Image source, Getty Images

The Stadio Olimpico, which also does business hosting Roma's football matches, is cutting up under the heavy duty requirements of Test scrummaging.

The referee shifts the set-piece to a clean patch of grass and Ireland look like they are turning the screw up front.

Basic errors are costing Italy.

A meat-and-potatoes up-and-under from Ian Keatley bobbles out of the grasp of second row George Biagi and Ireland have a scrum just outside the Azzurri 22-metre line.

Phillip Matthews
Former Ireland captain on BBC One

"They'd given up the contact and were falling into tackles, rather than knocking the Italians back. It was a lovely dummy by Edoardo Gori. If it hadn't been forward Ireland could have been in trouble."

Italy scrum-half Edoardo Gori is as keen as a poacher as he spots a gap on the short side. A dummy and a dart punches a half-hole, but his off-load to Luca Morisi drifts just forward to give Ireland the first scrum of the afternoon.

Kelly Haimona clips the kick-off high into the Rome air and his chasers are committed and quick. Chaos in the landing zone on the Ireland ten-metre and the home side have regain possession amid the fray.

Tom Dixon:, external #ShouldertoShoulder Come on you boys in green!

Peter Hardy:, external Ireland by 20 sorry Italy I'll be rooting for you but we know how this is going to go down.

Matthew Greenhill:, external Ireland to win by 20. Exciting backline Kearney, Zebo, Bowe

Sergio Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni lead the Italian singing. Palms clamped over hearts from the backing chorus.

We are ready to go.

Tommy O'Donnell is the man called in at short notice to take the place of the striken Sean O'Brien.

O'Brien looks distinctly miffed as he watches his team-mates belt out Ireland's call from the bench.

Image source, BBC Sport

What a year 2014 was for the men in green. They won the championship, provided Brian O'Driscoll with a fairytale ending to his career, and went on to win more and more Tests in the summer and autumn. It was a 12 months on a par with 2009, when they last won nine of 10 Tests in a year. Nine out of 10 = 90% = A-star.

Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

"You can hear the crowd from all angles of the field, it gives you goosebumps. You can't wait for that kick-off."

Italy keep Ireland waiting on the pitch for a couple of moments as Sergio Parisse tightens up the huddle back in the home dressing room.

Finally he leads the home team out to a rousing reception.

Anthem time.

John McEnerney: , externalSergio will give Murray a torrid time today, Jordi is no Jamie, he has his work cut out for him. Ireland to win, tougher than it looks

Ryan McPea:, external Cmon Ireland!! Let's beat the Italians! Think it'll be an incredible match

Keith Wood
Former Ireland hooker on BBC One

"That puts the team under a little bit of pressure because he was seen to do a huge amount in the breakdown. We've not seen him play for a year-and-a-half in international rugby, which is a shame. I don't think it was a gamble to select him because if a player's ready you're better to start him than put him on the bench."

Ireland have been forced into a late change to their starting line-up with Sean O'Brien tweaking a hamstring in the warm-up.

Terrible luck for the flanker who has waited so long for his international comeback, but it does not look like an injury that will keep him out much beyond this week.

Image source, BBC Sport

Italy's hirsute prop Martin Castrogiovanni is set to make his 54th appearance in the Six Nations this afternoon, which will place him equal third on the all-time list of Six Nations appearances.

Image source, Getty Images

Italy have banked plenty of experience with 660 caps in their starting XV.

Sergio Parisse, as ever, leads the side, but there will be plenty of focus on fly-half Kelly Haimona who starts for the first time in the Six Nations.

Born in New Zealand, Haimona should hold his own in defence, tipping the scales at more than 16 stone.

Italy: 15-Andrea Masi, 14-Leonardo Sarto, 13-Michele Campagnaro, 12-Luca Morisi, 11-Luke McLean, 10-Kelly Haimona, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Matias Aguero, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 4-Joshua Furno, 5-George Biagi, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 7-Francesco Minto, 8-Sergio Parisse (captain).

Replacements: 16-Andrea Manici, 17-Alberto de Marchi, 18-Dario Chistolini, 19-Marco Fuser, 20-Marco Barbini, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22-Tommaso Allan, 23-Giovanbattista Venditti.

Rossanna FoxTrudgian: , externalIs Paul O'Connell the real life Benjamin Button - he gets younger every year!

Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

"You mention Paul O'Connell's name and, straight away, it's associated with respect and he's earned that respect because of the intensity he brings to the game, and his complete and utter commitment in defence."

The big Ireland team news today is the return of the Tullow Tank.

Sean O'Brien has had two shoulder reconstructions in the past 12 months - an occupational hazard when you are a human wrecking ball of a flanker - but is back on the open side.

Munster fly-half Ian Keatley is making his Six Nations debut at the age of 27.

Johnny Sexton, ruled out of this one with concussion, is in line to make his comeback against France next weekend.

Ireland: 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Simon Zebo, 10-Ian Keatley, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Devin Toner, 5-Paul O'Connell (captain), 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jordi Murphy.

Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-James Cronin, 18-Martin Moore, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Tommy O'Donnell, 21-Isaac Boss, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Felix Jones.

There was a lot of talk last night about the effect that England's win over Wales might have when the two teams meet in the World Cup in the autumn.

Well, Italy and Ireland have a similar reunion booked in.

They are paired in Pool D along with France, Canada and Romania.

Only two can make it through.

And you might not want to be second the of those two either. The group runners-up likely to play the All Blacks in the last eight.