Get ready for an exciting clash as Ireland and Italy face off in Round 2 of the 2026 Six Nations! These teams couldn't be more different in their recent performances, and we're here to give you a sneak peek into what's coming up in Dublin.
A Tale of Two Trajectories
Ireland is coming off a devastating loss to France, their heaviest defeat in the Six Nations in over a decade. Meanwhile, Italy has tasted victory for the first time since 2013, beating France in Round 1. But here's where it gets controversial: Italy's only win against Ireland in this competition was back in 2013, a 22-15 triumph in Rome.
The Azzurri are eyeing their first-ever back-to-back wins in the Championship, but they're up against a formidable opponent. Ireland has an impressive 100% home win rate against Italy in the Six Nations, having won all 13 previous clashes in Dublin.
Defeat to France means Ireland has suffered consecutive double-digit losses for the first time since 2012, when they faced the mighty All Blacks in New Zealand. On the other hand, Italy is on an upward trajectory, having won two of their last three Tests, including an impressive victory against Australia last November.
Where Will the Game Be Won?
Ireland and Italy's contrasting styles in Round 1 were as evident as their results. Due to the challenging conditions in Rome, Italy's attacks were largely confined to the first and second receivers, with less than 2% of their phases moving beyond that. Ireland, however, played 22% of their attacks beyond the first receiver, with a round-high 14% making it past the second.
If Ireland aims to exploit the wide channels, as they attempted against France, generating quick ball for their backline will be crucial. This is an area where they excelled in their loss to France, completing 63% of their rucks in three seconds or fewer, the highest rate in the opening round. Italy, on the other hand, completed fewer than half of their rucks in that time.
One area where Ireland showed improvement was their control at set-pieces. After some lineout issues in the autumn, they lost only one of their 17 throws against France and won all four scrums. Italy, however, stole four of Scotland's lineouts, the most in the opening round. If Italy can exploit Ireland's lineout frailties, it could give them a solid foundation to build upon.
Fantasy Picks and Player Spotlight
Robert Baloucoune is set to make his first Ireland appearance in over three years and his Six Nations debut. His previous debut for Ireland in 2022 was impressive, gaining 159 meters and registering five line breaks, along with a try against the USA. If Ireland focuses on wide attacks, Baloucoune could have a memorable Six Nations debut.
Tommaso Menoncello, the 2024 Player of the Championship and a 2025 nominee, is a seasoned Six Nations veteran. He was instrumental in Italy's attack in Round 1, gaining over 100 meters for the first time in the competition and scoring a crucial try to extend Italy's lead.
The packs of both teams also offer potential point-scorers. Italian brothers Niccolo and Lorenzo Cannone led the way in Round 1 with the most tackles, while their teammates Manuel Zuliani, Andrea Zambonin, and Simone Ferrari rounded out the top five. On the Irish side, Dan Sheehan is the top try-scoring forward in Six Nations history with 13 tries, including five against Italy in his last two games.
CJ Stander has retired, but his fellow back-rower Nick Timoney is a significant try-scoring threat from the bench. The Ulster flanker has scored six tries in just seven caps for his country, including a tidy finish against France last week.
Ireland vs Italy Prediction
According to the Opta supercomputer, Ireland is the heavy favorite to defeat Italy. Andy Farrell's side has an 84.6% chance of getting back on track with a win on home soil, while Italy has a 14.5% chance of claiming their first Six Nations win in Dublin.
The predicted scoreline of 35-18 suggests a one-sided affair, a stark contrast to Ireland's narrow 22-17 win in Rome last year.
Lineups
Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey, 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Caelan Doris (c), 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O'Toole, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Jamison Gibson-Park, 23 Jack Crowley.
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Michele Lamaro (c), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16 Tomasso di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Paolo Odogwu.
So, who do you think will come out on top in this clash? Will Ireland dominate, or will Italy pull off an upset? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments!
