Oh I wish it could be SixMas every day. Oh wait it is! Ireland vs Italy

Losty Dublin

Kick off, 3:30PM. Live TV on Virgin Media 1, ITV 1 and NBC Sports Network in the US of A. Live Radio on RTÉ 1 with Michael Corcoran.

Introduction Like propping against Tom McCourt one can not keep a bad thing down as the Six Nations 2020 finally returns in conspicuously unusual circumstances. But sure, in the amateur days games always had such circumstances so us auld fellas can feel more at home now. Unlike the amateur days we actually have a chance of winning the ruddy thing so lets take this semi seriously for one day.

A look at the table shows that the whole Six Nations is wide open, with four of six nations standing a chance of becoming champions. Of course that assumes that we win today so lets look at the teams....

The Teams

Ireland: 15. Jacob Stockdale, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Hugo Keenan, 10. Jonathan Sexton (C), 9. Conor Murray; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Andrew Porter, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. James Ryan, 6. Caelan Doris, 7. Will Connors, 8. CJ Stander

Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Ultan Dillane, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Robbie Henshaw

Italy: 15. Jayden Hayward, 14. Edoardo Padovani, 13. Luca Morisi, 12. Carlo Canna, 11. Mattia Bellini, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Marcello Violi; 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Luca Bigi (C), 3. Giosuè Zilocchi, 4. Marco Lazzaroni, 5. Niccolò Cannone, 6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Braam Steyn, 8. Jake Polledri

Replacements: 16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Simone Ferrari, 18. Pietro Ceccarelli, 19. David Sisi, 20. Johan Meyer, 21. Maxime Mbanda, 22. Callum Braley, 23. Federico Mori

Lowdown

Being honest Italy have rather little paper hope today. The eventual demise of Parisse takes away their really big name from the team; however Zanni is also gone. His loss also takes away any obvious threat and balance from their back row but it also removes the team of their local hero on the field. Perhaps this is why coach Franco Smith has gone wholesale in a selection policy based on young players and new blood.

There may be some method in his madness; some commentators speculated over the years that an Italy without Parrisse and Zanni played a more open game of rugby than without. How much of it is madness and how much method is the big question; fly half Paula Garbisi has played a handful of Pro 14 games for Benneton while there are several uncapped players on the bench.

But lest you think that this Italian team will lack form be warned; most of their new look team have come through their excellent underage development programmes under Stephen Aboud (below). The ball will move out fast and quick and the Irish back 3 will need to choose their moments wisely otherwise the flankers will be giving them wedgies in the dressing room no matter what Dr. Holohan might advise against.




Not to be outdone, Ireland have rang in a couple of changes. Will Connors deserves his back row cap as does Hugo Keenan (below) who adds a bit of the Shane Byrne and Frankie Sheahan class hair to the field once more. Eyes to the full back line; Stockdale gets a start at 15 in a time when it is one position that Ireland has lacked credible go to picks over the last few seasons.




Verdict. Paddy Power has it +28 for the draw, and Italy a 100/1 for a win. I can see them being right here, with even an Irish implosion being too little to save the Azzuri. My guess is for a 48-12 win and, with an empty stadium we can leave the Mexican Wave to Kerbdog...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OupA5wt3IKQ

degsie

First!

Sanjuro

Is it just me or does Doris look like he's bulked up a good bit.

dublinman1990

I hope Andy Farrell gives us something good when he is going up against Italy today & France next week. Being in the job since he was one of Schmidt's management team should give him the experience to allow him to propel his management style on the team.

It is also great to see Rory Best being an analyst on ITV's coverage from today.

swiwi_

Given no crowd. Why not use a cheaper stadium? RDS etc. Must be expensive enough to get aviva open for no crowd, no?

lawrencesummers

Does anyone watching this on VirginHD think the picture quality is muck?

I’ve eir HD For Kerry vs Donegal and the picture quality is far far superior.

RonaVirus

Just leave the anthems at this stage.

dublinman1990

ITV has crowd noise added in during the anthems.

