Ireland vs. Italy: 5 Key Battles That Will Shape 2016 RBS 6 Nations Clash

Ireland versus Italy is a pivotal match in the 2016 RBS Six Nations with a number of intriguing battles to look out for. The bottom two teams in the championship meet in Dublin with pride as well as points at stake.

In Bleacher Report’s five key battles for this encounter, three are individual player matchups. The other two are equally significant hurdles that these struggling sides will have to overcome mentally before and during the game to secure a vital victory.

Slide 5 includes a score prediction.

Sergio Parisse, as we all know, is a gladiator. Opposite the 32-year-old on Saturday will be Jamie Heaslip, a British and Irish Lion who was one of the world’s best No. 8s five years ago, but who appears to be sleepwalking into the twilight of his career.

The Leinster man has had a subdued Six Nations just when Ireland needed him to step up.

Without the ball-carrying prowess of Sean O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony’s excellence at the breakdown, Ireland really need their vice-captain to find form against Parisse.

Parisse will be at the heart of everything Italy do, and one of his principal roles will be to nullify a key Irish play: the tactical kick. Johnny Sexton will kick plenty of ball early on, and Conor Murray will no doubt test Italy’s aerial defences with his trademark box kicks. Consequently, the veteran’s superb positioning will be vital to Italy getting into the game.

Heaslip would do well to mark his opposite number carefully as Parisse in full flow could drastically limit the Irish half-backs' kicking options and, as a result, the team’s entire game plan.

Verdict: Advantage Italy.

Michele Campagnaro, the Italian centre, glides across the rugby field. The man likely to be in his way is Robbie Henshaw, a far more straightforward but nonetheless effective midfielder. This will be an intriguing battle and a clash of styles.

There is a little of Brian O’Driscoll—the greatest Six Nations player ever in my opinion—in each of these two centres. Campagnaro with his elegance, and Henshaw with his powerful defence.

To win this battle, Campagnaro must not drift too much with the ball, as this would leave him isolated and play into the hands of the Irish choke tackle. For his part, Henshaw should test Campagnaro’s defences and run hard and straight.

Verdict: Honours even.

Johnny Sexton has been below par since his injury-affected 2015 Rugby World Cup, unable to find form with Leinster or Ireland. Carlo Canna, meanwhile, is a playmaker in form.

However, if Sexton can keep Parisse from fielding too many of his kicks (see Slide 1), he should provide Ireland with the pragmatic accumulation of territory to pressure weakening Italy’s set piece and erratic breakdown discipline.

Sexton is also the better goal-kicker should that prove to be a factor in the game.

Verdict: Advantage Ireland.

Against France and for a half at home to England, Italy showed a promise that this Six Nations could be different for them.

But an agonising defeat in Paris and a second-half crumbling against England—followed by a disappointing defeat in the traditional Six Nations wooden-spoon clash with Scotland in Rome, has left Italy at the foot of the table again.

An Italian win on the final day of the championship in Cardiff looks highly improbable, so the Azzurri must defeat Ireland to salvage any pride from this year's tournament.

If they concede an early try or a string of penalties to Sexton’s boot, defeatism is sure to kick in.

Verdict: Advantage Ireland.

Ireland are the reigning Six Nations champions after winning the 2014 and 2015 editions of the tournament. But now the team and head coach Joe Schmidt are under big pressure for the first time in his tenure. They must win against Italy—and win well.

One draw from their first three Six Nations matches is a disappointing return for the Irish, even accounting for their many injury casualties.

Scotland away on the final day offers no guarantees, so the Italy match is a must-win. Should they lose to the struggling Italians, Ireland would probably finish bottom of the table as it would be hard to turn things around in a week before the visit of the Scots.

Verdict: Ireland will win by 10 points.