Irish ready for physical clash

Under-21 International Preview/Ireland v Italy:  Ireland coach Mark McDermott has made a couple of alterations and a brace of positional switches to the team that beat Leinster A 40-12 last month for what promises to be a physically uncompromising clash with the Italians.

Peter Durcan switches wings from right to left to accommodate the introduction of Matthew Williams.

Jonathon Sexton, who missed the Leinster match due to an ankle injury, is named at outhalf with Garryowen's Conan Doyle moving to the centre at the expense of former Clongowes schoolboy Fergus McFadden.

The baby Azzurri traditionally share the same characteristics as the senior side. McDermott is aware of the physical intensity which the Ireland team will have to bring to the match.

"I think Italy is well up there with all the top sides at this level with their physicality, but in saying that, they also have a bit of flair to add to it.

"Our approach will be to try and put our patterns in place early on and then play from there. I think we started to reach the levels we wanted during our last game, so hopefully we can hit the ground running.

"The guys have worked very hard during our last camp and the win over Leinster A was very important for us. It gives them all that extra bit of confidence and also allowed us to get our patterns and game plan working for us.

"We certainly are not underestimating the challenge that they will be bringing to Dubarry Park and the squad are well focused ahead of the game.

"We will be looking for a good start which will hopefully give us a bit of momentum for the rest of the game."

Ireland will be looking to repeat the form of their last outing to get the campaign off to a positive start for the tougher matches ahead.

IRELAND: F Carr (Blackrock College); M Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), C Doyle (Garryowen), P Durcan (Galwegians); J Sexton (St Mary's College), P Marshall (Ballynahinch); D Hurley (UCC), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins, capt), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University), Devin Toner (Lansdowne); D Tuohy (Gloucester/Hartpury College); R Noonan (UCC), E Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), B Holland (UCC). Replacements: S Cronin (Shannon), C Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College), D McGowan (Buccaneers), S O'Brien (UCD), D Williams (UCC), T Gleeson (Cork Con), F McFadden (UCD).

ITALY: Robuschi; Varani, Neethling, Patrizio, Sepe; Brussolo, Semenzato; Giazzon, Vicere, Muccignat; Tveraga, Saccardo; Derbyshire, Cattina, Pelizzari. Replacements: Ceccato, Giovanchelli, Michelini, Rendace, Barbieri, Billot, Ceccato.