How Italian fixture has been used as launchpad for international careers

Michael Lowry makes his Ireland debut against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

It will not matter a fig to Michael Lowry who the opposition is on Sunday when the full-back makes his Ireland debut against Italy at Aviva Stadium.

Both history and the bookmakers’ odds back up the widely-held belief that Kieran Crowley’s side will not arrest a 34-game losing streak in the Guinness Six Nations this week and avoid their 100th championship defeat since joining the existing five in 2000.