IRELAND will look to make it two wins from two in the World Rugby U20 Championship when they face hosts Italy.
Neil Doak’s men began their campaign in style with a 35-28 victory over Georgia.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
When is it on and what time is kick-off?
The Ireland U20s’ clash against Italy will take place on Friday, July 4 at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm Irish time.
Where can I watch it?
The game will not be shown on Irish terrestrial TV.
However, fans will be able to stream the game for FREE over on RugbyPass TV.
What are the teams?
Noah Doak made just two changes to the side that edged out Georgia last Sunday.
Scrum-half Will Wootton will start as will Alex Usanov, with Connacht starlet Eanna McCarthy once again captaining the team.
Ireland U20: Charlie Molony, Paidi Farrell, Ciaran Mangan, Eoghan Smyth, Derry Moloney, Tom Wood, Will Wootton; Alex Usanov, Henry Walker, Alex Mullan, Mahon Ronan, Billy Corrigan, Michael Foy, Eanna McCarthy, Luke Murphy.
Replacements: Mikey Yarr, Billy Bohan, Tom McAllister, Conor Kennedy, Bobby Power, Clark Logan, Sam Wisniewski, Daniel Green.]
Italy U20: Edoardo Todaro, Alessandro Drago, Federico Zanandrea, Riccardo Casarini, Jules Ducros, Roberto Fasti, Niccolo Beni; Sergio Pelliccioli, Nicolo Michele Corvasce, Nicola Bolognini, Mattia Midena, Piero Gritti, Giacomo Milano, Carlo Antonio Bianchi, Nelso Casartelli.
Replacements: Alessio Caiolo-Serra, Sascha Mistruilli, Luca Trevisan, Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, Antony Italo Miranda, Matteo Bellotto, Riccardo Ioannucci, Gianmarco Pietramala.
What are the odds?
Ireland are priced at 4/9 to make it two wins from two against the host nation, while the Azzurri are out to 7/4.
The draw is valued at 20/1.
What happened the last time they played?
Ireland’s last encounter against Italy represented a chastening experience for the Young Boys in Green.
A 15-12 defeat to the Azzurri back in February bookended a disappointing Six Nations campaign.
Ireland finished rock bottom of the Championship table with just one win in their five games.
It was a first ever defeat to a side that they had hammered 55-15 in the 2024 World Championship just eight months previously.
Italy go into Friday’s game in search of a big result having started their campaign with defeat to New Zealand, who Ireland face in their final pool stage game on July 9.
