All about the bigger picture for Ireland this weekend

Jamison-Gibson Park

Ireland reach the midway point of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations tomorrow with the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways but after defeat in France last time out, Andy Farrell is looking for proof that valuable lessons have been learned from his squad’s Parisian setback.

With a crowd at Aviva Stadium sure to demand a flurry of tries against an inexperienced Italy side with a collective total of 188 caps and only a November win over Uruguay in the victory column, the approach Ireland must take may be at odds with what the punters expect but the head coach will demand discipline, structure and balance from a team that nevertheless looks an exciting attacking prospect.