He is also the defending Six Nations Champion. Until recently, the top-ranked team in the world. Last weekend, they defeated France 38-17 in Paris.
Good luck to Italy at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
Ireland have put up at least 50 points against Italy in the last four Six Nations meetings in Dublin. Even in 2012 and 2014, Ireland scored 42 points and 46 points in both teams’ games against Roma in 2013, Italy’s last win over Ireland.
Ireland will return home on Sunday after a disappointing quarter-final loss to New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup in France in October. The team will be hoping to put on a show at a packed Lansdowne Road while maintaining their aim of becoming the first in the Six Nations era to win back-to-back Grand Slams.
“If we can perform to the level we can perform, the Grand Slam will take care of itself,” attack coach Mike Catt said. “This allows me to focus on[performance]without worrying about outside noise.”
Italy’s matches usually involve opponents rotating their players, but Ireland decided to rest key players Tajig Beirne and Bundy Aki, despite coming nine days after their match against France. did. New captain Peter O’Mahony and tighthead Tadhg Furlong are rehabbing calf injuries, while flanker Josh van der Vlier and scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park have been dropped to the reserves.
The starting XI included Finlay Bealham, the only non-Leinster forward, former captain James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Connan, and backs’ Craig Casey and Stuart McCloskey. Ireland is by no means weak either. They all went to the World Cup.
Conan says the pressure is on to raise the record-setting standards he achieved at Marseille.
“We started pretty well and the players are generally happy, but we know we have to progress and get better as the tournament progresses,” Conan said. “I don’t think that will be our best performance.”
Fly-half Jack Crowley, who contributed 13 goals, and try-scoring wing Calvin Nash will play again after securing their first Six Nations starts at Marseille.
Former flanker Caelan Doris will serve as captain for the first time.
After Italy suffered a narrow 27-24 loss to England in Rome last weekend, they restarted fullback Ange Capozzo from among their four substitutes.
Capozzo withdrew from the match due to a stomach illness. Tommaso Allan was a substitute after suffering a last-minute bruise that disrupted his training this week.
Injuries to Lorenzo Cannone, Sebastian Negri and Edoardo Iacizzi in the rearguard saw Manuel Zugliani and newcomer Alessandro Izecole promoted to the wings, with captain Michele Ramaro moving into number eight for the first time since 2021.
However, if South African No. 8 Ross Vincent, who plays for Exeter, makes his debut off the bench, Ramalo could be on the move.
Italy gave England a good scare. However, that was only at home against England. The last time Italy played a top-four team, in September-October, they conceded 23 tries to New Zealand and France.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey. Jack Conan, Caelan Doris (captain), Ryan Baird, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Rahman, Tom O’Toole, Ian Henderson, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne, Jordan Larmour.
Italy: Ange Capozzo, Lorenzo Pani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monti Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney. Michele Ramaro (captain), Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Izecole, Federico Luzza, Niccolo Cannone, Pietro Ceccarelli, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Danilo Fischetti. Reserves: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnuolo, Giosue Girocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Ross Vincent, Martin Page-Lillo, Tommaso Allan, Federico Mori.
AP Rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby