Italy v Ireland: Team line-ups, kick-off time, key quotes, predictions, odds and where to watch on TV

By Sporting Life

Rugby Union

Fri February 22, 2019 · 6y ago

Our guide to Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash between Italy and Ireland in Rome includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.

Ireland got their Six Nations bid back on track with victory over Scotland and will expect nothing less in Italy, where they won by 53 points on their last visit.

The hosts showed signs of promise in an opening-round defeat to Scotland and again versus Wales, but this looks their toughest test yet and they're priced to suffer a third defeat in as many matches.

What time is kick off & what channel is it on?

The match, which takes place in Rome, will start at 1500 GMT on Sunday February 24 and will be screened live on ITV 1.

Italy v Ireland: Team news

Italy: J Hayward (Benetton); E Padovani (Zebre), M Campagnaro (Wasps), L Morisi (Benetton), A Esposito (Benetton); T Allan (Benetton), T Tebaldi (Benetton); A Lovotti (Zebre), L Ghiraldini (Toulouse, capt), S Ferrari (Benetton), F Ruzza (Benetton), D Budd (Benetton), J Tuivaiti (Zebre), M Mbanda (Zebre), A Steyn (Benetton). Replacements: L Bigi (Benetton), C Traore (Benetton), T Pasquali (Benetton), D Sisi (Zebre), A Zanni (Benetton), G Palazzani (Zebre), I McKinley (Benetton), T Castello (Zebre).

Ireland team: D Kilcoyne (Munster), S Cronin, T Furlong (both Leinster), U Dillane, Q Roux (both Connacht), P O'Mahony (Munster, capt), S O'Brien (Leinster), J Murphy (Ulster), C Murray (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster), B Aki (Connacht), C Farrell, K Earls (both Munster), R Kearney (Leinster). Replacements: N Scannell (Munster), J McGrath (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Van Der Flier (Leinster), J Cooney (Ulster), J Carty (Connacht), A Conway (Munster).

Sean Cronin will make his full Guinness Six Nations debut aged 32 and in his 68th cap when Ireland face Italy in Rome on Sunday.

Leinster's two-time Champions Cup-winning hooker already boasts Ireland's highest number of replacement appearances with 58 caps from the bench, and will earn just his 10th Test start this weekend.

Connacht fly-half Jack Carty could make his Test debut off the bench, with Joey Carbery nursing a suspected hamstring problem.

Italy v Ireland: Odds & advice

Ireland are close to the basement price to win here at 1/100, and they're asked to concede 29 points on Sky Bet's primary handicap line at 10/11 either way.

Italy can be backed at 16/1 to win and it's 50/1 the draw.

Click here to check out all Sky Bet's Italy v Ireland odds

Tony Calvin's verdict...

No bet.

Italy v Ireland: Key quotes

Italy's forwards coach Giampiero De Carli...

"The loss of Sergio Parisse? It is clear that we lose one of the strongest number eights in the world, but we have players who are up to the situation that will be able to contribute to the team.

"We know Ireland well, we faced them last time in Chicago in the first Test match in November: it will be crucial for us to make the most of our opportunities."

Ireland's Jack Conan...

"I think the rest week gave us a good opportunity to go back to our basics, without having to focus on another side.

"Going up against England or Scotland, the whole week is trying to get your own detail sorted and then worrying about what they're doing.

"The off weeks are a chance to look inward and to try to improve what we're doing. I think there's been a lot of growth last week and even the start of this week.

"We're in a good spot and looking forward to a good day on Sunday."

Italy v Ireland: Last four meetings

2018: Ireland 54-7 Italy, USA

2018: Ireland 56-19 Italy, Dublin

2017: Italy 10-63 Ireland, Rome

2016: Ireland 58-15 Italy, Dublin

Six Nations fixtures and results

Round One (February 1-2)

France 19-24 Wales
Click here for match report
Scotland 33-20 Italy
Click here for match report
Ireland 20-32 England
Click here for match report

Round Two (February 9-10)

Scotland 13-22 Ireland
Click here for match report
Italy 15-26 Wales
Click here for match report
England 44-8 France
Click here for match report

Round Three (February 23-24)

France v Scotland, Saturday February 23, 1415 GMT, Stade de France, BBC 1
Wales v England, Saturday February 23, 1645 GMT, Principality Stadium, BBC 1 & S4C
Italy v Ireland, Sunday February 24, 1500 GMT, Stadio Olimpico, ITV 1

Round Four (March 9-10)