IRELAND XV (v Italy)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
I hate to say it, but that’s all from me for today.
One more Six Nations weekend left this year. Let’s hope it’s a good one.
We’ll be back on Saturday with a live blog keeping you updated on all the action from across the day, including match reports, post-match reaction and analysis.
Ciao for now!
And Gerry Thornley’s analysis of Simon Easterby’s team selection is in.
“When the Irish squad went back to work last Monday morning, the most positive factor in the fallout from the wounding 42-27 defeat at home against France was that they actually did have one more game in the Six Nations,” he writes.
“This Saturday’s match against Italy affords Ireland an opportunity to at least finish the campaign on a strong note, and to that end Simon Easterby and his assistant coaches have acknowledged that the team needed to be re-energised as well as refocused.”
He thinks Mack Hansen and James Lowe will bring some attacking X-factor, while Jack Crowley deserves his chance again at outhalf.
Have a read of his musings in full below:
One of Ireland’s standout performers of the championship has been Jamison Gibson-Park.
Gerry Thornley spoke to the Leinster scrumhalf this week, the departure of Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony and his fellow number nine Conor Murray.
“He’s been unbelievable and he’s such a great guy,” said Gibson-Park of Murray. “I’ve been very privileged to play with him. He was one of the best in the world for the guts of 10 years. I used to watch on and when I first arrived in Ireland I was kind of amazed at how good he was really. He was unbelievably consistent, and I suppose in many ways I felt at that time I was probably a little inconsistent.
“So, I looked up to guys like him for sure, and then getting into camp with him, it’s been awesome to rub shoulders with him. He’s such a great guy and he’s certainly helped my career.”
Read the interview in full below:
[ Jamison Gibson-Park feels privileged to have played with departing Ireland trioOpens in new window ]
France have brought in centre Gael Fickou and scrumhalf Maxime Lucu for the injured Antoine Dupont in two changes from last weekend’s win over Ireland.
Les Bleus welcome Scotland to the Stade de France in the last game of this year’s Six Nations, kicking off at 8pm on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend meanwhile has also made two changes to his side who beat Wales last time out, Gregor Brown coming in to the secondrow in the place of Jonny Gray while Matt Fagerson takes over from Jack Dempsey at number eight.
[ Gael Fickou and Maxime Lucu named in French side for Scotland clashOpens in new window ]
Now, with the war of words (albeit one-sided) that transpired after Ireland’s game against France, there was one article in particular we were eagerly awaiting, the latest instalment of Owen Doyle’s The Whistleblower column.
His take on the incident that led to Dupont’s injury?
“He was cleared out by Tadhg Beirne, whose arm was tucked as his shoulder hit into the scrumhalf, his weight then rolling over onto Dupont’s knee. This rolling action is specifically banned in the laws, precisely because of concern for this type on injury.
“As it happened, Andrew Porter latched onto Beirne and there were arguments that it was the prop’s added weight which contributed to the injury, and that the awful outcome was accidental.”
Off the need for rule changes at the breakdown, Doyle adds: “The human body was not designed to take these colossal clearouts. World Rugby has seriously erred in allowing the game to evolve to a point where it permits players to drive into the breakdown off their feet.
“There is no care whatsoever for the safety of the opposition players who are targeted and hit with such mighty force. It’s time to call a halt. Otherwise, this type of injury, or worse, will not go away.”
And his thoughts on the day’s officiating? Well, it’s really worth having a read:
[ Owen Doyle: Some decisions made in the Ireland v France game were utterly bizarreOpens in new window ]
We skimmed over Italy’s team very quickly so let’s go back and have another look.
Heres how they’ll line out:
ITALY: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex (capt), Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi; Dino Lamb, Fedrico Ruzza; Sebastian Negri, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenze Cannone.
Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Cannone, Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent, Stephen Varney, Leonado Marin.
One of seven changes from Italy’s fifth-round loss to England sees captain Michele Lamaro fall to the bench, Manuel Zuliani starting in his place and centre Juan Ignacio Brex taking over as captain.
