Six Nations 2023

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SIMPLE_SELECTION The big key to this treble is France v Scotland on Sunday. Against the worst side in the Six Nations, Keenan to Score A Try Anytime at better than even money is a good bet. In terms of a match verdict, well, there’s been a bit of change-up in the starting side, and I think that is bound to have an effect on the Irish performance and it might dip slightly. Ireland have dominated their recent encounters with Italy and won 57-6 at the Aviva last year. We’re looking at week three of the 2023 Six Nations and we’ve been flying in recent weeks.

Minute-by-minute report: Can Ireland stay on track for the Grand Slam with victory over an improving Italy. Join Lee Calvert.

The only continuity from that difficult day a decade back is Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony are still around, as well as the ever latent yet indomitable Dave Kilcoyne. Craig Casey, the Munster man who never misses a chance to sniff something, will be his halfback partner. A lot can happen in ten years. Italy welcome back their sparkly-eyed talisman, Paolo Garbisi, who takes his place in the 10 shirt and pushed Tommaso Allan onto the bench. Ireland fans, are you starting to fully believe in this team now, or is The Fear™ still lurking like impending danger? The biggest omission is Johnny Sexton - recovering from an injury but may well have missed this week in any case – replaced by Ross Byrne.

Italy need to regather some momentum having been outfought by England at Twickenham last time out, a disappointing step back that came after they gave France an ...

"A little bit of a different dynamic for them, starting the game, but we expect the control that they've had. Should be some atmosphere in store at the Stadio Olimpico this afternoon. He's obviously very, very disappointed because it was going to be his 50th cap, so he's out. "We're aware of that, and our preparation says so. Farrell has made six changes to his team for today’s clash at the [Six Nations](/topic/six-nations) returns in Rome this afternoon with Ireland heavy favourites to take another step on the road to a first Grand Slam since 2018. Follow Italy vs Ireland live in the Six Nations below! It’s up to us whether it is or not. Italy need to regather some momentum having been outfought by England at Twickenham last time out, a disappointing step back that came after they gave France an almighty scare on opening weekend. It was the right thing for the right moment and we expect that to be the same from the start of the game. "Italy are obviously chasing that win at home and it's a big scalp, so we know the emotion that they've always had, but the skill that they've put in with that now makes them a serious threat to us. We’ve seen a candid Andy Farrell at times this week in the build-up to the trip to Rome.

The headlines this week have been dominated by Wales players contract dispute with the Welsh Rugby Board, but the news out of the camp is that players now ...

All the action from the Stadio Olimpico as Italy welcome world number-one side Ireland. The hosts have lost two from two so far, while Ireland are the early ...

down the right side and is brought down inches short of the line. Byrne kicks his first points of the day from the conversion, and the visitors re-take the lead. He steps in and out of two tacklers before wriggling away from a third to score under the sticks! He chases hard as Bryce collects the ball, and wins the penalty after the Ireland fly-half holds onto the ball in the ruck! Conor Murray, on for Casey, scoots from the back of the ruck to break the line, and offloads to Hansen who steps the full-back on his way to the tryline! A third Ireland try, and it's converted by Byrne from the sideline to open up a nine-point lead. He has Aki in support, and the New Zealand-born centre fends off Capuozzo to dot down in the corner! 54 mins: Italy move the ball quickly from their midfield line-out and Bruno drifts across to find Capuozzo. 82 mins: Italy win a late, late penalty and ship the ball from left to right. The ball comes back to the left where Brex chips to the corner, but he overcooks the bomb and Bigi can't reel it in! However, Hansen did manage to cross for a double after supporting a break from Conor Murray to step his way through and score, securing Ireland the points in the process. Ireland's lead wasn't a comfortable one for long though, as Italy winger Pierre Bruno latched onto a loose pass, intercepting to race away and score with the last action of the half.

Andy Farrell's impressive side this afternoon look to move one step closer to Grand Slam glory in Rome.

Ireland look to continue their Six Nations Grand Slam quest against Italy in Rome.

