IRFU Live Blog: Ireland v Italy
Join us for live text commentary of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations encounter with Italy at the Aviva Stadium today (kick-off 1.30pm), as Joe Schmidt’s men aim for their maiden win of 2016.
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 round 4 clash with the Azzurri (kick-off 1.30pm), you can keep track of the game on our IRFU Live Blog, featuring:
– Live match updates and all the build-up from the Aviva Stadium
– Your tweets and photos
– In-game player and team statistics from Accenture
– Post-match reaction from Joe Schmidt and the players
Head coach Joe Schmidt has made two changes to the team that lost 21-10 to England at Twickenham. Jared Payne returns at outside centre with Robbie Henshaw moving to number 12 and Stuart McCloskey making way.
Simon Zebo is promoted from the bench to wear the number 15 shirt for the ‘hamstrung’ Rob Kearney, while captain Rory Best will make his 50th RBS 6 Nations appearance in the front row.
On the replacements bench there are recalls for Sean Cronin, who will win his 50th cap if he comes on, Kieran Marmion, who will make his Championship debut should he get game-time, and Fergus McFadden.
The selected team has 601 Test caps between them and the bench has a further 188 caps. The average age of the starting line-up is 29.1 years, with the replacements averaging 27.7.