DAMIEN VARLEY may have been sitting at his kitchen table in Limerick less than a fortnight ago but having been called up to the Ireland World Cup squad as an emergency replacement he is not content to just be along for the journey.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will take his side into their winner-takes-all World Cup clash with Ireland on Sunday full of confidence after today’s bonus-point win over the United States.

THERE will be a reunion of sorts when Ireland and Italy’s front rows lock horns on Sunday and Irish scrum coach Greg Feek expects his band of brothers to present a much improved challenge to the one the Azzurri faced in Rome eight months ago.

Italy coach Nick Mallett believes his side have been handed the toughest opening assignment of any team at the World Cup as they prepare to face Tri Nations champions Australia in Pool C on Sunday.

Scotland were today aiming to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in their clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

Italy winger Tommaso Benvenuti believes his team must not get carried away by the euphoria surrounding their historic win over France as they prepare for their final RBS 6 Nations match of the year against Scotland on Saturday.

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 coach Nick Mallett insists his men head to Twickenham convinced they can make history with a first victory over England.

LIKE Ireland in Rome last Saturday, Leinster found out last night that it is one thing being expected to beat Italian opposition but quite another to actually do it.

TWO away victories for England and Ireland and a return to winning ways for the French support the pre-tournament view that the winners of this season’s Six Nations will come from one of Ireland, England and the current champions.

The Tactics

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

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

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby has reversed its policy of refusing to play against the New Zealand Maori, paving the way for match-ups between the two sides.

Aironi coach Franco Bernini has named a near full strength side for his side’s first ever Heineken Cup game against Ulster on Friday night, although Captain Quintin Geldenhuys will be missing for the visitors.

HAVING survived the skirmishes, Munster won the battle and secured the victory demanded of them against Italian newcomers Aironi at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

Munster 33 Aironi 17

NINE months ago, Munster full-back Felix Jones was left to ponder his rugby future after a sickening and career-threatening injury in the Magners League clash with Connacht at Thomond Park.

DENIS LEAMY has had his status as stand-in skipper to the injured Paul O’Connell confirmed with the announcement that he is to lead Munster into Magners League battle against Aironi at Musgrave Park tomorrow (7.30pm).

AT first glance, there could be no more difficult a start to life in the Magners League than what lies ahead for Aironi on Saturday.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the starting XV that lost their last RBS 6 Nations match to England for the game against Scotland in Rome on Saturday.

Carlo Antonio Del Fava is the surprise inclusion in Italy’s 30-man squad to face Scotland in their next RBS 6 Nations clash.

LEICESTER tight-head prop Dan Cole has admitted the prospect of anchoring the England pack in a full international was not even on his radar at the start of this season.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has been forced to make two changes to his 24-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations match against England in Rome on Sunday.

IT’S a straight-out-of-the-book recipe for a very poor game of rugby when Grand Slam champions perform like wooden spooners and the opposition do likewise.

BOXING is one of the few sporting activities in which the protagonists talk themselves up and promise to hammer the opposition into submission in the lead-up to a contest.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the starting XV that lost to Wales for Saturday’s final RBS 6 Nations game against France.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has dropped six players from his squad to face France in their final RBS 6 Nations game in Rome at the weekend.

Italy will be boosted by the return of lock Marco Bortolami and centre Andrea Marcato for their RBS Six Nations game in Scotland on February 28, but will be without Andrea Masi after the full-back received a three-week ban today.

Italy will be boosted by the return of lock Marco Bortolami and centre Andrea Marcato for their RBS Six Nations game against Scotland in Edinburgh on February 28.

Nick Mallett was left frustrated by his Italy team’s lack of discipline after today’s 38-9 RBS Six Nations defeat to Ireland in Rome.

Italy 9 Ireland 38

Maleili Kunavore and Thierry Dusautoir got the nod over Florian Fritz and Yannick Nyanga, repsectively, in the most contentious selection issues for Toulouse ahead of the Heineken Cup final against Munster on Saturday.

Injury-hit Toulouse will have to draw on all their experience to overcome London Irish in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Twickenham on Saturday.

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.

New Zealand 76 Italy 14

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan will have a far better idea of the well-being of his side after a near full-strength team has played Italy at Ravenhill tonight in the final warm-up for next month’s Rugby World Cup.

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

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.

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

Barnhall Bruiser Trevor Brennan lived up to his abrasive reputation in being listed as one of three Toulouse players cited for foul play in their side's Heineken Cup defeat to Ulster last Saturday.

Italy rugby chief Giancarlo Dondi has demanded the Azzurri “battle to the death” when they take on Wales in their next RBS 6 Nations Championship outing as they go in search of a first win in this year's competition.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped Andrea Lo Cicero in favour of Fabio Ongaro in his team for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland.