Andy Farrell has some big calls ahead when he names his Ireland team to face Italy in round two of the Six Nations.
Farrell’s side were humbled on opening night in Paris, as France ran in five tries to leave Ireland in disarray.
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It is clear that this Ireland team is one in transition and, with several big names still out injured, there are some big decisions ahead for Farrell in his team selection for the visit of Italy.
We have all the team news updates for you ahead of Ireland v Italy this Saturday.
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When will Andy Farrell name his Ireland team to play Italy?
Andy Farrell is expected to name his Ireland team to play Italy on Thursday afternoon.
READ HERE: Our Much-Changed Ireland XV To Face Italy After France Reality Check
Who’s in for Ireland?
Ireland have received a massive boost ahead of the visit of Italy, with Tadhg Furlong returning to full training on Monday.
10 February 2026; Tadhg Furlong during an Ireland Rugby squad training session at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The Leinster prop lost his race to return for the opening night trip to Paris, but is now in the mix to start at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Scrum coach John Fogarty spoke to the media on Tuesday, and admitted the return of Furlong was massive for Ireland.
“He’s healthy. He’s massive (for us). He’s trained now. We’ve done live scrums today. We’re doing a few more tomorrow,” Fogarty told RTÉ.
So he has completed all his bits and he was in live scrums. He did the session. It’s brilliant to have a player like him back. He’s played three Lions Series and nine Tests in those series so he brings in all the experience and confidence and so on. So, yeah, it’s massive.
Elsewhere, Ulster’s Bryn Ward has also rejoined the squad, having featured alongside brother Zac in the Ireland XV defeat to England last Friday.
Who’s out for Ireland?
There are no fresh injury concerns for Ireland after the defeat in Paris, with pride the only thing bruised on Andy Farrell’s team.
Bundee Aki remains suspended for his antics during Connacht’s defeat to Leinster. He will be in the mix to return for the round four game against Wales.
A whole host of potential Irish starters remain sidelined, with some set to miss the entire tournament.
Out for the tournament: Ryan Baird, Shayne Bolton, Mack Hansen, Jordan Larmour, Paddy McCarthy
Ruled out but could return later in Six Nations: Robbie Henshaw, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, Andrew Porter
Italian team news
It’s mixed news for Italy head coach Gonzala Quesada, with three stars returning to the mix but one ruled out due to personal reasons.
Centre Nacho Brex will not feature in Dublin having started the opener against Scotland, due to family reasons.
“In managing the team, the human aspect and family will always be a priority in my opinion,” Quesada said of Brex’s absence.
A trio of Italian stars who did not feature on opening day are in the mix to play in Dublin, including Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo, who has recovered from a fractured finger sustained in December.
Stephen Varney and Simone Gesi also return to the fold.
What time is Ireland v Italy?
Ireland v Italy takes place on Saturday, February 14th at the Aviva Stadium kick-off at 2:10pm.
How to watch Ireland v Italy
Ireland v Italy is live on Virgin Media One in Ireland. Their coverage begins at 1:30pm from the Aviva Stadium. Peter O’Mahony is set to make his punditry debut on the live broadcast.
ITV will also carry live coverage of the game, with Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Best, Gordon D’Arcy, and Ronan O’Gara potentially on punditry duty.
READ HERE: How To Get ITV On Sky In Ireland For The Six Nations
Six Nations standings and fixtures
Pos.
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
TF
TA
BP
Points
1
England
1
1
0
0
48
7
+41
7
1
1
5
2
France
1
1
0
0
36
14
+22
5
2
1
5
3
Italy
1
1
0
0
18
15
+3
2
2
0
4
4
Scotland
1
0
0
1
15
18
-3
2
2
1
1
5
Ireland
1
0
0
1
14
36
-22
2
5
0
0
6
Wales
1
0
0
1
7
48
-41
1
7
0
0
Round 2 fixtures
Sat 14/02/26, 2:10pm: Ireland v Italy (Dublin, live on Virgin Media / ITV)
Sat 14/02/26, 4:40pm: Scotland v England (Edinburgh, live on Virgin Media / ITV)
Sun 15/02/26, 3:10pm: Wales v France (Cardiff, live on RTÉ 2 / BBC)
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