RBS 6 Nations: Ireland v Italy

Italy captain Sergio Parisse is banking on a passion-filled, sold-out Stadio Olimpico to push them to victory over Ireland today and provide veteran prop Andrea Lo Cicero with the perfect send-off into retirement.

Italy will be without prop Martin Castrogiovanni for their RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland after he failed to recover from a thigh injury.

Italy 23 France 18

Tackling one of the most expensively compiled sides in France without a third of your first choice team in the intimidating surrounds of the Stade de France in this afternoon’s opening game of the new Heineken Cup campaign may well seem a bridge too far for a Munster team in transition.

Cast aside the disruption caused by the unscheduled absence of Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal and forget the frozen frustration of Paris, however well-placed the annoyance of the postponement and rescheduling debate surrounding the game with France.

First Brian McLaughlin, now Tony McGahan.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made four changes to face Ireland in Saturday’s RBS Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has named four uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the for the first two games of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

I CAN’T be sure if you’re getting the full impact back home but there is something special starting to happen over 12,000 miles away.

Scotland 23 Italy 12

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made 11 changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named a 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.

Italy claimed their first RBS 6 Nations victory over France at the 12th attempt with a sensational 22-21 upset in Rome this afternoon.

Italy prop Andrea Lo Cicero is relishing the prospect of taking on France in Rome on Saturday.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made seven changes to his side to face France in Saturday's RBS Six Nations match at the Stadio Flaminio.

Mike Ross is ready to rally Ireland’s retreating scrum when they open their RBS 6 Nations against Italy on Saturday.

LEINSTER’S ambition of a home Heineken Cup quarter-final spot has been facilitated by another weakened Racing Metro selection for tonight’s final Pool 2 clash at Stade Yves Du Manoir in Paris.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side for Friday night’s Heineken Cup match against Racing-Métro 92 at the Stade Yves du Manoir, kick-off 8pm.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named a 24-man squad for the first two games of the RBS 6 Nations.

Maybe the GAA can learn a thing or two from rugby –- like kicking off its premier competition with a bang. While the summer Championships often sleepwalk into summer, the Heineken Cup starts this weekend with heavyweight collisions. Alan Good looks ahead.

LEINSTER flanker Shane Jennings expects a testing afternoon from Racing Metro’s pack in Saturday’s Heineken Cup opener at the RDS.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has told his players to forget Mauro Bergamasco's 13-week ban for eye-gouging and instead focus on beating France on Sunday.

FRANCE head coach Marc Lievremont’s revolving door policy continued yesterday when he named three uncapped players in his starting XV for Sunday’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Italy.

WALES coach Warren Gatland insists Italy deserve to be treated with more respect — and he has been drumming home that message to his players all week.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has been forced to make several changes to his team to face Wales in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship encounter in Cardiff.

Italy prop Andrea Lo Cicero will not be fooled into thinking the Azzurri will face a weak England side in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations game in Rome.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has put his faith in experience for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations opener with Ireland at Croke Park.

Italy will be looking to put down a marker ahead of their probable winner-takes-all Pool C match against Scotland when they meet Portugal at the Parc des Princes tomorrow.

Alessandro Troncon will earn his 100th Test cap when he lines up for Italy against Portugal in the World Cup Pool C match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

ITALY manager Pierre Berbizier has made seven changes for tomorrow’s World Cup warm-up match against Ireland.

Italy 36 Japan 12

IF THERE was a Lions tour this summer, Eddie O’Sullivan would be nailed on as head coach after standing head and shoulders over his opposite numbers over the past few months.

WHAT an incredible afternoon of rugby. On Saturday morning a margin of four points separated Ireland and France at the top of the championship table.

Alessandro Troncon claimed that Italy are leaving the 2007 RBS 6 Nations with heads held high despite today’s 51-24 defeat against Ireland in the final match in Rome.

IRELAND’S Eddie O’Sullivan was the latest coach to sing Italy’s praises yesterday and he clearly meant it when he admitted that he very much feared the Azzurri in today’s final match of the RBS Six Nations Championship at the Stadio Flaminio.

ITALY coach Pierre Berbizier is hoping for another upset in this afternoon’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland in Rome.

ITALY’S Prime Minister Romano Prodi has never been a great football fan, unlike his opposite number Silvio Berlusconi, who is both president and owner of AC Milan, as well as most of the country’s TV stations.

ITALY coach Pierre Berbizier feels the Azzurri are not treated with the same respect as other national teams in the RBS 6 Nations.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier feels the Azzurri are not treated with the same respect as other national teams in the RBS 6 Nations.

ARGENTINA coach Marcelo Loffreda claims that his team will battle it out with Ireland for the second qualifying berth from Group D at the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

IF IRELAND’S opening Six Nations clash with Wales had the feel of a potential banana skin, then Sunday’s historic duel with the French is even more fraught with danger.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier will start Salvatore Perugini at prop instead of Andrea Lo Cicero for Saturday’s Six Nations Championship opener against France.