Ireland must be mindful of another upset

Few places have been the source of more history lessons than Rome, and an Ireland side heavily favoured to retain their Six Nations crown will travel to the Eternal City later this week mindful of their demise at Stadio Olimpico two years ago.

A campaign that started in such style with a defeat of Wales in Cardiff in 2013 had already dissipated into something to be endured rather than enjoyed by the time Declan Kidney’s team visited the Italian capital for their last engagement.

Yet the end note to an injury-hit spring was the lowest of them all with the visitors losing to the Azzurri for the first time, three more players being confined to sick bay as well as Brian O’Driscoll to the sin bin.