The Italians have a brilliant opportunity to end their rotten 16-game losing run against a stuttering Ireland outfit when they clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in the second round of the Six Nations on Saturday.
PREVIEW: 2026 Six Nations – Round 2 – Ireland v Italy
Saturday 14 February
Ireland | Draw | Italy
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Match context
Ireland’s performance against France in their Parisian opener last week confirmed what many have been fearing about Andy Farrell’s squad for some time: that they are a side well and truly on the wane after enjoying such a long period of dominance in the global game.
With so many great players having retired since the last World Cup, Ireland are in a rebuilding phase whether they like it or not, and if they cannot find solutions to some problem positions they will continue to slide down the rankings.
The elephant in the room is of course the flyhalf conundrum, with Sam Prendergast producing another forgettable outing in round one after again receiving the backing from his coach.
The 22-year-old is clearly a talented player, but his shortcomings in many areas continue to cost his country in the biggest of games. Fabien Galthie’s heavymen made clear gains every time they targeted his channel last week, with the Leinsterman seemingly unable (or unwilling) to put himself in harm’s way for the good of his team at this stage of his career.
Elsewhere, many of the Emerald Isle’s most established players, like Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose, are not playing to their regular high standard, and that lack of impetus is having a marked effect on the rest of the team.
In contrast, Italy head into this one on a high after their hard-fought 18-15 defeat of Scotland in Rome to pour more fuel on Rassie Erasmus’ 2025 prediction that the Azzurri would finish the Six Nations in the top three.
In dreadful weather, a supreme overall team performance guided the Italians to what could prove to be the most important result of their campaign, and teed them up for the unthinkable this week.
The last time Italy beat Ireland was way back in 2013 in Rome, with the last time they won in Dublin coming in their sole win in the country in 1997. Could we see the upset of all upsets this weekend?
Players to watch
Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
While the lineouts were hardly Ireland’s biggest concern in Paris, with Sheehan producing an accurate dart-throwing showing, his side could really use a big game from the Leinster hooker. Often bracketed amongst the top two No 2s in the game, the 27-year-old, not unlike several of his experienced teammates, has yet to truly hit his straps this season, but a classic Sheehan performance would certainly inspire those around him in a big way to perhaps spark their campaign to life.
Michele Lamaro (Italy)
The Benetton man was one of a handful of top Italian performers against the Scots last week, and formed a fierce loose trio in tandem with Manuel Zuliani and Lorenzo Cannone. Lamaro has always been a quality player and a tackling machine, and one feels that in order for his team to claim what would be an historic win in Dublin, he will have to be front and centre once more.
If the Italian skipper and his loose forward buddies can shut down Ireland’s vulnerable ball-carriers and disrupt their momentum on the deck, they’ll be putting their side in a very good position.
Tactical overview
Ireland’s aerial struggles against the French certainly wouldn’t have been lost on Paolo Garbisi, with the Toulon flyhalf likely to test the hosts’ backfield with a similarly kick-oriented display. Italy’s wingers will have crucial roles to play in this regard as Gonzalo Quesada’s boys look to replicate France’s superiority in a facet that saw the latter retain a whopping 15 of 19 contestable kicks last week.
The biggest question mark of all though will of course be amongst the forwards and whether Italy will be able to halt their opposition’s momentum up front. Ireland are likely to have a proverbial bee in their bonnet in the wake of their last performance which will spur on their pack of forwards here, and the degree to which the away side can stand up physically will go a long way to deciding the result.
When all is said and done though, the Irish should have too much firepower and motivation come kick-off as Farrell and his side look to prevent what would be a massive shock.
Prediction
As vulnerable as Ireland are at this stage, it would still take a huge effort from Italy to see them topple the green machine at home, one which they may not ultimately be capable of putting together. As such, Ireland should bounce back this weekend, but get on the visitors to remain within the handicap.
