Reasons to be fearful for Ireland: The Azzurri are whipping boys no more

They couldn't, could they? After their respective opening round showings, few are putting Saturday's meeting of Ireland Italy in the home and hosed category now

TOUGH TASK: Ireland ten Sam Prendergast is brought to ground by Italy's Tommaso Menoncello (left), and Manuel Zuliani in last year's Six Nations. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

1 – Italy are on the rise

It’s been a long time coming, so many wooden spoons, so many lop-sided scorelines and so many calls for relegation to be introduced to the Six Nations so as to make Italy justify their existence alongside the Big Boys. No more. And the telling thing is that an Italian victory is no longer greeted with surprise or patronising pats on the head as if the underdog has had a lucky break.