Ireland v Italy: match preview, predictions, free tips & TV details

TV: Channel 4 & RTE2, 2pm Saturday

The countdown to the Rugby World Cup begins in the northern hemisphere begins a few weeks after the southern hemisphere's return to action, and a much-changed Ireland side take on Italy in Dublin.

Of the team that started the final Six Nations clash against Wales only Garry Ringrose is in the line-up to face the Azzurri, and even head coach Joe Schmidt has been absent all week after returning to New Zealand following a family bereavement.

That hasn't stopped bookmakers chalking up a handicap in the mid-20s as Italy have shuffled their ranks themselves.

This is the first of four warm-up outings for Ireland and their first match together for five months, so it seems the first priority will be to test combinations and find some rhythm and cohesion on the field rather than worry about the margin of victory.

Ireland were relatively sluggish in their Six Nations clash with Italy - they were 30-point favourites but fell short of that mark in a 26-16 victory.

The previous four meetings between the sides had been one-way traffic as Ireland twice bagged eight tries and twice scored nine in runaway victories.

It's hard to know how either team will shape up with debuts on both sides, and thundery showers are forecast. But it may pay to follow Ireland full-back Jordan Larmour, who has the pace and flair to produce something out of the ordinary.

The Leinster man scored off the bench in Ireland's last outing against Wales in the Six Nations and also bagged a hat-trick against the Azzurri last November. He is 10-11 to get on the scoresheet but the 4-1 that he scores at least two tries is a decent price.

Recommendation
J Larmour to score two or more tries
1pt 4-1 Betfair

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