Without a hint of insincerity or gamesmanship, Italy coach Nick Mallett has all but written off his side's chances of beating the Wallabies in Saturday's Test in Padova.

Former Springboks mentor Mallett believes the Wallabies are too fast, too classy, too well coached and too much improved from when the two teams last clashed in 2006, when Italy almost pulled off a boilover in Rome.

The Azzurri eventually succumbed 25-18 in that encounter, but only after leading the John Connolly-coached Wallabies at halftime and dominating the forward exchanges.

"I think it was a very different Australian team, a different coach. I mean, they tried (Matt) Giteau at scrumhalf and (Mat) Rogers at flyhalf and really that was just a shot-in-the-dark selection," Mallett said.

"Neither of those two guys had ever played properly in those positions, so that's a hell of a help to us.

"Also, if I remember correctly, Australia's front row (of Al Baxter, Brendan Cannon and Guy Shepherdson) was shocking that day and remember we were also able to do the rolling maul (under the old laws).

"So when you take all those things into account, Italy had a lot of advantages which we haven't got now.

"The rolling maul is very difficult to operate because you can pull it down now. (Berrick) Barnes is playing very well and Giteau is playing very well, and so is Burgess.

"So you've got a proper halfback and you've got players playing their proper positions.

"And the front row has really held up. They scrummed really well in the Tri Nations. It's not the weakness it was in the World Cup in 2007 when England ran all over Australia and in 2006 when Italy scrummed the hell out of them."

Even with Wallabies coach Robbie Dean picking an understrength line-up loaded with fringe and emerging players, Mallett claimed the Azzurri would be unable to keep pace with the tourists for the full 80 minutes.

"The difference in standard is so enormous that they could pick a Super 14 side from NSW and it would be very hard for Italy to win that game," he said.

"The quality of southern hemisphere rugby is so much quicker and so much more physical that

anything that Italy has at club level.

"What will be a big shock to these (Italian)

guys is the ability to play at the pace. Normally, what they can do is compete for 40, 50 minutes and then we've just got to see how it goes in the last

20, 30.

"When you watch the Canterbury Crusaders or Robbie Deans-coached teams, they never let up. They just keep going for 80 minutes."

Mallett said to conjure an improbable victory Italy needed "a hell of a lot of rain, very wet field and a couple of interception tries and a few up and unders".

"It's a huge competition," said the former Springboks coach.

"We're playing at home so it's a great opportunity for these guys. If we're within 15 points, I think it will be a really good performance by Italy."

Mallett omitted Australian-born Luke McLean from his 22-man squad, despite the 21-year-old having started at five-eighth in Italy's two most recent Tests.

Italy: Andrea Masi, Kaine Robertson, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco, Andrea Marcato, Pablo Canavosio, Sergio Parisee, (capt), Mauro Bergamasco, Josh Sole, Marco Bortolami, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Carlos Nieto, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Salvatore Perugini. Res: Fabio Ongaro, Matias Aguero, Tommaso Reato, Alessandro Zanni, Giulio Toniolatti, Luciano Orquera, Matteo Pratichetti.

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