Wounded Ireland shut their newest Six Nations marketing campaign away in Italy, hoping to maintain their now slim title hopes alive for a number of hours no less than.
Ireland had been impressively on observe for a possible Grand Slam and historic third successive Six Nations crown after seeing off England and Scotland and holding off a resurgent Wales, solely to then come emphatically unstuck as they had been blown away by the formidable French within the second half of the largest sport of the championship on house soil in Dublin in spherical 4.
The defending back-to-back champions solely trailed 8-6 on the interval after a tense first interval and appeared within the ascendancy after France misplaced celebrity captain Antoine Dupont to torn knee ligaments that may rule him out for months after Tadhg Beirne by accident fell on his leg at a ruck, with no additional motion taken towards the Irish lock or prop Andrew Porter after a livid Fabien Galthie reported them each to the match’s citing commissioner.
However, they had been merely destroyed thereafter, conceding 34 unanswered factors to lose 42-27 and now go into the ultimate weekend as instantly a distant third wheel within the title battle.
Ireland are two factors behind France and one adrift of England in second. They have to beat Italy with a bonus level and hope that each of their rivals lose later within the day, however ending on the identical quantity as France wouldn’t be sufficient as a result of Les Bleus’ vastly superior factors distinction.
Italy’s attentions are targeted on attempting to make it a second successive yr with out the wood spoon after beginning properly towards each France and England however being totally dismantled by each thereafter, having additionally crushed Wales and misplaced to Scotland.
The Azzurri start the weekend sitting fifth and a degree higher off than Wales, who bought two bonus factors throughout their defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield, however with a worse factors distinction.
Italy vs Ireland date, kick-off time and venue
Italy vs Ireland is the primary sport on the bumper Six Nations Super Saturday (March 15, 2025) slate, with Wales vs England after which France vs Scotland to comply with.
Kick-off on the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is scheduled for two:15pm GMT.
How to look at Italy vs Ireland
TV channel: Italy vs Ireland is being televised dwell and free-to-air within the UK on ITV1, with protection from 1:30pm GMT.
Live stream: Coverage can also be out there on-line by way of ITVX, which is free with a registration.
Live weblog: You may comply with the match dwell with Standard Sport’s weblog.
Italy vs Ireland workforce information
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made seven modifications to the workforce that shipped seven tries at Twickenham, with influential captain Michele Lamaro dropped to the bench in a shock transfer.
His run of 24 consecutive Six Nations begins is now over as fellow Benetton flanker Manuel Zuliani comes into the again row on the openside as a substitute alongside quantity 8 Lorenzo Cannone as Ross Vintcent additionally makes manner. Centre Juan Ignacio Brex will skipper the facet this weekend.
Ange Capuozzo has shifted out again to the wing after a knee damage suffered on his Six Nations debut by Matt Gallagher, with Tommaso Allan returning at full-back. There’s additionally a swap at scrum-half as Stephen Varney is changed by Martin Page-Relo.
Gianmarco Lucchesi replaces Giacomo Nicotera at hooker and Simone Ferrari is in for Marco Riccioni at tighthead prop, whereas within the second row Harlequins’ Dino Lamb is again match and most well-liked to Niccolo Cannone.
Shock benching: Italy captain Michele Lamaro’s run of 24 consecutive Six Nations begins is now over
REUTERS
Interim Ireland coach Simon Easterby has made six modifications of his personal after that sobering second-half demolition by France, essentially the most notable of which is Jack Crowley getting the nod at fly-half over Sam Prendergast.
James Lowe – misplaced within the warm-up final week – and Mack Hansen return on the wings in a serious attacking increase as Jamie Osborne and Calvin Nash each drop out of the squad, whereas Bundee Aki is just on the bench as Garry Ringrose returns from suspension to accomplice Robbie Henshaw within the centres.
There are two modifications within the pack, the place James Ryan replaces Joe McCarthy within the second row and Jack Conan begins at blindside flanker instead of Peter O’Mahony, who together with Conor Murray is poised to earn his last Ireland cap off the bench this weekend. Fellow imminent retiree Cian Healy isn’t within the squad.
There’s a welcome return on the bench for star tighthead Tadhg Furlong after damage, with Jack Boyle backing up beginning loosehead Porter as a substitute of Healy. It’s really a wholly new alternative entrance row with Gus McCarthy the hooker cowl for Dan Sheehan as a substitute of Rob Herring with nonetheless no Ronan Kelleher.
Italy XV: Allan; Capuozzo, Brex (c), Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, Page-Relo; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ferrari; Lamb, Ruzza; Negri, Zuliani, L Cannone
Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, N Cannone, Lamaro, Vintcent, Varney, Marin
Ireland XV: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham; Ryan, Beirne; Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (c)
Replacements: G McCarthy, Boyle, Furlong, J McCarthy, O’Mahony, Murray, Prendergast, Aki
Italy vs Ireland face to face (h2h) historical past and outcomes
Italy have gained 4 of the earlier 37 conferences towards Ireland, however three of these had been within the nineties earlier than the Six Nations, the place their solely success over them was again in 2013 in Rome.
Ireland have gained each different contest other than that, a profitable streak on this fixture of 15 matches throughout 11 years.
Italy vs Ireland prediction
Their complete second-half collapse towards France was a very bitter tablet to swallow for Ireland, who would have fancied their probabilities of happening to win and all-but safe a history-making title and Grand Slam at half-time, notably after Dupont’s damage that has dominated a lot of the post-match discourse.
But they had been as a substitute brushed apart in a fashion that merely hasn’t occurred to them lately, so it’ll be fascinating to see how shortly they can regroup following some modifications with solely a slender probability of nonetheless clinching the title on the ultimate day.
They want an enormous win in Rome to face any probability earlier than England and France play and also you’d count on them to bounce again swiftly right here to get it towards an Italy outfit which have proven their attacking qualities within the final couple of video games but additionally how extraordinarily susceptible they continue to be in defence.
Consolation: Ireland have greater than sufficient firepower to thrash Italy, nevertheless it certainly gained’t be sufficient for the title
AFP by way of Getty Images
The Azzurri might be motivated by a powerful need to keep away from going again to holding the wood spoon and will maintain it shut and bodily early doorways and are more likely to rating one other eye-catching strive or two, however in the end we totally count on them to as soon as once more be blown away as the competition wears on.
Ireland to win, by no less than 20 factors.
Italy vs Ireland match odds
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to alter).