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.

Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer was passed fit for tonight’s clash with Italy after recovering from a back spasm.

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

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier is in confident mood as preparations begin in earnest for the World Cup.

Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Calvisano 15

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan described the wait for confirmation of France’s decisive try in a dramatic final day of the RBS 6 Nations as “excruciating”.

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan admitted on Saturday night that he and his players were “a bit down in the mouth” at finishing runners-up to France for the second successive year in the RBS Six Nations Championship in spite of racking up 51 points against Italy at the Stadio Flaminio.

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.

Ireland may mourn the cruel demise of their RBS 6 Nations title dream for some time to come but Denis Hickie is adamant the experience will prove invaluable at the World Cup.

Eddie O’Sullivan refused to blame fixture scheduling for Ireland’s heart-breaking failure to win the RBS 6 Nations as France were crowned champions by the narrowest of margins.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan refused to criticise his players for conceding the late try which could yet cost them the RBS 6 Nations title.

Ireland placed one hand on the RBS 6 Nations trophy after putting Italy to the sword at the Stadio Flaminio.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has several injury concerns ahead of the RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at the weekend.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier believes his team only had themselves to blame for their poor showing in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener.

Calvisano 11 Sale Sharks 29

ENGLAND forward Perry Freshwater was on the scoresheet as Perpignan comfortably overcame French rivals Castres in Heineken Cup Pool One last night.

Philippe Saint-Andre has challenged English champions Sale Sharks to “kick-start” their Heineken Cup campaign tomorrow night by collecting a maximum points haul against minnows Calvisano.

Leeds 21 Perpignan 20

Cardiff Blues 40 Leeds 13

Former England star Mike Catt took the spotlight away from big-name Premiership newcomer Justin Marshall by creating the first three tries as London Irish opened their season with victory over Leeds in the second match of today’s Twickenham double-header.

Italy were this afternoon forced to make two late changes for tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations match against England at Twickenham.

John Kirwan believes the side he will send out against England in a fortnight’s time will possess the best chance an Italy team has ever had of gaining a result at Twickenham.

Scotland coach Matt Williams heaped praise on his players for giving him his first taste of success in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield today.

Scotland 18 Italy 10

Italy full-back Roland De Marigny remains confident the Azzurri are capable of winning at least one game in this season’s RBS 6 Nations, after becoming a much-improved side under the stewardship of former All Black John Kirwan.

Italy’s team manager Marco Bollesan has pinpointed the Azzuri’s trip to face Scotland at Murrayfield as their most important game of the competition.

FRANCE’S second-half revival to beat England on Sunday has not stopped coach Bernard Laporte making several changes.

Italy coach John Kirwan has shaken up his squad in preparation for the clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 26 following two consecutive home defeats in the RBS 6 Nations.

ITALY coach John Kirwan has warned Wales to prepare themselves for a gladiatorial battle this afternoon when the teams meet in the second round of Six Nations matches.

BILLED as the most competitive Six Nations in years, the opening salvos seemed to confirm as much.

IRELAND were as unpredictable as a Roman taxi driver at the Stadio Flaminio yesterday, but in the end they just about survived.

Italy 17 Ireland 28

Italy 6 Ireland 8

Wales 44 Italy 10

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan described today’s 19-3 RBS 6 Nations victory over Italy as “trench warfare”.

Ireland 19 Italy 3

REGARDED by many as the minnows of the Six Nation’s championship, Italy arrive in Dublin today with designs on being the ultimate party poopers.

Italy number eight Sergio Parisse is set to miss the RBS 6 Nations match against Ireland on March 20.

Italy 20 Scotland 14

Italian centre Manuel Dallan is not fully fit and will only be on the bench for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against France in Paris.