Andy Farrell faces a period of significant evaluation and adjustment as he prepares his Ireland team for their Six Nations clash against Italy. Following a humbling defeat to France in Paris, changes are inevitable as Ireland seek to regain momentum in the tournament.
The 38-17 loss to France exposed vulnerabilities in the Irish side, particularly a perceived lack of “intent,” as acknowledged by Farrell himself. With several key players still sidelined due to injury, the upcoming match against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on presents an opportunity to experiment with the squad and identify emerging talent.
New Faces and Potential Debuts
Reports suggest Farrell is poised to make a number of alterations to the starting XV. Ulster duo Robert Balacoune and Cormac Izuchukwu are being tipped to feature, potentially injecting fresh energy into the team. Munster second-row Edwin Edogbo is also in line for a potential debut off the bench, adding depth to the pack.
The half-back pairing is also expected to see changes, with Craig Casey likely to start at scrum-half in place of Jamison Gibson-Park. Sam Prendergast is also anticipated to start at out-half, offering a different dynamic to the Irish attack.
Ulster’s Bryn Ward has also emerged as a contender for inclusion in the 23-man squad. Having impressed during his appearances for the Ireland XV, Ward’s recent form has caught the eye of Farrell and Paul O’Connell. The academy back row has been in excellent form for Ulster, and his potential inclusion would provide further competition for places in the back row.
Return of Key Players
Ireland have received a significant boost with the return of Tadhg Furlong to full training. The Leinster prop missed the opening match against France due to injury, but is now in contention to start against Italy. Scrum coach John Fogarty emphasized Furlong’s importance to the team, highlighting his experience and leadership qualities.
“He’s healthy. He’s massive (for us). He’s trained now. We’ve done live scrums today. We’re doing a few more tomorrow,” Fogarty stated. “It’s brilliant to have a player like him back. He’s played three Lions Series and nine Tests in those series so he brings in all the experience and confidence and so on. So, yeah, it’s massive.”
Injury Concerns and Absences
Despite the positive news regarding Furlong’s return, Ireland still have a number of players unavailable through injury. Bundee Aki remains suspended, while Ryan Baird, Shayne Bolton, Mack Hansen, Jordan Larmour, Paddy McCarthy, Robbie Henshaw, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, and Andrew Porter are all currently ruled out.
Italian Preparations
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada also faces selection challenges ahead of the match in Dublin. Centre Nacho Brex will miss the game due to personal reasons, while Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo, Stephen Varney, and Simone Gesi are all back in contention after missing the opener against Scotland.
Quesada emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of his players, stating, “In managing the team, the human aspect and family will always be a priority in my opinion.”
Match Details
Ireland v Italy will take place on at the Aviva Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 2:10pm. The match will be broadcast live on Virgin Media One in Ireland and ITV in the UK.
The current Six Nations standings show England leading the table with five points, followed by France with five points, Italy with four points, Scotland with one point, Ireland with zero points, and Wales with zero points.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BP | Points |
| 1 | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 7 | +41 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 14 | +22 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Scotland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 18 | -3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Ireland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 36 | -22 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Wales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 48 | -41 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
