Ireland vs Italy LIVE: Six Nations 2026 rugby score, lineups and live text updates
Live Reporting
Andy Gray
1.
'The pressure is more on their shoulders' - Quesadapublished at 13:56 GMT
Ireland v Italy (14:10 GMT)
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada speaking to ITV: "It's a strong team with a strong character. No one wants to lose the way they did last week even if we all agree that France are an exceptional team.
"Today Ireland have a chance to show their real worth so we are going to do everything to make sure they won't look that good today.
"We are ready, we recovered well and I think every minute we can stay in the game will be a win for us. The pressure is more on their shoulders."
Image source, Getty Images
2.
Postpublished at 13:54 GMT
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BBC Sounds
Don't forget, you can listen to this one on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster and BBC 5Live Sports Extra 2 from 14:00 GMT.
Gareth Steenson and Claire Small join Orla Bannon in studio, while Mike McCarthy is the man alongside Jim Neilly on commentary.
3.
Postpublished at 13:52 GMT
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Final preparations in Dublin.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
4.
Postpublished at 13:50 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
Farrell said "nobody was holding back" when his squad addressed last week's humbling Six Nations defeat by France.
"We're very happy because nobody was holding back," said Farrell.
"There was a lot of honesty and no excuses. We tried to get back to simplifying things down and to understand what we stand for as a team.
"You always think that preparations are going right, but until you get a smack in the face like we did in Paris then you find out about yourselves."
When asked how his team need to grow, Farrell said: "The trajectory of every team is always learning and there is good and bad in that.
"This type of experience, it is never nice first game up, and to come second best by quite a stretch.
"It is how we bounce back and move on from that.
"These experiences are going to continue to happen, but I believe [with] the squad and the wider squad we have it'll stand us in good stead."
5.
Farrell asks players 'not to overthink' against Italypublished at 13:48 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has urged his players "not to overthink" against Italy in today's Six Nations game.
Defeat by France in their opening fixture left many questions as to the trajectory of the current Irish crop, who were outplayed by the defending champions for long spells in Paris.
In the past, a home game against Italy may have been viewed as a perfect way to bounce back, but Gonzalo Quesada's side are a much different proposition now and come into this game off the back of an opening victory over Scotland in a rain-sodden Rome.
Farrell wants his side to find a way to "play good, quick, hard rugby" but accepts that won't be a straightforward task.
"It is the best Italian side coming to Dublin. As far as respect, you would be mad not to," Farrell said of the challenge ahead.
"We have all watched the games of what has happened of the last year, six months, and the job that everyone is doing in Italy is fantastic and the respect is right at the forefront.
"Honestly, it is about us having more respect for ourselves this week."
6.
Postpublished at 13:46 GMT
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Image source, Inpho
It's a big day for Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu, who will both make their Six Nations debuts for Ireland.
Baloucoune, who has scored six tries for Ulster this season, won the last of his four Ireland caps in November 2022 and replaces Tommy O'Brien on the right wing.
Munster second row Edwin Edogbo is also set to make his international debut after being named on the bench.
7.
'Ireland must engage crowd early'published at 13:45 GMT
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Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium
Early kick-offs don't lend themselves to a great buzz around Lansdowne Road and that was the case this morning.
A lot of joggers, dog-walkers, people going about their days.
It naturally picks up as the game nears, but the onus will be on Ireland to engage the crowd early here.
After watching his side fall behind France early last week, Andy Farrell spoke about how Ireland have become a reactive team.
They can't afford to this nifty Italian backline stretch their legs too much here, otherwise this may be another uncomfortable afternoon for an already sputtering Irish machine.
8.
'Awesome opportunity' for Baloucoune - Lowepublished at 13:43 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
Ireland wing James Lowe speaking to ITV: "Nice to be back in the mix this weekend and be back at home and we look forward to the challenge. We weren't at our best last week but hopefully we can put in a performance that we're proud of."
