Horan looks primed for frontline engagement

Marcus Horan is expected to start tomorrow's final Six Nations encounter against Italy at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome. This means Simon Best will revert to the bench while fellow Ulster prop Bryan Young becomes surplus to requirements.

"He came through everything this morning," said the Ireland assistant coach Niall O'Donovan at lunchtime yesterday. "We scrummaged this morning. Lineouts, team run, defence - he took part in everything. He's looking good. I haven't spoken to Eddie (O'Sullivan) there yet but off this morning's performance he should be okay.

"I must say Simon did a fine job there last week (against Scotland). Worked fairly hard all round the pitch, but Marcus brings a little extra to the side."

Before the squad departed for Rome they trained on the Lansdowne Road back pitch. There followed a media briefing with O'Donovan, defence coach Graham Steadman and skills coach Brian McLaughlin in the Old Lansdowne pavilion, nestled between the west stand and south terrace, adjacent to the corner where Gordon Hamilton scored that almost immortal try against Australia in 1991.

The stadium shutters are down now but only a handful of maintenance men tramped around; word from An Bord Pleanála on the planned redevelopment is not expected until next Thursday.

Strange environment then to be discussing the disruptive potential of the resurgent Italians as Ireland go in search of a comprehensive victory to overtake the French and claim a first championship title since 1985.

The Italians' primary strength under Pierre Berbizier has been the front five, mainly the scrum, but the absence of the fever-stricken loosehead prop Andrea Lo Cicero means unleashing a completely fresh frontrow for the final quarter is no longer an option for them.

"The Italians are rated as probably one of the best scrummaging units in the world," said O'Donovan. "You only have to go back three years ago when they started the match here with not kicking the ball 10 metres so they could go straight down for a scrum. They feel their scrum is probably better than ours but I think we have come a long way this year."

There are glaring absentees on both sides, namely Paul O'Connell and Mauro Bergamasco. "Mick (O'Driscoll) has been involved with us for the last couple of years," said O'Donovan. "Very intelligent player. Very good lineout player. I have no problems at all with Micko slotting in there. Paul will be a loss, there is no point saying any different, but as long as the unit perform . . . and Micko will add to that."

Bergamasco's four-week ban for punching Wales's Stephen Jones denies Berbizier another second-half option: that of slotting the Stade Français flanker into the centre alongside his brother Mirco.

"My bet is they won't miss him and they'll have somebody just as good and just as abrasive (Maurizio Zaffiri) to come in and take his place," said O'Donovan, adding Ireland need to play a percentage game, Munster style, initially at least.

"Against Scotland we probably overplayed it at times inside our own half and should have gone a bit more for territory. I think we should look at that this weekend. Keep them out of our half."