England are moving nearer and nearer to putting Wales awway but still the hosts stay in it! An error from Leigh Halfpenny, but Justin Tipuric ensures England do not capitalise! - Nick Tompkins cannot believe the decision of Mathieu Raynal, and Louis Rees-Zammit demands an explanation, too, after England are awarded a scrum having held up a Welsh carrier on the right. Into the final throes with Wales in possession. This was clearly a contest between two flawed sides, but English wins in Wales are not won easily, and Steve Borthwick’s developing team do deserve credit for gutsing it out to get the win. We were right in the game throughout - if we look back, we probably left a couple of opportunities out there.

Meet the referee in charge of the Italy v Ireland Six Nations game at Rome's Stadio Olimpico today.

You can watch the match live on ITV1 and ITVX with build up to the clash beginning at 1.25pm. Jack Crowley, 23. James Ryan (c), 6. Jack Conan Replacements: 16. Tommaso Allan Tommaso Menoncello, 11. A former Scotland 7s international, his primary playing position was at fly-half. Scotland’s Mike Adamson is the man in charge of today’s Italy v Ireland clash. As with the November tests and The Rugby Championship, the Guinness Six Nations represents another opportunity for a talented group of match officials with a superb work ethic to help facilitate more excellent tests in what is probably the most competitive period in men’s rankings history.” Advertisement Talking about the selection process ahead of the tournament, Whether decisions go your team’s way or not, there’s a good chance the referee will become a talking point of this afternoon’s game.

The Irish scored four tries before the break through James Ryan, Hugo Keenan, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen. However, Stephen Varney and Pierre Bruno scores ...

Defenders beaten: Carries: Pierre Bruno (Italy) – 8 Metres: Pierre Bruno (Italy) – 176 Carries: Pierre Bruno (Italy) – 15

This match had remained in real doubt up until Wednesday, when the threat of strike action from the Welsh players was finally avoided amid a bitter contract ...

"I have experienced what it's like on a match day in Cardiff - it's crazy, it's carnage - and these are the games you want to be involved in. "I was thinking earlier in the week that we had to play games in Covid with no crowds and you didn't want to do that, so we have to embrace this. Courtney Lawes will take a seat on the bench, having finally shaken off glute and calf concerns. So the more we can nullify their threats and be on top, you'd like to think maybe they'll be a bit quieter. We have made a stand, we have made people stand up and take notice and showed the strength we have as a playing group. “His role will be different at times, because it’s different to when you’re starting or you’re on the bench, but he will have a big impact. It's all about getting stuck into the next thing and going back to what we know works for us and don't go into our shells." Leigh Halfpenny and Louis Rees-Zammit start after injury, with Owen Williams getting the nod at fly-half for the first time. If we can have a good start and get on top early, you never know - the crowd might grow quiet. "It has been a shock to all the players," Owens said. The squad has been galvanised and come together, and I am sure you will see that on Saturday [Six Nations](/topic/six-nations) continues in Cardiff this afternoon as two old rivals collide in what is sure to be a bruising Test clash.

Minute-by-minute report: After a difficult build-up, can Wales rally themselves for a win over England? Join Lee Calvert.

The first scrum of the game is a Wales one on halfway, but Ref Raynal blows up and awards a free kick to England for early engagement by the home pack. Some tidy drills from both sides; England with the kick-off exit then Wales with a sensible lineout and kick in return. After that there’s a couple of two-passes-out attacks from Wales that are too slow and too flat (and not a very good idea to start with), that England eventually clamp onto at the breakdown to win a penalty. The ball is very quickly recycled and there’s a four on two overlap for Dombrandt to fire a pass to Watson who finishes well in the left corner. The backs are busy with the ball, lots of fast hands and pop passes before Sinckler blocks Tipuric to give Wales a penalty. Wales put some phases together in the England half, twenty of them in fact, the best moment coming when Rees-Zammit loops off his wing to take the ball through a hole and in behind. Tomos Williams quick taps a penalty at a scrum and feeds the ball left into his backline, but as the tackle completes Wales can’t resource the clearout (again) and it’s penalty to England (again). The ball is back in Wales hands as the clock goes into the red and the possession enters the England 22. This allows England to cross into the Wales half and up to the line with some threat before Tipuric clamps on with one of his specials to win a penalty. After some time, Wales are back in the England half and a knock-on from the visitors will give a scrum to the home side. On the latest take by Williams he takes a knock to his hip and he’s off and replaced by Dan Biggar. The message at half-time was to stay in the arm wrestle, but we gave away some critical turnovers and a few dropped balls at the wrong time.