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.

More genius from bod! Simply amazing.

Best try of the game so far.   

1 more year!

Beautiful offload from BOD; great finish Sexton!

BOD. That was amazing

Now get that farewell try.

I know it's a bit premature...do you think they'll give MOTM to BOD?

BOD. That was amazing

Now get that farewell try.

Yes, Cari.

I like the way Cronin went on his arrse there too.   

Wow  

That BOD fella. Could be a player.

Cowshot wrote:Yes, Cari.

Can't see it being anyone else really, even if he was rubbish.

Get Wee Paddy on!

Defo Cari

Ah Frak lads, theres something in my eyes.

What a send off from the crowd, absolutely well deserved.
Couldn't help having a tear in my eye and standing in my living room clapping him off.

Well you won't see an ovation like that in Dublin again...well, maybe not until Garth Brooks plays Croke Park for the umpteenth time...

Ireland deserve to win the tournament after this display .

+62 points diff as it stands for Ireland... hopefully more. Puts pressure on the other 3.

Please can we have Nigel Owens next week???

Cronin over!

Cari wrote:

Cowshot wrote:Yes, Cari.

Can't see it being anyone else really, even if he was rubbish.

Think he earned it.

Ireland will deserve the Championship if they beat France, no question. Much more polished finishers than other sides at present.

Henry nearly fluffed that chance but well done to Cronin

Cronin for the 13 shirt   

Well done Cronin and Wee Paddy!   

That little kid with the teeth missing sitting behind BOD will forever remember this day!

maybe he had all his teeth... I just added that bit for extra effect.

It was a good idea but poor execution by D'Arcy and that has left Italy in a decent position.

You have to think the wind resistance of that beard costs Darcy a few metres per second...

Henry had a good game

Italy dead on their feet now, I think.

What a kick Paddy

Well if there's ever a lull in the crowd, just put BOD on the big screen...although he just looks embarrassed by the fuss.

what a pass... around the defender

Boo ya

FERG!!!!   

Enough time for another

BOD is MOTM...well it went without saying...

Well done Ireland . When you needed a massive win you got it. The 6 nations is yours if you scrape past France....

Go left!

Sack that Schmidt. Joker

McGrath over!!

Great to see a proper demolition from Ireland today.

Shame bod could've been left on and undoubtably would've picked up a try in this greenwash.

Proper win for Ireland. Must hold my hand up and say that I thought it would be closer.

McGrath over. Well done Ireland.

46-7. FT

39 point difference from this game! Great game

Congrats Ireland. Very good indeed.

Have to say I'm worried for Italian rugby. Another poor performance, their u20s this year are embarassing and Treviso are in free fall.

Hope things improve for them.

Bit bitter from inverdale there?

So a healthy +81 points difference. They've ripped Italy to shreds.

So BOD in his last game in the 6ns. and he gets Man Of the Match. A bit of a joke don't you think.

Sometimes there is justice. BOD gets a fitting home farewell. But hope the bugger gets the proper sending off next week with the win in France. Today was good but it'll count for nothing if they lose away next week. Well played Ireland today but the real match is next week. You deserve to be champions so don't feck it up for ya man and ya team by not closing it out next week.