On Robert Baloucoune starting: "It's an awesome opportunity, it's been a while since he's been in with us. He's a specimen, he's six foot four and runs like the wind. He frustrates me so much with all his athletic ability so hopefully he has prepared extraordinarily well this week and we can get a big performance from him."
9.
Who can stake their claim before England?published at 13:41 GMT
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Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
Thumbing through the match programme, I noticed an error.
Cormac Izuchukwu is down as having one Ireland cap. It's actually three. His appearances in last summer's tour against Georgia and Portugal have seemingly been overlooked.
Regardless, it is exciting to see Ulster forward starting. It's a Six Nations debut for him and Ulster team-mate Robert Baloucoune, about whom Farrell waxed lyrical after selecting him on the right wing on Thursday.
And looking through the team, it's hard not to think about Craig Casey. He's been ever-present in the squad for five years and captained last year's summer tour, but he's always played second fiddle to Jamison Gibson-Park.
Gibson-Park has long been a standout performer under Andy Farrell but didn't have his greatest game against France, and with a trip to Twickenham next week, this is another chance for Casey to stake his claim for the nine jersey.
10.
Postpublished at 13:39 GMT
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Rory Best
Former Ireland captain on ITV
The three guys that stand out to me are Rob Baloucoune on the wing, Cormac Izuchukwu in the back row, not just because they're from Ulster, and then Edwin Edogbo on the bench. Ireland are lacking a bit of x-factor and these three guys in their own right can provide it.
11.
Six changes for Irelandpublished at 13:38 GMT
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Ireland Rugby
Andy Farrell has made six changes after that heavy defeat by France.
James Lowe is recalled on the wing, while Robert Baloucoune and Craig Casey have also been handed opporunities by Farrell.
In the pack, James Ryan has been promoted from the bench while Cormac Izuchukwu and Jack Conan are named to start.
From last week's team, Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Beirne drop to the bench, while Jacob Stockdale, Tommy O'Brien, Josh van der Flier and Cian Prendergast all drop out of the matchday 23.
Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; S Prendergast, Casey; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson; McCarthy, Ryan; Izuchukwu, Doris (capt), Conan.
Replacements: Kelleher, O'Toole, Furlong, Edogbo, Beirne, Timoney, Gibson-Park, Crowley.
12.
Get Involvedpublished at 13:37 GMT
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Italy with so much motivation and momentum at the moment. I think it will be close but Ireland just a bit too strong.
Adam, Rotherham
The U20s haven't been great the last two Six Nations and the U20 World Cup.There doesn't seem to be any depth coming through to challenge the senior players.Ireland Men's rugby is in massive danger of doing a Wales if they're not careful. Think Italy win today.
Jarleth, Sheffield
Stephanie at 13:21, we all love Italy being competitive on the condition that they don’t beat our team!
Eoghan, Amberley
13.
Postpublished at 13:36 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
The fans are bringing the colour to Dublin today.
14.
Pani returns for Italypublished at 13:34 GMT
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Italy Rugby
Italy have recalled Lorenzo Pani for Saturday's game against Ireland. He will make his first Test start in almost two years as he comes in for Juan Ignacio Brex.
Leonardo Marin moves from full-back to outside centre to cover Brex's absence with Pani given the 15 shirt.
Ange Capuozzo is not included despite returning to the squad after a finger injury earlier this week.
Italy: Pani; Lynagh, Marin, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, Fusco; Cannone, Zuliani, Lamaro (capt); Zambonin, Cannone; Ferrari, Nicotera, Fischetti.
Replacements: Di Bartolomeo, Spagnolo, Hasa, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, A Garbisi, Odogwu.
15.
'No passengers' as Ireland aim to bury Paris painpublished at 13:32 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
Ireland have won their past five home Six Nations games against Italy by at least 30 points and held the Azzurri scoreless in 2024, but few are expecting a cakewalk this weekend.
Italy have travelled to Dublin with their chests puffed out after beating Scotland in Rome last week.
It was an impressive performance from Gonzalo Quesada's side in appalling conditions; they dominated Scotland at the set-piece and held firm in the closing stages to win 18-15.
