Ireland travel to the Stadio Flaminio on Saturday for a Six Nations clash that will also act as a warm-up for their World Cup showdown in October.
For Italy: Leonardo Ghiraldini will be looking to gain the upper hand on Rory Best to upset the Ulsterman. He definitely has the capability of doing just that too as Best has been struggling with form with many in Ireland thinking that Sean Cronin deserved a run.
For Ireland: Joe Schmidt should no longer be concerned when Gordon D’Arcy or Brian O’Driscoll are in need of a rest. Young and busy Leinster back Fergus McFadden has been impressive in blue and rightly earns a start, albeit in an unfamiliar position of wing. He has played there before and I wouldn’t bet against him crossing on Saturday.
Head-to-head: The battle at the base should be an interesting one as Stade Francais’ Sergio Parrise and Leinster’s Sean O’Brien meet at the Stadio Flaminio. The latter has arguably been the stand-out number eight of the Heineken Cup thus far and will enjoy his day against the former IRB World Player of the Year nominee. Expect surges from both.
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