Ireland v Italy, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Saturday 2:15, Mike Adamson to ref.

Ireland
Six changes to the Ireland team. Sexton is out with injury/rested. Aki, Byrne, Casey, Kelleher, Henderson and Conan come in.

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 29 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 70 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps (c)
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 25 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 35
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 27 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 11 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 43 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 17 caps
10. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 16 caps
9. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 9 caps


Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps, 17. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 50 caps, 18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 6 caps, 19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps, 20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 91 caps, 21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 102 caps, 22. Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) 2 caps, 23. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 11 caps


Italy
Italy welcome Garbisi back at 10.

1 Danilo Fischetti
2 Giacomo Nicotera
3 Simone Ferrari
4 Niccolò Cannone
5 Federico Ruzza
6 Sebastian Negri
7 Michele Lamaro (Captain)
8 Lorenzo Cannone
9 Stephen Varney
10 Paolo Garbisi
11 Pierre Bruno
12 Tommaso Menoncello
13 Juan Ignacio Brex
14 Edoardo Padovani
15 Ange Capuozzo

Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Tommaso Allan

Shame that Monty Ioane is no longer playing for Italy after his return to Australia. He was a great player for Italy and who knows he may after three years line out for one of Australia, Fiji or Samoa all of which he could qualify for.

I'm glad Farrell wisely didn't mess too much with a winning formula because that's the strongest Italy side yet.

There's been a lot of noise about the likes of Gavin Coombes missing out on even a bench spot but you simply don't mess with a side that much and throw a young lad straight in the mix during a 6 nations. His time will come very, very soon and he will be another world class player.

It'll likely be the old story of Italy being a tough side to break down with nothing in it going into the second half but I do hope this Irish side can go out and make a big statement before facing the resurgent Scots and the always dangerous English.

Yeah I dont think you would want to make more than six changes however the players that have come in look good.

Pete330v2 wrote:I'm glad Farrell wisely didn't mess too much with a winning formula because that's the strongest Italy side yet.

There's been a lot of noise about the likes of Gavin Coombes missing out on even a bench spot but you simply don't mess with a side that much and throw a young lad straight in the mix during a 6 nations. His time will come very, very soon and he will be another world class player.

It'll likely be the old story of Italy being a tough side to break down with nothing in it going into the second half but I do hope this Irish side can go out and make a big statement before facing the resurgent Scots and the always dangerous English.

You know me Pete, I've got to look for the negative

I had hoped to see Osborne on the bench and Coombes starting. Of the 6 changes only 2 (Byrne and Casey) are in any way significant. All the others are pretty much interchangeable as one would hope in a squad pre-World Cup. Coombes come into the 23 at the expense of O'Mahoney. Lets face it we know exactly what we will get Pete, whether we like it or not. And he doesn't need any extra game time. Some minutes for Coombes against a full international pack would be good. Aki needs the game time to keep up to speed, and McCloskey isn't the most versatile bench option to be brutally honest. Osborne could benefit from some time out there and would provide wider options should there be an injury.

Admittedly that could mean a Murray/Crowley/Osborne combination, and Murray's humungous number of caps won't out weigh the inexperience outside him, but it could be instructional.

But I do hope for an entertaining game and good win with the side selected. I suppose Andy Farrell is the one with the international coaching experience

Delighted to see Casey get a start but at the same time i think he is better coming off the bench this early in his international career.

All in all, I do think that even with the changes, this is still a very strong Ireland team and should get the TBP win over Italy.

This is all about giving Conan,Casey, Bryne and Aki game time,
and giving the players they replace a rest before the last two games.

No way we would start with Crowley at 10 and Osborne at 12; at least this side of the World Cup

Even with six changes four of the guys that came into the team are Lions. Thats quite impressive.

I think we'd all like to see the young lads given a lash. Coombes is mind blowing, Osbourne looks like BOD reborn, Crowley looks like he has what it takes to grab the 10 shirt etc etc etc

There's so much classy young players who are putting their hand up but Italy in Rome isn't the trip it used to be. From what we've seen of them they can put it up to anyone on their home turf. This squad and probably more to the point Andy Farrell want to win the 6 nations and the GS. There aren't eyes on the RWC right now, it's all about what's happening now. There's no room for complacency.

I like the new attitude, the young lads will definitely have their time and very soon.

Ringrose out, McCloskey in with Aki moving out to 13, Jimmy O'Brien to the bench.

