When is it, where is it on, who else is playing this weekend?
Italy will play Ireland at 2.15pm at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday, February 25th in the third game of the 2023 Six Nations. Wales then play England at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff at 4.45pm. On Sunday, France play Scotland at the Stade de France in Paris at 3pm Irish time.
How can I watch it?
The game is on free to air on Virgin Media One in Ireland. You can also watch the game on UTV. If you can’t be by a TV or want additional coverage, check out our live blogs on Irish Times Sport.
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What is the state of play in the table?
Ireland are on top of the table by a narrow margin, having three better points difference than Scotland, level with them on 10 points. England are third on six points, France on five points, Italy on one point and Wales with no points.
What happened in this fixture last year?
Ireland gave Italy a hammering, rolling out 10 tries at the Aviva Stadium, Michael Lowry and James Lowe both got two each. Italy were limited to just two penalties as Ireland won 57-6. Nathan Johns writing at the time said: “The lopsided nature of Ireland’s 57-6 victory over Italy ensures that the main talking point can only really be the scrum law that forced the visitors to play the majority of the game with 13 men, killing off any hopes of a remotely close contest.”
But the mood on Italy has changed?
A close game against France and scoring tries against England in Twickenham have lifted hopes for Italy in this Six Nations. The Italians had victories over Wales and Australia in the Autumn Series and should provide Ireland more of a test this time around, especially at home. Watch out for Italy’s star fullback Ange Capuozzo. As Johnny Watterson writes: “For a sport that can sometimes be fixated by size, Capuozzo arrives from a long line of elusive runners told they were too small – Shane Williams, Cheslin Colbe and Christian Wade – a few who bucked the trend.” In nine caps, he has six tries. But the numbers “don’t account for the electrification of the Italian team and the wattage it gives out with their French Italian prowling the back field.”
Team news
As expected, Andy Farrell has promoted six players from the replacements’ bench who helped to seal the epic win over France for Ireland’s third match of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations against Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
The most eye-catching sees Craig Casey partner Ross Byrne in what will be just a second and third Test start for both halfbacks, and a first start in the Six Nations for each player.
Andy Farrell was forced to make a change on Friday with Stuart McCloskey coming in for Garry Ringrose in midfield, with Jimmy O’Brien called up to the bench.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), James Lowe (Leinster); Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Iain Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster, capt); Caelan Doris (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster).
Paolo Garbisi returns at outhalf as one of three changes to Kieran Crowley’s side from defeat against England in round two. The other change in the backline sees Pierre Bruno restored to the wing, which pushes Tommaso Menoncello to inside centre with Luca Morisi dropping to the bench. The sole change in the forwards comes at tighthead as Simone Ferrari replaces Marco Riccioni.
ITALY: Ange Capuozzo; Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (capt), Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Allan
