Ireland vs Italy, 8th March

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IRELAND VS ITALY

Date: Saturday, March 8
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)

IRELAND TEAM wrote:15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.

16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Fergus McFadden.

ITALY TEAM wrote:15 Luke McLean, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Paul Derbyshire, 6 Joshua Furno, 5 Marco Bortolami (c), 4 Quentin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Alberto de Marchi

16 David Giazzon, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Andrea Masi

If we win this game by a larger margin than the winners of the other two games achieve then it's very, very simple- we set up a Cup Final for ourselves in Paris to win the Championship. We do already have the best points difference but we have a chance to settle the issue of points difference beyond all doubt and make this a very simple equation. An Ireland win in Paris, and we are champions. We are out to score and Joe Schmidt has named his strongest available team.

Italy have chosen to rotate their squad with half an eye on targeting the final game against England, Sergio Parisse is rested along with the first choice halfbacks in a team with a more experimental look. Tito Tebaldi and Andrea Masi make long awaited returns to the Italian match day squad and Luciano Orquera will hope to recapture the form which saw him perform so well in some famous Italian victories in the 2013 campaign.

There'll be plenty of applause for a retiring legend... but no room for sentiment. A ruthless and clinical performance is required.

Great start! Good try.

Magic pass from BOD.

Brilliant try by Ireland, but what an Oscar by Sexton after.

Disgraceful back play. Sack Schmidt now. Got to go lads.

Nothing in that at all.

nope, Sexton milked that.

What a great try by Sexton

Nothing in it but to be fair he took a shoulder to the face

Who's biased commentator?

Great try by Sexton. I'm pretty torn on who i want to win this. Italy as it would suite us, but i want BOD to get a good send off.

Castro off, massive loss for Italy.

More a case of taking his face to the shoulder, the Italian stopped.

What a fantastic pass from BoD!

Not sure why sexton ran into the defender then carried out a full football dive though.

Giovanni out. It's over for Italy already.

Late challenge, but nothing in it. The medics were quick to see to him though weren't they? Are they worried about him getting injured?

was that a hand of on heaslip by a winger?

I like this irish running play, good fast hands, running at the gap

Biltong wrote:I like this irish running play, good fast hands, running at the gap

Likewise by italy

Italy developing some real flair in the backs I think. Good to see. It's always been the part missing from their game hitherto.

Good work so far by Italy's wingers

maestegmafia wrote:

Biltong wrote:I like this irish running play, good fast hands, running at the gap

Likewise by italy

was just going to say, some nice offloads and running play from Italy, they eed one more body at the breakdown though, Ireland is quick to the ball

i can see Italy keeping this close till the last 20 minutes, typical Italian game.

Is it just me, or can anyone else hear heavy breathing in between the commentary? I don't know if it's Nige's mic or the commentators.

Shame the Italians couldn't get something there.

Looks like this is the Johnny Sexton Show...

Frantic stuff this. Excellent game to watch.

Great start to the game, both teams wanting to play rugby.

Owens is being so clear and lenient to both teams, its made for a great first 15,

has there been a penalty yet? I don't think so

Superb opening quarter of an hour. Both sides really trying to play with skill and endeavour.

Great refereeing is definitely helping.

wales606 wrote:Owens is being so clear and lenient to both teams, its made for a great first 15,

has there been a penalty yet? I don't think so

just then!

Cari wrote:Looks like this is the Johnny Sexton Show...

He is certainly showing some pace out there.

Brilliant hands, but one of them should have kept the ball a little longer

Hopefully Murray is back for paris

Murray off...????

big blow for murrey and ireland. shame

Reddan on for Murray. Castrogiovanni has broken ribs. Ouch!

Scrum going really well so far

Italy won't be in this game for long if they don't fix their set-pieces quickly.

That wrap around pass is working well, just need to not become predictable

nathan wrote:

wales606 wrote:Owens is being so clear and lenient to both teams, its made for a great first 15,

has there been a penalty yet? I don't think so

just then!

I was out of the room....

Murray feeling ill? Bit odd that he started then

Ireland is straightening the attack very well, been very effective

Really shocking decision making then. Ireland really should have scored...

Maul coming?

And they lose the lineout   

Trimble seems to be in the game a lot. Becoming a very fine player imo.

Great ball hygiene from Best at the thrown ins... using a fresh white towel for each throw.

So weird to see an Italian team with no set piece, running the ball from everywhere and offloading out of the tackle.

Ireland doing alot of holding on at the rucks. Getting away with it though despite Italy shouting.

wales606 wrote:So weird to see an Italian team with no set piece, running the ball from everywhere and offloading out of the tackle.

good though!

Linebreaker wrote:Great ball hygiene from Best at the thrown ins... using a fresh white towel for each throw.

maybe he is a germophobe?

Great try but awful defence

What a try!!!

Well done Italy but what's with the missed tackles...