IRFU #RWC2015 Live Blog: Ireland v Italy
Join us for live text commentary of Ireland’s third Rugby World Cup pool match against Italy at the Olympic Stadium today (kick-off 4.45pm), as Paul O’Connell and his team-mates look to secure a quarter-final berth.
On the couch, in the clubhouse, on the move? You can follow all the action from Ireland v Italy with our IRFU Live Blog this afternoon.
If you don’t have a ticket for Ireland’s third Pool D fixture (kick-off 4.45pm), you can keep track of the game on our IRFU Live Blog, featuring:
– Live match updates and all the build-up from the Olympic Stadium
– Your tweets and photos
– Post-match reaction from Joe Schmidt and the players
Today’s clash in London is being broadcast live on TV3, UTV and RTÉ Radio 1. You can follow every tackle and try on the IRFU Live Blog – #ShouldertoShoulder, #RWC2015 and #IREvITA.
The 22-year-old Robbie Henshaw makes his RWC debut for Ireland in a side that shows 11 personnel changes to the one that defeated Romania 44-10. Paul O’Connell leads a starting line-up with 703 caps – Ireland’s most experienced of RWC 2015 to date.
Keith Earls, who partners Henshaw in the centre, needs one try to become Ireland’s outright top try scorer in Rugby World Cups, having equalled Brian O’Driscoll’s record of seven against Romania.
The Irish back row trio of Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip play together for the 13th time in Test matches, which is only two off the record Irish back row combinations: Stephen Ferris, David Wallace and Heaslip, and Simon Easterby, Wallace and Denis Leamy.
Ireland v Italy Preview – click here.