Ireland Vs Italy at Aviva Stadium 8th Mar 2014

Ron C. Mar 3

COME ON IRELAND!!

Ultimate Rugby Mar 3

Joe Schmidt once again ignores the outcry from the Irish fans to bring back the fit again duo that is Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo and sticks with virtually the same squad of players chosen for the England game in Twickenham a fortnight ago. In all he makes 2 changes to the 23 with Peter O'Mahony who has been one of Ireland's best performers in the championship so far missing out with a hamstring injury which means Ulster man Iain Henderson is promoted from the bench to start today's game. Reports say O'Mahony injury is not serious and he could of played today but Schmidt is not risking him ahead of the crunch match with France next week.The two other changes are from the bench with Eoin Reddan replacing fellow Leinster man Issac Boss and Rhys Ruddock taking the vacated place on the bench left by Henderson. As for Italy they make 4 changes to the side that lost out to Duncan Weir's last minute drop goal in Rome 2 weeks ago. Italian coach Jacques Brunel makes 2 changes in the pack and 2 in the back line for today's game with the Frenchman not selecting his captain and talisman Sergio Parisse ,opting to rest him for the game against England next week. With Parisse dropping out of the matchday squad Robert Barbieri will start at number 8. Another change in the back row see's Paul Derbyshire start in place of Zanni. In the second row Bortolami is promoted from the bench to captain the side and win his 103rd cap and with this try scorer and man of the match last week Joshua Furno is moved to openside flanker. The two changes in the backline see Tito Tebaldi and Luciano Orquera come in at 9 and 10 instead of Edoardo Gori and Tommaso Allan. While on the bench Michele Rizzo returns after his sending off against France 3 weeks ago. Kick off is not too far away so stay with us for the first match of this weekends 6 Nations action.

Ultimate Rugby Mar 3

Hello and welcome to Ultimate Rugby's live coverage of round 4 of this RBS 6 Nations match as Italy travel to The Aviva Stadium in Dublin to take on Ireland. Apart from an entrawling game of rugby we are expecting here today this game will also be the final appearance in a green jersey for Brian O'Driscoll in front of his home fans with Ireland finishing their 6 Nations campaign in Paris away to France. It seems like only Yesterday that Warren Gatland coach of Ireland at the time handed him his debut on the 12th of June 1999 in a defeat to Australia and after his hat-trick against France in a Paris a few months later the Country and the Rugby world knew that a legend was born. A legend of Rugby and one of the if not the greatest centre's the game has ever seen will also be breaking the record books today's as he overtakes George Gregan as the most capped player of all time as he makes his 140th appearance today (132 for Ireland and 8 for The British and Irish Lions). Now back to the game we have on today as Ireland will look to get a win here today over bottom side Italy and go to France next week knowing that a win will give them their first Championship since 2009 and what would be a great send off for O'Driscoll. The defeat to England 2 weeks ago ended hopes of a grandslam and a triple crown but with their +42 points difference at the top of the table after big wins over Scotland and Wales a big win here today will put them in the driving seat ahead of their match against France next Saturday. As for Italy they go into this game still looking for their first win of the competition and after their late defeat to Scotland in Rome 2 weeks ago they look set for the wooden spoon this year. It may look bleak for Italian fans but after claiming their first ever win over Ireland in the 6 Nations last year, winning 22-15 in Rome, they will hope they can cause a similar upset today and spoil Brian O'Driscoll's day. Kick off is half an hour away so stay with us for further updates and analysis.