Gonzalo Quesada has restored Ange Capuozzo to the wing, making room for Tommaso Allan to slot in at fullback.
Another returnee is scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo, in for Stephen Varney who will start on the bench, while Lorenzo Cannone replaces Ross Vintcent at number eight.
Two changes in the frontrow, Gianmarco Lucchesi and Simone Ferrari coming in for Giacomo Nicotera and Marco Riccioni, while lock Dino Lamb replaces Niccolo Cannone.
Easterby was clearly in quite a chatty mood, Gerry Thornley has more for us:
Simon Easterby has strongly defended Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter in response to criticism from France head coach Fabien Galthié after last week’s Six Nations meeting between Ireland and France.
Galthié blamed the two Irish players for the ACL injury suffered by his captain Antoine Dupont.
The French scrumhalf was injured as Beirne and Porter cleared out a ruck, Galthié describing their actions as “reprehensible” and referring them to the game’s citing commissioner.
Match referee Angus Gardner and his officials deemed the incident to be a rugby incident, as did Easterby, and there was no citing against any Irish player.
Despite this, the French campaign has continued all week, with Roman Ntamack suggesting a French player would have been sent off for the same incident while also questioning Garry Ringrose’s suspension compared to his own, both of them missing fixtures following red cards.
France’s forwards coach William Servat has also called into question Ireland’s technique at the breakdown.
It has been an unedifying campaign, which has led to a wave of abuse towards Ireland players and their families via social media, mostly directed from France and South Africa, where Beirne has been wrongly linked with an injury suffered by Springboks’ hooker Malcolm Marx.
“Without getting myself into trouble here, I just think it’s the game, unfortunately,” said Easterby, choosing his words carefully.
“These things happen. No player goes out to intentionally injure another player. For the majority of people, looking at it afterwards, everyone felt like it was a rugby incident, which was really unfortunate.
“No player goes out to injure another player. It just doesn’t happen. Whatever the insinuations were from different people, post-game, it’s disappointing because the unfortunate thing is that people who don’t really understand the game pick up on it, and it creates a bit of a shitstorm where people are getting abuse.
“It’s just unnecessary, and it’s not acceptable, but it happens. Those things could have been avoided had maybe other things been said post-game by certain individuals.”
Easterby declined to mention Galthié by name but said: “Well, you just said his name. The French camp have obviously come out pretty strongly post-game about the incident and it could have been handled in a better way.
“And I think on the back of that, it’s created some unnecessary ill-feeling and it’s affected other people in the wider group and that’s disappointing.”
Asked specifically if the two Irish players were receiving abuse from France, Easterby said: “I’m just saying that it’s unnecessary, the coverage on social media, that’s all I am saying. I don’t read it, I don’t necessarily take a lot of notice of it but when it’s directed at certain individuals and certain individuals’ wider family group, then it becomes an issue.
“We talk as coaches all the time and we chat post-game. I think it could have been a different discussion, a different platform to air those frustrations that maybe France had.
“We and world Rugby and the Six Nations believe that there was no case to answer and certainly it didn’t help, it almost sort of fanned the flames of what was a really unfortunate incident.
“But it was a rugby incident and that’s the bottom line. Unfortunately, these things happen.”
Here’s what Gerry Thornley has for us from the Ireland press conference:
“Regardless of the result last week we were looking at making changes,” said Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby of his selection.
“Jack [Crowley]’s been brilliant, working away, supporting Sam in his first experiences of the Six Nations. Jack had that last year and we just felt like it was the right thing to do for Jack, to get in to lead the week.
“It was a pretty physical game last week, it took a lot out of a lot of players in particular. That role that Sam has done has been brilliant in terms of leading the team − it takes a lot pf physical effort, but also mental effort.
“It will be a good week to freshen things up a little bit. Sam’s got a different role now to play, coming off the bench, and it allows Jack, who is a bit fresher, to lead the week. I just thought it was the right thing to do there.”
