chances, some question whether law changes alone can explain how Italy's traditional strength up front has waned.

"With the cancellation of the rolling maul, Italy have lost one of their weapons," former Italy prop Massimo Cuttitta told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "But they should be making the difference in the scrum and it's not happening."

Mallett's man-management skills have been questioned by some comentators too.

Experienced prop Andrea Lo Cicero has not been called up since venting his anger to reporters at being left out of the pre-tournament training squad.

Carlo Festuccia has not featured either since playing in the 38-9 defeat by Ireland.

Mallett, the former Springboks boss, made his view of Italian problems clear after the French defeat.

"I'm prepared to take the blame for my team but it's a bit naive to think that just by criticising the head coach or the players you're going to make things better," Mallett said.

"We need to look at much deeper issues that need to change to be regularly competitive, rather than one-off competitive."

Reuters