We are just a day away from the third round of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, and after a week on the sidelines the competition is back to take centre stage. With the Welsh strike avoided, we will have three matches to enjoy this weekend, with Italy vs Ireland kicking off the action.
Here is all you need to know ahead of this weekend’s opening Six Nations match.
Italy vs Ireland – 14:15 KO, Stadio Olympico, Rome
After the expected David vs Goliath match saw Italy almost overcome the odds against France, expectations are high on the Azzurri to put in a similar performance against Ireland. Undoubtedly the underdogs with Ireland embossing a shamrock on the ‘world number one’ throne, Italy have additional weapons in the arsenal this time around.
Their returning talisman Paolo Garbisi will be ready to re-stake his claim to Italy’s fly half spot, with a strong performance against Ireland. Harlequins’ Tommaso Allan has been a more than capable stand-in for Garbisi, with the 22-year-old ready to once again step into the number 10 jersey.
Kieran Crowley has only made three changes to his squad, from the side that lost to England last time around, starting with the aforementioned Garbisi. With the standards set high against France, Italy underperformed in comparison, and will hope for a stronger showing against Ireland. Simone Ferrari is the sole change in the forwards, as the prop races in to start over Marco Riccioni. Giovanni Pettinelli returns as a back row replacement, with the injured Jake Polledri making room for the Benetton flanker.
Andy Farrell has decided to mix things up ahead of the trip to Rome, and makes six changes to the side who toppled France. Captain Johnny Sexton is rewarded with a rest week, and will have to watch on from the comfort of his home. James Ryan will instead captain Ireland, which will be the seventh time for the Leinster lock.
Iain Henderson will partner Ryan in the second row, with the Ulster lock making his first start for his country since last year’s Six Nations. The power struggle begins for the fly halves, ahead of Johnny Sexton’s retirement. Farrell has selected Sexton’s Leinster teammate Ross Byrne to lead the line against Italy, with young Munster star Jack Crowley among the replacements.
This will be Byrne’s first ever Six Nations start, and will also be the first for his half-back partner Craig Casey. Taking over from the veteran Conor Murray, and with Jamison Gibson-Park still side-lined through injury, Casey will hope to make a lasting impression at scrum half.