Crowley is out of contract at the end of this season, and the Leicester Tigers’ offer of €600,000-plus is understood to be twice his current provincial deal with Munster. The 25-year-old has been offered an improved contract as a Player Of National Interest, it is still some way short of Leicester’s valuation of the player.
But Easterby said he didn’t feel any need to speak to Crowley this week about the reported offer from Leicester, adding: “He’s a brilliant person first and foremost, he’s a great pro, he’s always looking to get better and we believe that for him to keep getting better, keeping getting experiences at this level and keep driving us forward as a team and being competitive in the number 10 position in particular.
“It’s important that he obviously plays his rugby in Ireland, and we are confident that will continue to happen,” Easterby said.
Easterby admitted that he had to have a tough conversation with Cian Healy informing him he would not be part of the match-day 23, but this was an opportunity to continue the investment in Jack Boyle.
“We don’t have many opportunities at international level for meaningful games to get game experiences, so that was the conversation I had with Cian.
“I thought last week was so fitting for all three of them, the send off they had, how the squad recognised that internally, how it was recognised externally in the Aviva and the nation, loads of messages coming in from people in terms of what they’ve given the jersey.
“Cian has been at the forefront of that. He was obviously disappointed but he understood the rationale behind it and he has been brilliant in the week. He will only make Jack’s role that much more effective by being the best team-mate that he can be. Cian gets it.”
The Italians have named their starting team.
ITALY: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex (capt), Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi; Dino Lamb, Fedrico Ruzza; Sebastian Negri, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenze Cannone.
Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Cannone, Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent, Stephen Varney, Leonado Marin.
Not to bring down the mood, but do we need reminding that this weekend will be the final outing in green for Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray.
Joining them in international retirement is Cian Healy, whose final bow it now turns out was last weekend seeing as he’s not in Saturday’s match-day 23.
While their collective final home game ended in defeat, Healy scored one last try for Ireland to prove that at 37-years-old there’s no doubt he’s still got it.
He spoke to Johnny Watterson after last weekend’s loss. Read the full story below:
[ Cian Healy on loss to France: ‘This is professional sport. You suck it up’Opens in new window ]
Super Saturday feels like a very ‘USA! USA!’ term for rugby, but here we are.
It’s pretty much to sum up the altered format of the final round, all three games being played on, you guessed it, Saturday as opposed to across two days.
Ireland and Italy are first up at Stadio Olimpico (kick-off 2.15pm Irish time), followed by Wales v England at the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 4.45pm) and then France v Scotland at the Stade de France (kick-off 8pm Irish time).
This time around, as we know from our earlier permutations (checking we’re all still paying attention), the title will likely go down to the last game.
All eyes on Paris. For better or worse.
There was no shortage of news arising out of last weekend’s loss to France.
Aside from the result, the big story of the game was the injury sustained by France’s captain Antoine Dupont, later confirmed as a ruptured ACL.
A nasty injury so we’ll wish him well in his recovery.
But France’s head coach Fabien Galthié was in no form for niceties after the game, describing the actions of Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter in clearing out the ruck as “reprehensible”.
France referred the Irish duo to the disciplinary committee along with Calvin Nash, who was shown a yellow card for a head collision with Pierre-Louis Barassi. The citing commissioner deemed no further action was necessary.
It was quite a pointed accusation from Galthié, but Porter isn’t worried about were the Frenchman decides to lay blame.
“[Galthié] can say what he wants, see how far it gets him ... I didn’t go out to try to injure anyone. That’s not the type of player I am.
“If [Galthié] wants to think that, that’s up to him. I even sent Antoine a message on Instagram just to see how he was. Obviously you never want to see anyone going off the pitch like that. If you have the head coach calling for your head, it’s a bit much.”
Have a read of Johnny Watterson’s chat with the Leinster prop below:
John O’Sullivan is back to us with exactly what you need to know ahead of Super Saturday.
These are all the ways the cards may fall come the final whistle at the Stade de France.
