Head-To-Head:

Played – 30
Ireland Won – 26
Italy Won – 4

The sides are out on the field, anthems to follow

Ireland host Italy in an international friendly as the sides gear up their preparations for Rugby's greatest showpiece, the World Cup, which begins in a little over a months time. Ireland finished third in this years Six Nations Championship, winning three of their five matches, while Italy went winless to bring up the wooden spoon. When these sides met in the Six Nations, Ireland claimed a hard fought 26-16 away victory.