Bowe predicts fast and furious tie against Italians

Tommy Bowe is adamant Ireland's back line will persist with their expansive approach to this year's RBS 6 Nations Championship when they take on Italy in Rome on Sunday.

Bowe starts on the right wing against the Azzurri at Stadio Flaminio and believes it is an exciting time to be part of a confident Ireland side as they continue their quest for championship and Grand Slam glory.

The Monaghan-born winger, who transferred from Ulster to Ospreys last summer, has also said facing his club team-mates on the Wales national side in a possible championship decider on March 21 would mark the biggest thrill of his rugby career.

However, the 24-year-old stresses that thoughts of facing Ospreys team-mates Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, Ryan Jones et al have been put on the back-burner as his focus is solely on the Italian job.

"I think it's definitely going to be a fast game against the Italians," said Bowe.

"You can't take anything for granted against them either. They bring a new line speed with 'blitzers' coming at you from everywhere.

"However, I think it's a great opportunity for us to hopefully get a bit of ball in hand. If we can get the sort of set-piece that the forwards gave us at the weekend (against France), I think it's going to be a very exciting time for us as backs to really take them on out wide and, hopefully, come away with a few tries."

The Ireland back line finally clicked against France last weekend, notching three well-worked tries in a 30-21 win - the pick of which was arguably Jamie Heaslip's finish after superb work down the Hogan Stand side of Croke Park by Bowe himself.

"The French were so dangerous but at different stages I think we were able to show our own dangers as well," said Bowe.

"It's great to play in a match like that - it was so tight at different stages but, at the same time, we won well in the end. I think we were quite convincing and there are still areas we can improve on as well."

Bowe has posted eight tries in 19 Tests so far for his country, but the former Ulster man has really developed as a three-quarter since his summer move to Wales.

Since settling into the Ospreys' star-studded squad, he has come to admire the talents of Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, Nikki Walker and James Hook - but this week picked out IRB World Player of the Year Williams for special mention.

"Shane is a class act," Bowe said.

"For someone who isn't a very big size, he can leave you planted on your two feet and could be gone like that. It's been great for me to go over there, train with him, chat to him about different wing play, give him my opinion on things, while he is also generous with his opinions with me.

"Then you have someone who is a total different size like Nikki Walker. At 6ft 4in, he's lightning-quick. He doesn't look as fast as Shane but would be just as fast.

"It's great to have both ends. To be able to train with him you just see how classy he really is."

Bowe has also revealed that both he and Williams have already been having some banter about a possible Wales-Ireland Grand Slam showdown in the Millennium Stadium next month.

"We'll leave that to the press to think about that!" he quipped.

"I had a bit of banter with Shane but that's at the back of our minds at the minute.

"However, if it did come down to that match, for me personally it would be the biggest game of the year for me to come up against those boys; to beat them over there would be something else and would be as good as then going to Thomond Park in a couple of weeks and beating the Munster boys there (in the Heineken Cup quarter final).

"I think it's do-able on both counts but, on the back of my mind at the minute, are Italy. They're the number one priority at the moment and it's a match that can't be taken lightly."