Ireland
Though slightly behind, Ireland still have a chance to claim the title if results go their way.
Outright victory: Ireland will win the championship if they beat Italy with a bonus point and both France and England fail to win their matches.
Win without a bonus point: If Ireland win without a bonus point and both France and England lose, Ireland can take the title with 18 points.
Draw or close loss: If Ireland draw with a bonus point or lose with two bonus points, they can still win the Championship if both France and England lose and they hold a superior points difference.
Points difference: Like France and England, Ireland’s title hopes may come down to points difference if teams are level on match points at the end of the tournament.
France
France currently lead the table and have several routes to claiming the championship, depending on their result against Scotland and how England and Ireland perform in their respective matches.
Outright victory: France will win the championship if they defeat Scotland with a bonus point, taking them to 21 points.
Win without a bonus point: France can still secure the title with a victory (no bonus point) if England either wins without a bonus point, draws (with or without a bonus point), or loses (with or without a bonus point), keeping France on 20 points.
Draw scenarios: A draw with a bonus point against Scotland will still secure the title if England and Ireland do not surpass them in points.
Losing and bonus points: If France lose but secure two bonus points, they can still win if England and Ireland both lose without bonus points.
Points difference: If France finish level on points with England or Ireland, their title chances depend on superior points difference, making every scoreline crucial.
England
England’s path to the title hinges on their performance against Wales and the outcome of France’s match.
Outright Victory: England will win the championship if they beat Wales with a bonus point and France either draw or lose to Scotland. This would put them on 20 points.
Win without a bonus point: If England win without a bonus point and France fail to win, England can claim the title with 19 points.
Draw or close loss: England can still win the championship if they draw with a bonus point or lose with two bonus points, provided France and Ireland both lose their matches.
Points difference: If England and France finish level on points, England must surpass France on points difference to win.
Now that we’ve dealt with the most pressing aspect of the day, let’s remind ourselves of what we’re facing into this weekend.
Commit this to memory:
The Six Nations social media accounts are covering all their bases in saying four teams are in the running for the championship, because yes, TECHNICALLY Scotland can still win.
But, for the week that’s in it, the odds are akin to a falabella winning the Gold Cup.
Gregor Townsend’s side would need to beat France with a bonus point, denying their hosts a losing or try-scoring bonus point in the process, and make up their points differential to Les Bleus (currently 101). Oh, and that’s without even considering Ireland or England’s results.
You know what? Good luck to them. We love an underdog.
So there we have it.
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby will face the wicked press at midday, from which Gerry will send us all the goss.
Not ones to be rushed, the Italians will name their team at 1.30pm Irish time.
And here’s Gerry Thornley’s take:
As expected, Jack Crowley has been restored at outhalf in one of six changes to the Ireland starting XV for their final 2025 Six Nations game against Italy on Saturday in the Stadio Olimpico (kick-off 2.15pm Irish).
Both Mack Hansen and Jame Lowe return on the wings after recovering from the injuries which ruled them out of last week’s defeat to France, as does outside centre Garry Ringrose, returning from suspension, with Robbie Henshaw reverting to inside centre.
James Ryan is restored at lock after starting the opening two wins over England and Scotland, and Jack Conan’s form is rewarded with a second start, this time with 6 on his back, after his first against Wales at number eight was cut short.
Peter O’Mahony will join Conor Murray on the bench for their international farewells, but Cian Healy’s 137-cap international career has come to an end after he signed off with a 13th Test try in last week’s defeat, Jack Boyle instead named on the bench after his eye-catching 10-minute cameo against Wales.
As Simon Easterby reverts to a 5-3 split, they are joined by Tadhg Furlong for his first appearance of this year’s Six Nations after recovering from the calf issues which have again dogged the two-time Lions’ tight head and sidelined him since Leinster’s win in La Rochelle in January.
With Furlong’s experience to call upon, Gus McCarthy also returns to the match-day squad in place of Rob Herring, while Joe McCarthy, Sam Prendergast and Bundee Aki, who all started last week, complete the replacements.
