Ireland seek to rub salt into Azzurri's wounds

The third round of the 2021 Six Nations will kick-off in Rome where the Italians meet the Men in Green of Ireland.

Italy’s overall situation in the Six Nations is dire, to say the least, having last won a game in the competition in 2015 – a 22-19 victory over the Scots.

Franco Smith’s men are now sitting on a 27-match losing streak with little light apparent at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

In Round 1, they flattened by France 50-10 in a game which illustrated Les Bleus fine form at present while simultaneously revealing the Azzurri’s ineptitude.

Things did not much improve in Round 2 as the English travelled to Rome and left with an easy five-point haul after a 41-18 drubbing of their opponents.

It is surely make or break time for Italy, not only in the 2021 instalment, but in the Six Nations overall, with grumblings growing ever louder as to their presence as unofficial ‘whipping boys’ of the competition for many years running now. Since their introduction into Europe’s premier international contest in 2000, their stats are as follows:

Played: 106

Won: 12

Drawn: 1

Lost: 93

The above renders the Italians with a win ratio of 11.3%.

The Irish are yet to post a victory this year and will no doubt attack the Auzzurri with ferocity come Saturday.

Andy Farrell’s charges kicked their campaign off to an unfortunate start as they fell to the Welsh in Cardiff after putting on a plucky display while shouldering the burden of having to take on Alun Wyn Jones and co. with 14 men on the pitch for most of the game.

It was then on to the Aviva in Round 2 where French flair was the winner of the day as Les Bleus – spearheaded by the superb play of scrumhalf Antoine Dupont – ran out 15-13 winners in an enthralling spectacle in which both sides gave good account of themselves.

A few questions have been asked this week of the effectiveness of the Irish’s attacking game, as they have only a brace of tries to their name after two rounds. Ireland’s attack coach – former England international Mike Catt responded with composure:

“Every team wants to score four or five tries every game, to go out and express themselves,” he said.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but we believe the way we are going is the right way.

“We probably could have scored two or three more tries against Wales with 14 men with the opportunities we created, and against as France as well.

“Rugby is about the decisions you make, and we’re happy with what we’re creating.

“Then it’s about the final pass, the final decision, or putting ourselves in the right parts of the pitch to create pressure on the opposition. We didn’t do that well enough against France.”

It is likely that negative press with regard to Ireland’s attack will cease for a while after this weekend as their opponents have displayed a penchant for taking big scores of late.

On the bright side for Italy is the fact that they have a full squad to pick from for Saturday.

“The squad is currently complete: all the players arrived in the capital after their respective club engagements. The negative results of their tests has allowed us to carry out training as per usual,” said team manager Luigi Troiani.

A loss for the Irish in this one would be an astonishing upset. One hopes, however, that the Italians put their best foot forward and make a decent contest of the game.