Rugby Union
Italy Vs Ireland Preview, Prediction, Team News And Lineups Ahead Of Six Nations Clash In Rome
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Get to know James Chittick betterPublished13 Mar 2025
Here’s our Italy Vs Ireland preview, prediction, team news and confirmed lineups ahead of both sides’ final Six Nations match in Rome on Saturday.
Italy Vs Ireland Preview
It’s the final weekend of this year’s Guinness Six Nations, with Italy hosting Ireland in Rome on Super Saturday.
England lose.
Italy beat Wales earlier in the tournament, but have since been unable to build on their recent improvement.
They lost 47-24 to England on Sunday, and took a record-breaking hammering against in round three.
Chances of an Italian scalp against the Irish are therefore slim.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, the best UK rugby betting sites have Ireland as 1/12 favourites, with Italy at 12/1.
Italy Vs Ireland Team News
Italy:
Ultimo appuntamento nel Torneo 2025 con gli #Azzurri di #Quesada: la formazione in campo all'Olimpico per l'Irlanda 👇🏻#ITAvIRE
🗓️ Sabato 15 Marzo
⏰ 15:15
🏟️ Stadio Olimpico di Roma
📺 @SkySport ▪ @RaiDue ▪ @NOWTV_It ▪ @RaiPlay#Italrugby #RugbyioneItaliana pic.twitter.com/wR7iVHhVfm— Italrugby (@Federugby) March 13, 2025
Italy have made plenty of changes for their final match of the championship.
In the forwards, Manuel Zuliani comes in for captain Michele Lamaro, who drops to the bench.
The captaincy is therefore awarded to Juan Ignacio Brex, who will hope to impress once more alongside centre partner Tomasso Menoncello.
Lorenzo Cannone starts ahead of Ross Vintcent, despite the latter’s superb finish to score against England.
Dino Lamb is back from injury at second row, and replaces Federico Ruzza.
Simone Ferrari and Gianmarco Lucchesi start, with Danilo Fischetti the only front row retained from the defeat in Twickenham.
Martin Page-Relo is back at scrum-half, while Tomasso Allan returns to start at fullback, shifting Ange Capuozzo to the wing.
Ireland:
Our team to face Italy in Rome! 👊#TeamOfUs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 13, 2025
Ireland have also made a host of alterations for their trip to Rome.
Munster fly-half Jack Crowley starts for the first time this tournament, with Sam Prendergast dropped to the bench.
James Lowe and Mack Hansen are both fit again and start on either wind, while Gary Ringrose returns from suspension at outside centre.
In the forwards, James Ryan starts ahead of Joe McCarthy at lock, with Jack Conan starting in the back row at blindside.
It’s a welcome return for prop Tadhg Furlong, who makes the bench having missed the rest of the tournament with injury.
Italy Vs Ireland Confirmed Lineups
Italy:
Starting XV: Allan, Capuozzo, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane, Garbisi, Page-Relo, Cannone, Zuliani, Negri, Ruzza, Lamb, Ferrari, Lucchesi, Fischetti
Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Cannone, Lamaro, Vintcent, Varney, Marin
Ireland:
Starting XV: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham; Ryan, Beirne; Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: McCarthy, Boyle, Furlong, McCarthy, O’Mahony, Murray, Prendergast, Aki.
Italy Vs Ireland Prediction
Prediction: