Penalty against Dan Sheehan as he goes for the tap pen close to the Italian line – and followed immediately by a bit of argy bargy. Big stand for Italy
First scrum of the game…
Big moment. Ireland’s injury-hit front row did a great job in Paris last week. Italy will want to test them too.
And its a penalty for Ireland. That’s a result in itself. “Keep scrummaging up,” the referee says to Thomas Clarkson. Italians told to give her a better picture.
Apologies, some gremlins in the system for a bit there. We’re underway and Ireland have had all the early possession, but in their own half
Nice cheer from the growing Aviva crowd after the announcer mentions Hollie Davidson, the first female referee to take charge of a Six Nations game.
Good afternoon everyone! It’s Ireland versus Italy in the Six Nations today, but not as we know it. No sirree. We have a game on our hands here. That’s how it looks from this leafy corner of Dublin anyways.
The Azzurri are coming to town with their tails up on the back of their win over Scotland in Rome last week. Thankfully, the rain has stopped here for now because some of Italy’s play was masterful in atrociously wet conditions at the Stadio Olimpico!
Maybe the dry conditions will be a leveller here, then.
We jest. Of course, we jest, but this is a significant test of the hosts.
The questions hanging over Ireland are many and varied: a declining form guide, an ageing team, issues with attack, defence, discipline, the aerial game…
Donal Lenihan has touched on much of this in his tee-up piece for today’s game, starting with what Andy Farrell said after the opening loss to France in Paris was a “lack of intent” and fight in his side. That’s tantamount to a slap in the face with a glove in rugby circles, the sort of thing that would prompt a duel with pistols at dawn back in the day, so a reaction is expected from the home team.
Farrell has already followed up that very public gesture with a team selection that shows six changes from the one that lost to France and with another three switcheroos on the bench. Simon Lewis goes through all the minutiae in his pre-match ponderings.
So, how will the players react to all this? What do they think is the problem or problems afflicting them right now? According to Jack Conan, there is no question of a long, slow decline. And whatever you do, don’t mention the Lions in all this either!
