Ireland confident ahead of Italy clash

In the first round of Six Nations matches Ireland host Italy at Dubarry Park in Athlone on Friday evening.

Both teams have had warm-up matches. Ireland Under-21 beat Leinster A 40-12. Italy Under-21 played Italy A and lost 28-7.

Later this year the two countries will take part in the IRB's Under-21 World Championship in France.

Ireland Under-21's coach Mark McDermott said of his side: 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.
 
McDermott said of the match with Italy: 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.

Squads:

Italy Under-21: Andrea Barbieri (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato), Emanuel Billot (Carrera Petrarca Padova), Andrea Brussolo (Benetton Treviso), Michael Cagnoni (Ghial Calvisano), Nicola Cattina (Ghial Calvisano), Andrea Ceccato (Ruggers Tarvisium), Enrico Ceccato (Marchiol San Marco), Paul Derbyshire (Stade Français), Davide Giazzon (Marchiol San Marco), Lorenzo Giovanchelli (Stade Français), Andrea Michelini (Modena Rugby), Matteo Muccignat (Benetton Treviso), Marco Neethling (Overmach Parma), Enrico Patrizio (Carrera Petrarca Padova), Enrico Pelizzari (Benetton Treviso), Franco Rendace (Antares Benevento), Angelo Russo (Antares Benevento), Alberto Saccardo (Carrera Petrarca Padova), Fabio Semenzato (Benetton Treviso), Michele Sepe (Capitolina), Michele Sutto (Benetton Treviso), Mantvydas Tveraga (Stade Français), Diego Varani (Futura Park Rugby Roma), Valerio Vicere (Antares Benevento)

Ireland Under-21:

Backs: Fionn Carr (Blackrock College), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins), Peter Durcan (Galwegians), Conan Doyle (Garryowen), Kieran Hallett (Bedford Blues), Ian Hanly (UL Bohemians), Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch), Fergus McFadden (UCD), Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College), Duncan Williams (UCC), Matt Williams (Bristol/Hartpury College)

Forwards: Callum Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College), Sean Cronan (Shannon), Paul Doran-Jones (Dublin University), Michael Essex (UCC), Billy Holland (UCC), Darragh Hurley (UCC), David McGowan (Buccaneers), Ross Noonan (UCC), Sean OBrien (UCD), Stuart Philpott (Belfast Harlequins), Devon Toner (Lansdowne), Dan Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), Ejike Uzoigwe (Hartpury College)

Referee: Bruce Robertson (England)
Touch judges: Martin Fox, Paul Dix (both England)