Six Nations champions Ireland are looking to defend their crown once again on an action-packed day of rugby drama. They head to Rome to kick things off, needing a lot to their way if they are going to seal a remarkable third consecutive title win. Having been blown away by France last time out, they sit two points off Les Bleus and one behind England.
With that in mind, the Men in Green will need to beat Italy today with a bonus point all while hoping both the French and the English lose. Even if Ireland were to finish on the same points as France, their hugely superior points difference would still steer the title into their path.
The hosts, meanwhile, are looking to avoid a second consecutive wooden spoon. They started well against France and England but eventually fell to huge defeats but have beaten Wales while impressing against Scotland. Follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Italy vs Ireland latest news
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Kick-off time and venue: 2.15pm GMT; Stadio Olimpico
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TV channel and live stream: ITV 1, ITVX
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Italy team news: Michele Lamaro dropped to the bench
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Ireland team news: James Lowe and Mack Hansen return
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Italy vs Ireland lineups in full
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Prediction: Ireland to win, by at least 20 points
11:49 , Jonathan Gorrie
Their total second-half collapse against France was a truly bitter pill to swallow for Ireland, who would have fancied their chances of going on to win and all-but secure a history-making title and Grand Slam at half-time, particularly after Dupont’s injury that has dominated so much of the post-match discourse.
But they were instead brushed aside in a manner that simply hasn’t happened to them in recent years, so it’ll be interesting to see how quickly they are able to regroup following some changes with only a slender chance of still clinching the title on the final day.
They need a huge win in Rome to stand any chance before England and France play and you’d expect them to bounce back swiftly here to get it against an Italy outfit that have shown their attacking qualities in the last couple of games but also how extremely vulnerable they remain in defence.
The Azzurri will be motivated by a strong desire to avoid going back to holding the wooden spoon and could keep it close and physical early doors and are likely to score another eye-catching try or two, but ultimately we fully expect them to once again be blown away as the contest wears on.
Ireland to win, by at least 20 points.
Italy vs Ireland lineups in full
11:48 , Jonathan Gorrie
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
Ireland team news: James Lowe and Mack Hansen return
11:48 , Jonathan Gorrie
Interim Ireland coach Simon Easterby has made six changes of his own after that sobering second-half demolition by France, the most notable of which is Jack Crowley getting the nod at fly-half over Sam Prendergast.
James Lowe - lost in the warm-up last week - and Mack Hansen return on the wings in a major attacking boost as Jamie Osborne and Calvin Nash both drop out of the squad, while Bundee Aki is only on the bench as Garry Ringrose returns from suspension to partner Robbie Henshaw in the centres.
There are two changes in the pack, where James Ryan replaces Joe McCarthy in the second row and Jack Conan starts at blindside flanker in place of Peter O’Mahony, who along with Conor Murray is poised to earn his final Ireland cap off the bench this weekend. Fellow imminent retiree Cian Healy isn’t in the squad.
There’s a welcome return on the bench for star tighthead Tadhg Furlong after injury, with Jack Boyle backing up starting loosehead Porter instead of Healy. It’s actually an entirely new replacement front row with Gus McCarthy the hooker cover for Dan Sheehan instead of Rob Herring with still no Ronan Kelleher.
Italy team news: Michele Lamaro dropped to the bench
11:47 , Jonathan Gorrie
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has made seven changes to the team that shipped seven tries at Twickenham, with influential captain Michele Lamaro dropped to the bench in a shock move.
His run of 24 consecutive Six Nations starts is now over as fellow Benetton flanker Manuel Zuliani comes into the back row on the openside instead alongside number 8 Lorenzo Cannone as Ross Vintcent also makes way. Centre Juan Ignacio Brex will skipper the side this weekend.
Ange Capuozzo has shifted out back to the wing after a knee injury suffered on his Six Nations debut by Matt Gallagher, with Tommaso Allan returning at full-back. There’s also a swap at scrum-half as Stephen Varney is replaced by Martin Page-Relo.
Gianmarco Lucchesi replaces Giacomo Nicotera at hooker and Simone Ferrari is in for Marco Riccioni at tighthead prop, while in the second row Harlequins’ Dino Lamb is back fit and preferred to Niccolo Cannone.
How to watch Italy vs Ireland
11:47 , Jonathan Gorrie
TV channel: Italy vs Ireland is being televised live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage from 1:30pm GMT.
Live stream: Coverage is also available online via ITVX, which is free with a registration.
Live blog: You can also follow the match live with Standard Sport’s blog.
Welcome
11:08 , Jonathan Gorrie
Good morning and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Ireland’s Six Nations finale against Italy.
Kick-off from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is at 2.15pm GMT.
