SIX NATIONS 2024
PREVIEW...
Ireland vItaly
Today. Kick-off 3pm, Aviva Stadium
DUBLIN has been anything other than a fair city for Italy in the last decade. Playing a rerouted England side in Rome is one thing, but if the Azzurri are to show visible signs of progress they will need to front up at a ground where they have tended to go missing.
They have conceded a half-century of points in their last four visits to the Aviva Stadium, shipping 46 and 42 in the two before to make it an average of 51 in six encounters. Small wonder Italy’s head coach Gonzalo Quesada has said it is crucial his players stay lucid during the match.
Ireland have made six changes from the side that overwhelmed France in Marseille on the opening night of the tournament. Centre Stuart McCloskey and scrum-half Craig Casey are the two new faces behind while the inclusion of Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan means every area of the pack will have a new look.
Caelan Doris will captain the team from openside with Conan No.8. Josh van der Flier is on the bench along with Jamison Gibson-Park and Jordan Larmour, who has been plucked from the international wilderness nearly three years after winning the last of his 30 caps.
The Opta supercomputer has given Italy, who were whitewashed last season, a five per cent chance of defeating the Grand Slam champions. Their only victory over Ireland in the Six Nations came in Rome in 2013 when Iain Henderson, as he is today, was on the bench for the men in green, and their one success in Dublin came in 1997 when they were lobbying to make the Five Nations six.
Italy have made four changes from the side that lost to England by three points having led 17-8 during the first-half. Ange Capuozzo, victim of a stomach bug last weekend, returns at full-back to provide added sharpness to an attack that asked questions of England.
Centre Tommaso Menoncello and wing Monty Ioane were two of only three players who carried the ball for 100 metres or more on the opening weekend and the pair topped the list of defenders beaten.
Italy’s concern in Dublin will be winning the ball. Their lineout was sabotaged by England and while they will be relieved that Tadhg Beirne will not be involved, James Ryan is one of the best disruptors around and will feel the need to show himself after being omitted from the side that defeated France.
“I know it was a massive win in France, but they did not attack particularly well or challenge us a whole lot,” said Conan. “Italy will pose a completely different attacking picture. They will play from anywhere and take any opportunity so it will be a big defensive test for us.”
Italy have had to reshape their back row with Sebastian Negri and Lorenzo Cannone injured. Michele Lamaro has taken the opposite jou
