GUINNESS Summer Series Preview: Ireland v Italy

Rugby returns to the Aviva Stadium this afternoon as Ireland’s build-up to the Rugby World Cup begins in earnest. The first of four warm-up fixtures, both home and away, sees Conor O’Shea’s Italy tackle a home squad which includes two debutants in Jean Kleyn and Mike Haley.

2019 GUINNESS SUMMER SERIES: Saturday, August 10

IRELAND v ITALY, Aviva Stadium (live RTÉ 2/Channel 4/Rai 2/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC 5 Live Sport Extra/IRFU Live Blog)

Team News: There are two uncapped players included in the Ireland squad for the opening game of the GUINNESS Summer Series against Italy. Munster’s Kleyn will make his international debut in the second row alongside Devin Toner, with the new-look side captained by flanker Rhys Ruddock.

Ireland’s captain for the day is joined in the back row by Jordi Murphy and a fully-fit Tommy O’Donnell, who won the last of his 12 caps against Scotland in March 2016. The Tipperary man is looking to put an injury-disrupted 2018/19 season behind him, which included shoulder surgery last January.

The starting pack is completed by Jack McGrath, Rob Herring and young tighthead Andrew Porter, who makes his fourth Test start. Former Leinster team-mates Joey Carbery and Luke McGrath combine at half-back, with the latter scoring his second try for Ireland against Italy in Chicago last November.

Garry Ringrose and Chris Farrell pair up for the first time in an exciting midfield partnership, as the Munster powerhouse switches to inside centre. Dave Kearney, who last played for Ireland against Fiji almost two years ago, returns on the left wing in a back-three completed by Jordan Larmour and Andrew Conway.

The second uncapped player in the squad is Munster back Haley who will be joined on the bench by Niall Scannell, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty. Ireland’s first warm-up game ahead of the Rugby World Cup will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 and Channel 4.

Meanwhile, Italy head coach O’Shea has selected some inexperienced youngsters, including 21-year-old debutant prop Marco Riccioni, in the team to play Ireland. There are only three starters retained from the side that lost 25-14 to France in March’s final round of the Guinness Six Nations.

Edoardo Padovani switches to full-back, Angelo Esposito is stationed on the right wing, and Marco Zanon, a debutant in that game, features at inside centre. 21-year-old starlet Zanon has his Benetton club-mate Tommaso Benvenuti alongside him in midfield, while there is a Zebre partnership at half-back where Carlo Canna combines with Guglielmo Palazzani.

Promising tighthead Riccioni gets the nod in a front row which contains only 16 Test caps. They are backed up by 111-cap veteran Alessandro Zanni and captain Dean Budd in the engine room, as Zanni goes level with Marco Bortolami as the joint-third most-capped Italian international of all-time.

Giovanni Licata (22) is rewarded with his first cap in over a year, linking up with Maxime Mbanda and powerful number 8 Jimmy Tuivaiti in an all-Zebre back row. Matteo Minozzi, who is back from a cruciate knee ligament injury, is a notable inclusion on the bench alongside with Gloucester-based debutant Callum Braley and Dublin-born out-half Ian McKinley.

IRELAND: Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster); Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster), Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster), Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Ulster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt), Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster).

Replacements: Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Iain Henderson (Queen’s University/Ulster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Kieran Marmion (Galwegians/Connacht), Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht), Mike Haley (Munster).

ITALY: Edoardo Padovani (Zebre); Angelo Esposito (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Rugby), Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre); Carlo Canna (Zebre), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre); Nicola Quaglio (Benetton Rugby), Oliviero Fabiani (Zebre), Marco Riccioni (Benetton Rugby), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Rugby), Dean Budd (Benetton Rugby) (capt), Giovanni Licata (Zebre), Maxime Mbanda (Zebre), Jimmy Tuivaiti (Zebre).

Replacements: Federico Zani (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Marco Lazzaroni (Benetton Rugby), Renato Giammarioli (Zebre), Callum Braley (Gloucester), Ian McKinley (Benetton Rugby), Matteo Minozzi (Wasps).

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Tom Foley (England), Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland to win: 1/33; Draw: 55/1; Italy to win: 14/1

Pre-Match Quotes: Andy Farrell (Ireland) –

It’s a big game for a lot of people this weekend. It is a Test match, the first one of the season, which is unusual for the guys. Cohesion is the word we’ve been looking for all week. Having said all that, the plan’s there. The strategy is there, but they’ve got to play the game as it happens.

“No game is perfect, especially the first one of the season. But can we stick to a plan, can we adapt on the run? Can we see the game for what it is? That’s all part of the process. We have to see if we can get better as a group, that’s what we’re after. The whole point of the Summer Series for us is to make sure that we learn along the way.

“Whether that’s from a really good performance or a performance that needs addressing. Is the result important? Course it is. Because we’d like momentum, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. The important thing for us is to make sure that we’re ready when we get on the plane. That we’re confident and that we’re refreshed and ready to go forward for the World Cup.

“There’s been 45 that started (in the training camp), we’re down to 43. Everyone’s acquitted themselves unbelievably well and the cohesion in the group, when you know there’s competition, has been absolutely phenomenal. But they’re in these positions taking the field because they are competitors. We’ll see how they manage being part of a team and being able to bring their competitive edge as well.”

Dean Budd (Italy) –

Being captain is a massive honour, I’m absolutely stoked. It’s strange obviously, Sergio’s always captained the team and has a massive presence. And without him it can be quite intimidating at times, knowing when it’s my time to talk and not let him do his usual role.

“So it’s been a week of finding my place and finding my voice in the team, without Sergio being there. And I’m excited to lead the boys out there on Saturday. When Sergio raises his voice, everyone listens. He’s been a massive help in that sense.

“I’ve got a massively young team to try to manage, and for him to be there in those moments when I haven’t been quite confident or ready to speak, he’s helped out hugely. It’s certainly unusual preparation because it’s a trial match but also an international Test against Ireland, who no matter who they put out are one of the best teams in the world.

“We’ll all give it absolutely everything we’ve got, but it’s been a weird week and it will be interesting to see how we start the game. We’ve set our focus on every game at the World Cup, and as you see, we’re trialling teams and players over the next few weeks.

“Yes, we always want to win, that will never be any different. No matter what the process we’re going out there to win on Saturday, but there’ll certainly be no panic stations if things don’t work out for the best on the day.”

Pre-Match Links –

Head-To-Head: Ireland v Italy

Irish Rugby TV: Captain’s Run – Rhys Ruddock Previews Ireland v Italy

In Pics: Ireland Hold Captain’s Run Ahead Of Italy Game

Irish Rugby TV: Conway And Murphy Preview Ireland v Italy

Murphy Has Brought Ulster Positives Into Ireland Camp

‘We’re Excited About Getting Back On The Pitch’ – Farrell

Recent Meetings –

2017: RBS 6 Nations: Italy 10 Ireland 63, Stadio Olimpico

2018: NatWest 6 Nations: Ireland 56 Italy 19, Aviva Stadium; The Rugby Weekend Test: Ireland 54 Italy 7, Soldier Field, Chicago

2019: Guinness Six Nations: Italy 16 Ireland 26, Stadio Olimpico

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