Ireland Rugby returns to Dublin and Aviva Stadium in Round 2 of the Six Nations looking to halt a rare slide, while Italy arrives with growing confidence and momentum.
The stakes are sharply different from recent years, with Ireland trying to avoid only its second-ever 0-0-2 start in the championship and Italy riding consecutive victories into Dublin.
Ireland opened the tournament with a 36–14 loss to France on Feb. 5, extending its losing streak to two matches overall. Historically, however, the Irish have dominated this fixture. Ireland owns a 34-4 all-time record against Italy, has won 12 straight meetings and is 25-1 against the Azzurri in Six Nations play.
Ireland has never lost to Italy in Dublin, and Italy remains the only Six Nations team without a win there. The Irish have never trailed at halftime in Ireland against Italy. Still, last year’s five-point Irish victory was the closest margin between the teams since a 13–11 result in 2011, suggesting the gap has narrowed.
It’s team of the week time! Here are players who stood out in round one of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations 📷#GuinnessM6N https://t.co/CZ1hvzoWt1
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) February 9, 2026
Italy enters after an 18–15 home win over Scotland in Rome and has won back-to-back matches. The Cannone brothers, Niccolò and Lorenzo, led the opening round in tackles with 26 and 19, highlighting Italy’s defensive intensity. In fact, the top five tacklers in Round 1 were all Italian players.
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne, meanwhile, recorded a round-high three turnovers against France, the most by an Irish player in a Six Nations match since 2014.
With momentum on one side and history on the other, Round 2 presents a compelling contrast.
“The danger in moments like this is overcorrection. Ireland do not need to tear down what has been built. They do need to accept that the next phase will not look like the last one.” 🇮🇪✍️#GuinnessM6N #IrishRugbyhttps://t.co/Aqc21c0HZa
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) February 9, 2026Ireland vs. Italy Kickoff Time, Lineups
Ireland hosts Italy at 9:10 a.m. ET on Feb. 14 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, in Round 2 of the Six Nations.
How To Watch Ireland vs. Italy
Ireland vs. Italy streams live in the United States on Peacock. Fans can follow FloRugby’s social channels for news, highlights and coverage throughout the Six Nations tournament.
Ireland Rugby Lineup vs. Italy At The Six Nations 2026Starting XVJeremy LoughmanDan SheehanThomas ClarksonJoe McCarthyJames RyanCormac IzuchukwuCaelan DorisJack ConanCraig CaseySam PrendergastJames LoweStuart McCloskeyGarry RingroseRobert BaloucouneJamie OsborneReplacements16. Ronan Kelleher17. Tom O’Toole18. Tadhg Furlong19. Edwin Edogbo20. Tadhg Beirne21. Nick Timoney22. Jamison Gibson-Park23. Jack CrowleyItaly Rugby Lineup vs. Ireland At The Six Nations 2026Starting XVDanilo FischettiGiacomo NicoteraSimone FerrariNiccolo CannoneAndrea ZamboninMichele LamaroManuel ZulianiLorenzo CannoneAlessandro FuscoPaolo GarbisiMonty IoaneLeonardo MarinTommaso MenoncelloLouis LynaghLorenzo PaniReplacements16. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo17. Mirco Spagnolo18. Muhamed Hasa19. Federico Ruzza20. Riccardo Favretto21. David Odiase22. Alessandro Garbisi23. Paolo OdogwuSix Nations Round 2 Lineups & Predictions: Ireland And France Look To The Future
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Six Nations 2026 Fixtures
Round 1
Feb. 5 – France vs. Ireland – 3:10 p.m. ETFeb. 7 – Italy vs. Scotland – 9:10 a.m. ETFeb. 7 – England vs. Wales – 11:40 a.m. ET
Round 2
Feb. 14 – Ireland vs. Italy – 9:10 a.m. ETFeb. 14 – Scotland vs. England – 11:40 a.m. ETFeb. 15 – Wales vs. France – 10:10 a.m. ET
Round 3
Feb. 21 – England vs. Ireland – 9:10 a.m. ETFeb. 21 – Wales vs. Scotland – 11:40 a.m. ETFeb. 22 – France vs. Italy – 10:10 a.m. ET
Round 4
March 6 – Ireland vs. Wales – 3:10 p.m. ETMarch 7 – Scotland vs. France – 9:10 a.m. ETMarch 7 – Italy vs. England – 11:40 a.m. ET
Round 5
March 14 – Ireland vs. Scotland – 10:10 a.m. ETMarch 14 – Wales vs. Italy – 12:40 p.m. ETMarch 14 – France vs. England – 4:10 p.m. ETWhat Countries Compete In the Six Nations?How To Watch The 2026 Rugby Europe Championship
Watch Ireland vs. South Africa From 2024
How To Watch Six Nations 2026
The 2026 Six Nations Championship will be broadcast on different networks all over the world.
If you live in the USA, you can watch the games on Peacock.
UK: BBC / ITVUSA: PeacockIreland: RTÉ / Virgin MediaWales (Welsh-language): S4CFrance: France TélévisionsItaly: Sky Sport / NOW (all matches); TV8 (Italy matches free-to-air)South Africa: SuperSportAustralia: Stan SportNew Zealand: Sky Sport NZHow To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.
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