An intriguing change, and in my opinion not too bad a thing. I have no concerns with the change impacting our attack, and am interested to see how it will affect the defence, given the key role that Ringrose has been playing of late. The Italian attacking structures may not be as impressive as the French (few are), but it does need to be respected.

Not ideal

Decent enough side. Would have liked to see O’Brien in the 23.
Hopefully a 5 point win.

In other news. RIP Tom Tierney.

OBrien is in now I think

I did say he was on the bench, honest.

Decent win for the U20s, Sam Prendergast looks a really classy player. Perhaps he might like to move North to get some game time in seniors

westisbest wrote:

In other news. RIP Tom Tierney.

Terrible news, Tom was an absolute gent. RIP

Was it me or did they seem to be playing 'Ireland's Call' really slowly?

I didn't think you could make Ireland's Call any more of a laughing stock, but that was comically slow. Mind games to remove the passion? Or nobody actually playing the thing to the band first?

Heaf wrote:Was it me or did they seem to be playing 'Ireland's Call' really slowly?

T'was odd wasn't it.

Even some of the Irish players were laughing it was that bad.

It’s either ignorance or purposefully done. Take your own pick as to which is worse

Some try that from Ryan.

Could be a long day for Italy

Great move by Italy but pretty shambolic defense by Ireland.

Yep Ireland defence around the last ruck was not great ... player on floor that tried to stick his arm out and stop the Italian was lucky he didn't or could have been a PT and YC

Well Italy are stepping up ... turnover near the line may have been a bit unlucky as didn't look like the jackler was supporting his own weight. Maybe we have a game on here ...

This is mad

Midfield defence optional for both sides.

Surprised they didn't have a look actually at the Irish runner taking out people ahead of the ball before the pass on 2nd viewing.

Keenan really is developing into one of the best 15's around

No 7&1/2 wrote:Midfield defence optional for both sides.

Aki has never really been known for his defensive abilities or his handling...

Fair play to James Lowe, he is having a cracking game so far.

Italy's problem is not looking after the ball which is costing them good attacking options

Not sure he has to get out of the way. Nothing in that surely.

Never a pen that.

I don’t think it looks deliberate, you’d think it was more obvious for the officials though, the ones who get paid.

Nothing wrong for me - looks like he turns away and the other player runs into him - not even a pen

Just stood his ground...

Think Casey looked for that.

Poor decision for a penalty.

TMOs allowed to overrule the match ref now?

eirebilly_01 wrote:Just stood his ground...

Think Casey looked for that.

Poor decision for a penalty.

Agreed, that one was milked. Football levels of finding contact and flinging yourself to the floor. Bit of karma that he hurt himself doing it.

Well that is the TBP in.

eirebilly_01 wrote:Just stood his ground...

Think Casey looked for that.

Poor decision for a penalty.

Yeah, you have to wonder if the Irish will go on about this half as much as they go on about Liam Williams…

Aki, you cupid stunt...

Nicely done ... Italy still in it

Not a great performance from Ireland so far, entertaining match though.

This is a great game to watch but the Irish midfield defense is poor, especially Aki.
Casey is a great impact 9 but not quite yet at the standard to start a match. Was not impressed with his dive either.

For me, Lowe and Keenan have been the stand out players for Ireland.

eirebilly_01 wrote:This is a great game to watch but the Irish midfield defense is poor, especially Aki.
Casey is a great impact 9 but not quite yet at the standard to start a match. Was not impressed with his dive either.

For me, Lowe and Keenan have been the stand out players for Ireland.

Makes you realise how good Ringrose is

Entertaining first half, but as said above defence for either side hasn't been great. McCloskey/Aki obviously need to do some work as defensive combination, especially with Lowe outside them. The Aki pass for the intercept - you win some you lose some. If it had gone to a green hand we would have been saying how good it was.

Not overly impressed with the refs consistency. Agree Casey milked the penalty, which was a disappointing decision compared to a similar Conan impact (no penalty) some minutes earlier. We can agree or disagree on the actual decision, but it should be consistent.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:This is a great game to watch but the Irish midfield defense is poor, especially Aki.
Casey is a great impact 9 but not quite yet at the standard to start a match. Was not impressed with his dive either.

For me, Lowe and Keenan have been the stand out players for Ireland.

Makes you realise how good Ringrose is

Ya bollix

Ireland lookinh like Grans d Slam winners so far. but dair play top Italy making Ireland work very hard for eberu point they are infront by

Collapse2005 wrote:Not a great performance from Ireland so far, entertaining match though.

Not great from Craig Casey either. Come on collapse, let’s see you bleat on about it like you did Liam Williams.