RonaVirus

Arragh go and ****e with your imported agendas.

swiwi_

JGP has Santa Claus role sorted. Giving Darcy’s effort a run for his money.

degsie

RonaVirus wrote: »

Just leave the anthems at this stage.

Not doing any harm tbh, more for team moral.

Clegg

Wow

dublinman1990

Ah damn. Murray is in the bin.

theVersatile

Harsh

blackwhite

Terrible refereeing there

lawrencesummers

All goes back to stockdale putting a foot in touch.
Unforced error.

AbusesToilets

Great stuff, be nice if Italy are actually up to this. Proper match

Burkie1203

theVersatile wrote: »

Harsh

No clear release. If refs are that clinical all the time I'm all for it

IngazZagni

I didn’t see any release from Murray. Correct decision.

thomond2006

Italy opt not to take the scrum in front of the posts with the opposition SH in the bin. That says a lot.

Clegg

Really targeting the opposition carrier in their 22.

Good tactic.

Bridge93

Quinlan talking rubbish as per. Murray never released him

bennyl10

Take off the shades Quinny
Clear penalty

lawrencesummers

Great play from herring.

Paul Smeenus

lawrencesummers wrote: »

All goes back to stockdale putting a foot in touch.
Unforced error.

No it doesn't go back to that. There's been two lineouts since. It goes back to Murray not releasing and Stander missing a tackle.

We'll done Herring

Faugheen

Ringrose at 9. Is there anything he can’t do?

AlfaZen

We shall see if the ref is as quick to the pocket as the game progresses

theVersatile

Decision was off feet, not no clear release.

theVersatile

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

No it doesn't go back to that. There's been two lineouts since. It goes back to Murray not releasing and Stander missing a tackle.

We'll done Herring

Surely it was Johnny, not Stander?

ClanofLams

Those constant low percentage kicks every time Ireland won a pen in the last few years are ridiculous. Ten yards from the tryline.

kmart6

ITV co-comm saying Ireland will miss the strength of Murray's box kick, don't know what she's been watching for the last year.

Clegg

Ringrose has been excellent since going to 9.

eigrod

Well in CJ

dublinman1990

Yes.

H'on Stander.

bennyl10

CJ doing Cj things.

leakyboots

Gwan CJ, some man to eke out the hard yards near the line. Ringrose was great too in those phases

F34

kmart6 wrote: »

ITV co-comm saying Ireland will miss the strength of Murray's box kick, don't know what she's been watching for the last year.

She’s very annoying

Paul Smeenus

theVersatile wrote: »

Surely it was Johnny, not Stander?

Went between the pair of them. Either way, "iT waS RealLy StoCKDale's FauLT" is nonsense.

Faugheen

Can we keep Ringrose at 9 here? He’s been great fun.

theVersatile

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Went between the pair of them. Either way, "iT waS RealLy StoCKDale's FauLT" is nonsense.

Agreed

Squidgy Black

Herring's having a great game so far

Utah_Saint

Can we keep ringrose at 9 and sub Murray?

theVersatile

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Can we keep ringrose at 9 and sub Murray?

Not after that pass

lawrencesummers

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

No it doesn't go back to that. There's been two lineouts since. It goes back to Murray not releasing and Stander missing a tackle.

We'll done Herring

Naw, stockdales error turned over the ball to them.

degsie

Great scrum

lawrencesummers

CJ carrying the pack as usual.
Somethings never change.

SqueakyKneecap

Herring excellent so far.

Paul Smeenus

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Naw, stockdales error turned over the ball to them.

Sure thing, bud.

Losty Dublin

Sanjuro wrote: »

Is it just me or does Doris look like he's bulked up a good bit.

Didn’t we all in 2020?

bennyl10

lawrencesummers wrote: »

CJ carrying the pack as usual.
Somethings never change.

But, but he isn’t test level.. and other nonsensical things.

Clegg

We've definitely missed Murray sniping around the rucks these last few seasons. Seems more hesitant to do it. Ringrose's half breaks were a breath of fresh air. Was a nice diversion.