Ireland v Italy

Ireland v Italy Preview

Ireland 29 - 11 Italy

Ireland made hard work of overcoming an Italian side who played with an uninspiring defensive strategy., Ireland were often haphazard, lacklustre and short of ideas, but who, nonetheless, had enough about them to win the game with some comfort. They will need to improve considerably however if they are going to retain their crown, this season. They scored two tries through Jamie Heaslip and Thomas O'Leary, but had to rely on the boot of O'Gara and later Paddy Wallace for the rest of their points.

Italy scored a try through Robertson but only managed to convert two penalties in a game where they simply were unable to threaten enough.

Form

There is little doubt that Ireland will begin their defence of the Six Nations Grand Slam with a win against Italy at Croke Park. It is quite obvious that the Italians, as plucky as they are have not managed at this stage to get themselves to a level with which they can be competitive against the long established Nations.

Ireland will go into the match with Ronan O’Gara wearing the number 10 jersey and winning his 94th cap, after a training injury forced coach, Declan Kidney to leave out new fly half star, Jonathan Sexton. There is a call up too for flanker Kevin McLaughlin, who wins his first cap by replacing the injured Stephen Ferris. As expected Andrew Trimble gets an opportunity on the wing and Gordon D’Arcy, who has been in scintillating form this season rejoins his Leinster team mate, Brian O’Driscoll in the centre.

We do not see the Italians getting close in this match and fully expect a victory for the Irish by as much as 30 points.

Probably the best advice when it comes to betting on the match is to recommend the handicap. Italy are 10/11 to for a +21, while Ireland are 10/11 for a -21 with Paddy Power Bookmakers. Just click the Paddy Power link on this page to open an account and take advantage of the FREE BET facility. See match odds below.

Ireland Team

15. R Kearney, 14. T Bowe, 13. B O'Driscoll, 12. G D'Arcy, 11. A Trimble, 10. R O'Gara, 9. T O'Leary; 8. C Healy, 7. J Flannery, 6. J Hayes, 5. D O'Callaghan, 4. P'Connell, 3. K McLaughlin, 2. D Wallace, 1. J Heaslip.

Italy Team

15. Luke McLean; 14. Kaine Robertson, 13. Gonzalo Canale, 12. Gonzalo Garcia, 11. Mirco Bergamasco; 10. Craig Gower, 9. Tito Tebaldi;8. Alessandro Zanni, 7. Mauro Bergamasco, 6. Josh Sole; 5. Quintin Geldenhuys, 4. Carlo Antonio Del Fava; 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (capt), 1. Salvatore Perugini