Ireland v Italy: Bank of Ireland Nations Series preview

The Bank of Ireland Nations Series kicks off this weekend with Ireland v Italy in the Aviva Stadium.

The first test will give Ireland head coach Andy Farrell ample chance to see who really wants a starting spot and place in Ireland's final squad for the World Cup in September.

Here's a full preview of the game to come this Saturday.

Peter O’Mahony scores Ireland’s fourth try just before the interval (Image: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

When is it on?

Saturday, August 4

What time is it on?

Kick Off: 8pm

What TV station is it on?

Live on Amazon Prime (UK) and RTE (ROI)

Where is it on?

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

What time does coverage start?

7.30pm

Can I listen to it on the radio?

You can catch updates here

Are there tickets still available

Tickets are on sale from ticketmaster.ie – click here to buy

What are the odds

Odds can be found here

Referee and match officials

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Luc Ramos (FFR), TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR), TMO Bunker: Stuart Terheege (RFU), 4th Official: Eoghan Cross (IRFU), 5th Official: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)

How many times have the sides played each other

Ireland and Italy have played each other on 35 occasions since their first meeting in 1988

What is the head 2 head record

Ireland have won 31 of those matches, whilst Italy have won four matches.

What happened the last time the sides played

Six Nations 2023: Italy 20-34 Ireland

Squads and scorers that day

Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Allan

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Stuart McCloskey, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, James Ryan (captain), Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Dave Kilcoyne, Tom O’Toole, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O’Brien

Italy

Tries: Varney (7), Bruno (41)
Conversions: Garbisi (8,42)
Penalties: Garbisi (19,56)

Ireland

Tries: Ryan (3), Keenan (13), Aki (20), Hansen (35,71)
Conversions: Byrne (14,22,72)
Penalties: Byrne (65)

Ireland's team for the game

Ireland's game kicks-off at 8pm later this evening.

Our first line up of the summer! 🟢#TeamOfUs

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) August 3, 2023

Ireland Starting XV:

Fullback: 15. Jimmy O’Brien

Winger: 14. Keith Earls

Centres: 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Stuart McCloskey

Winger: 11 Jacob Stockdale

Outhalf: 10 Jack Crowley Scrumhalf: 9. Craig Casey

Front Row: 1. David Kilcoyne 2. Rob Herring 3. Tom O’Toole

Second Row: 4.Iain Henderson (Captain) 5. Joe McCarthy

Back Row: 5. Ryan Baird 7. Caelan Doris 8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

What has Andy Farrell has said

"You win World Cups because of the strength of your squad so we’re trying to find out of people that have done so well to get picked in the initial 42 and now they’ve got the opportunity to represent the group.

“They know the expectation of how we want to play and what’s acceptable and what’s not.

“They get to represent the group first up and we’ll see how they go.

“We’ve had six weeks together, which we don’t normally get.