Six Nations Preview: Italy vs Ireland

The next stop on Ireland’s bid for a Grand Slam takes them to Rome, where Italy lie in wait in Round 3 of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.

Andy Farrell’s side have already beaten Wales and reigning champions France and are looking to keep their title bid on track against an Italy side who have not won this fixture since 2013.

Ireland ran in nine tries in a 57-6 victory last year as injuries and ill-discipline combined to leave Italy with 13 men for around three-quarters of the tie.

But a competitive showing against France in Round 1 will give Italy confidence that they can compete with anyone, particularly on home soil.

Team news

Kieran Crowley makes three changes to an Azzurri side who fell 31-14 at Twickenham earlier this month.

Paolo Garbisi returns at fly-half, making just a second international appearance of an injury-hit season in place of Tommaso Allan.

Pierre Bruno comes in on the left wing as Tommaso Menoncello moves to inside centre and Luca Morisi drops to the bench.

Finally, Simone Ferrari replaces Marco Riccioni, who crossed against England, at tighthead prop.

Ireland have made sweeping changes, with captain Johnny Sexton’s absence after a groin injury forcing one of six alterations to Andy Farrell’s line-up.

Ross Byrne replaces Sexton as No. 10 while James Ryan will lead the side from the second row.

Craig Casey replaces Conor Murray at scrum-half, while Bundee Aki makes his first start of this Championship at inside centre.

Ronan Kelleher, who impressed off the bench against France, replaces Rob Herring at hooker while Iain Henderson comes in for Tadhg Beirne, who will miss the rest of this year’s Championship through injury.

The final change sees Jack Conan come into the back row at No.8, with Caelan Doris shifting to blindside flanker and Peter O’Mahony dropping to the bench.

Stat attack

- Italy have recorded the most possession of any team in the Guinness Six Nations this year (54%) while Ireland have enjoyed the second most (53%); as a result Ireland and Italy rank first and second respectively for carries and carry metres (Ireland – 311 carries, 1779m; Italy – 293 carries, 1657m)

- Ireland have won 22 of their previous 23 matches against Italy in the Guinness Six Nations, including the last nine in a row, with their only defeat in that spell coming in Rome in 2013.

- Italy’s Sebastian Negri has made 30 carries in the Guinness Six Nations this year, the joint most of any player (alongside Finn Russell), while teammate Ange Capuozzo ranks joint first for offloads (4), second for defenders beaten (17) and joint third for line breaks (3).

Teams

Italy team to play Ireland: 15. Ange Capuozzo, 14. Edoardo Padovani, 13. Juan Ignacio Brex, 12. Tommaso Menoncello, 11. Pierre Bruno, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Stephen Varney; 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Giacomo Nicotera, 3. Simone Ferrari, 4. Niccolò Cannone, 5. Federico Ruzza, 6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Michele Lamaro (c), 8. Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements: 16. Luca Bigi, 17. Federico Zani, 18. Marco Riccioni, 19. Edoardo Iachizzi, 20. Giovanni Pettinelli, 21. Alessandro Fusco, 22. Luca Morisi, 23. Tommaso Allan

Ireland team to face Italy: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Stuart McCloskey, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. James Lowe, 10. Ross Byrne, 9. Craig Casey, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Iain Henderson 5. James Ryan (c), 6. Caelan Doris, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan

Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Jack Crowley, 23. Jimmy O’Brien