In contrast, "honesty", "nobody holding back" and "teething issues" have been some of the soundbites emerging from a downbeat Irish camp after last week's return to Paris ended with their biggest Six Nations loss in 16 years.
Ireland's deeply disappointing first-half display against France irked head coach Andy Farrell.
He criticised his side's "lack of intent" and wielded the axe for Italy's visit to Dublin, with Josh van der Flier, Jacob Stockdale, Tommy O'Brien and Cian Prendergast all excluded having started last week.
Farrell has since said Ireland had a clear-the-air squad meeting in which they tried to "simplify things" and "understand what we stand for as a team."
16.
Ireland's next string 'a long way off' - O'Brienpublished at 13:31 GMT
Ireland v Italy (14:10 GMT)
Ireland Rugby Social
Listen on BBC Sounds
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Former Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien believes there is a "big gap" between Andy Farrell's Test squad and his untested options.
After Ireland were thumped by France to start their 2026 Six Nations last week, there have been calls for a dramatic overhaul of the side who were ranked number one in the world as recently as 2024.
Questions over the quality of Ireland's depth have been asked anew, however, after an Ireland XV outfit and the side's under-20s were heavily beaten by their England and France counterparts respectively over the weekend.
O'Brien was on the former's coaching ticket for the game at Thomond Park and believes what was ostensibly an Ireland second string are a "long way off" the level required to bolster the Test panel for today's hosting of Italy.
"Let's call a spade, a spade," he told BBC Sport NI's Ireland Rugby Social podcast.
"There's no point in saying the gap is not that far away. It is, they're a long way off.
"There's a big gap between that team we had and the first team obviously, still. How do those lads that we were in control of last week close that gap to get there?
"There's a lot of work to be done still. Those lads need to really hone in on getting better and do everything they can do to get better."
17.
Italy game 'a great chance to bounce back' - Conanpublished at 13:30 GMT
Ireland v Italy (14:10 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
Ireland back row Jack Conan says the side are "still hurting" after their opening game loss in the Six Nations ahead of today's second match against Italy.
Andy Farrell's side's Six Nations campaign began in dispiriting fashion as they were defeated by France .
On Saturday, they face an Italian side in positive form after their opening-weekend win over Scotland in Rome.
"There are too many good players in the squad for it to be a systemic thing and we have a great chance to bounce back [against Italy]," Conan said.
"It is disappointing the way we performed and no matter what happens we will look back and think what happened then.
"There is still an abundance of quality in every position even with lads being injured and not in the environment. Everyone is hurting, the starting players, the substitutes and the coaching staff."
18.
What happened last year?published at 13:27 GMT
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Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
Ireland held off a spirited Italy to secure a bonus-point win in Rome, but their hopes of winning a third consecutive Six Nations title were ended by England's win over Wales.
Hugo Keenan's first-half score and Dan Sheehan's hat-trick ensured a win that took Ireland to 19 points in the table, temporarily three clear of France and four ahead of England.
But England's thumping win in Cardiff moved Steve Borthwick's side above Ireland and put pressure on France, who beat Scotland to secure the title.
Italy scored tries through Monty Ioane and Stephen Varney, but paid the price for ill discipline, with Michele Lamaro sin-binned just before the break and Ross Vintcent shown red in the second half for a high hit on Keenan.
After Sheehan's hat-trick score put the visitors 22-10 up, Stephen Varney's try raised Italy hopes of a rare win over Ireland, but the home side's late pressure failed to yield a winning moment.
19.
Postpublished at 13:25 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
The venue for today's date.
20.
What's coming up?published at 13:23 GMT
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Image source, Getty Images
It's a biiiiig weekend of Six Nations action.
First up, we're in Dublin as Ireland look to bounce back from last week's defeat by France against Italy, who are flying high after their win over Scotland.
Then, all attentions turn to the Calcutta Cup as Scotland take on England. Kick-off in Edinburgh is at 16:40 GMT.
Tomorrow, Wales will look to upset the odds against France. You can keep across all three games on the BBC Sport website and app.