As well as Healy and Herring, Jamie Osborne, Calvin Nash, Thomas Clarkson and Ryan Baird all miss out.
Crowley’s return to the starting XV comes after an offer by Leicester Tigers to more than double his existing deal with Munster and the IRFU when his contract expires at the end of this season became public.
An ever-present in last season’s Six Nations title defence and in the summer Tests against the Springboks, Crowley was relegated to second-choice outhalf from the midway point in the November series until this week.
After a strong performance as a replacement at number 10 for the final quarter in the opening-round win over England, Crowley has since been restricted to stints of 14, eight and 24 minutes, all at fullback, in Ireland’s ensuing three games.
Saturday will mark his first start for Ireland at outhalf since the win over Argentina in the second game of the Autumn Nations Series.
And here’s the Ireland team to face Italy at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
Fifteen minutes to the Ireland team announcement.
Where did it all go wrong for Ireland against France? That was the topic of discussion for the latest episode of the Counter Ruck podcast.
Nathan Johns was joined by Gordon D’Arcy to chat about last weekend’s result and whether it’s time for Ireland to panic.
Is it easy to over-react to Ireland’s French defeat?
And if predictions aren’t your thing, here’s Johnny Watterson’s squad update from earlier this week.
[ Furlong, Lowe and Kelleher take part in Ireland training ahead of Italy tripOpens in new window ]
So that would be Tadhg Furlong back from a calf injury and James Lowe recovered after the back spasm he suffered during the warm-up ahead of the French game.
Also ready to return to action is Garry Ringrose having served his suspension for his read card against Wales.
Now that we’re less than an hour out from the Ireland team announcement, how about we look at Gerry Thornley’s predictions?
He was on the money last week, let’s see how he fares this time around.
IRELAND (possible v Italy): Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
Lots to digest there.
If Gerry’s right, this would mark Jack Crowley’s first start at outhalf in this year’s tournament, Sam Prendergast making way.
While that may divide opinion, something on which we can all surely agree is that it’ll be great to see Tadhg Furlong make an appearance.
He left Ireland’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal early due to a calf injury and hasn’t been available for any of Ireland’s games to this point.
Read Gerry’s full piece below:
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada is due to name his team at 1.30pm Irish time.
We’ll keep you posted.
Our interim fearless leader Simon Easterby is due to name his team at 11am.
He’s been mightily prompt thus far, big thumbs up from me.
Until then, we’ll go through some news, analysis and commentary from our rugby writers and contributors, and follow up the team announcement with some reaction and the full lowdown from Easterby’s press conference.
Good morning everyone. Our last squad announcement live blog of the 2025 Six Nations.
Are we still feeling a little deflated about last weekend? Yes. Are we going to let that spoil Super Saturday? No. Because there’s still a chance, slim and all as it may be.
Expert in all things permutations, John O’Sullivan got the calculator out to see what needs to transpire in order for Ireland to claim a third successive title, a feat never achieved before in the Six Nations.
Have a read of his piece below:
In short, Ireland need a big bonus-point win, for England to at least not win with a bonus point and for France to simply not win.
Simple. Easy. Oh God.
Ireland travel to Rome to face Italy in their last game of the 2025 Six Nations on Saturday.
Having gone undefeated in the opening three rounds, Simon Easterby’s side suffered a bruising defeat to France at the Aviva Stadium last weekend.
Fabien Galthié’s men now lead the championship on 16 points, followed by England on 15 and then Ireland on 14.
A win for France against Scotland in Paris would earn them the title regardless of the weekend’s other two results, but should the Scots pull off a major upset England and Ireland could enter the fray.
A bonus-point win for England would leave them ahead of Ireland, Steve Borthwick’s side facing last-place Wales in Cardiff.
But to have any chance of pulling off the historic three-peat, Ireland will firstly need a strong win over Italy at Stadio Olimpico (kick-off 2.15pm Irish time).
