Six Nations Ireland vs. Italy Preview
Head Coach Andy Farrell unveils his Ireland Match Day Squad for the highly anticipated Round 2 clash against Italy in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations at Aviva Stadium.
Ireland’s Strong Start and Home Advantage
After securing a bonus point win against France in the Championship opener, Ireland returns to a packed Aviva Stadium for their first home match of 2024 against the Azzurri.
Caelan Doris Leads Ireland for the First Time
Caelan Doris makes history as he captains Farrell’s side, becoming the 110th player to lead the Ireland Men’s team in Test rugby.
Key Players and Lineup
Farrell opts for continuity, maintaining an unchanged back three with Hugo Keenan at full-back, alongside wings Calvin Nash and James Lowe. Notable inclusions include Stuart McCloskey in the midfield and Jack Crowley at out-half.
Promising Performances in the Pack
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Finlay Bealham form the formidable front row, while James Ryan partners Joe McCarthy in the second row. Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris, and Jack Conan complete the starting pack.
Strong Bench Options
Farrell has a wealth of options among his replacements, including Ronan Kelleher, Iain Henderson, and Josh van der Flier, providing depth in both the pack and backline.
Italy’s Lineup Changes
Italy, seeking to bounce back from their defeat by England, make four changes to their lineup, with Ange Capuozzo, Stephen Varney, Alessandro Izekor, and Federico Ruzza returning.
Where to Watch
Catch the action live on Virgin Media One in the Republic of Ireland and ITV in the United Kingdom.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Ireland are an unbackable price, but you can get them at even money to win by 32pts or for those looking for a big price it’s 3/1 for new father Finlay Bealham to score a try
Starting Teams
Ireland: Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Casey; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Doris, Conan.
Replacements: Kelleher, Loughman, O’Toole, Henderson, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Larmour.
Italy: Capuozzo; Pani, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, N Cannone, Ruzza, Izekor, Zuliani, Lamaro (capt).
Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, Vintcent, Page-Relo, Allan, Mori.
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
