A lovely line-out as Rory Best finds Devin Toner with no real contest.

Johnny Sexton pops a little ball inside to Keith Earls in the midfield and the wing breaks through Italy's defensive line, but an ankle tap halts his progress.

Ireland recycle but the move breaks down again in the 10-12 channel as Bundee Aki runs into contact and the ball comes loose. Ireland, seamless in all other areas of the field, have work to do there.

I'm being picky...

Tony Ward
Former Ireland and Lions fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Sergio Parisse created the problems for his own team there but Irish hands and confidence were terrific once they picked the ball up.

Jack Conan opened up the play and handed over to Conor Murray to get the points. Super handling as usual from Ireland.

Image source, Reuters

Tony Ward
Former Ireland and Lions fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Conor Murray really knows how to pick out the right pass. Henshaw took a lovely line, attacked the gap and no-one was going to stop him from getting over the tryline.

It's perfect for running rugby and it'll be interesting to see how Ireland play now they've got in front.

Ireland get the ball out quickly to the left after clean line-out ball, and Jacob Stockdale is set into space before being hauled down metres from the try-line.

Ireland are trying to wriggle their way over the whitewash but Conor Murray is held up by the blue shirts.

Image source, Rex Features

But it's Ireland back with ball-in-hand as Bundee Aki runs a lovely line onto Johnny Sexton's pass.

We'll come back for the penalty, Italy pinged for not releasing. And Sexton turns down a shot at the posts, he's going for the line-out. A real indication of Ireland's mindset today. They want the five-pointer.

That looked to be a hamstring injury for Tadgh Furlong, as the ball breaks down for Ireland in the 10-12 channel and it's snapped up by Tommaso Boni.

Italy are looking comfortable on the ball at the moment as they attack Italy on the half-way line.

Image source, Rex Features

The rumours look to be true....

Leigh Halfpenny reportedly is a late withdrawal from the Wales line-up with a foot infection.

A HUGE blow for Ireland. Tadgh Furlong, one of the best props in the world at the moment, limps off the field after just four minutes and it's an early introduction for Leinster's Andrew Porter.

A good early line-out for Ireland which is collected by Dan Leavy who is bellowing at his forward pack as they make ground through the middle.

But Italy get their hands on the ball and they'll have the chance to counter-attack. Tommaso Boni, who looked so strong against England last weekend, fires a poor ball out to Sergio Parisse and even the big man can't pull that one in. Wild.

Image source, Rex Features

Tony Ward
Former Ireland and Lions fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

These are perfect conditions for rugby - the pitch looks magnificent, the temperature has gone up and the stadium protects the play from the wind. I'd like to see some ambition from Ireland today. We need points before heading to Twickenham.

Nice hands from Ireland already, they're looking slick.

Rob Kearney joins the line on the wing before the ball is recycled to Johnny Sexton and the fly-half gets it out to flanker Peter O'Mahony who has a little run himself.

It's an open game so far.

Let's get down to business.

Italy's Tommaso Allan get us under way in Dublin. The Irish crowd, half of them bathed in sunshine, are expecting a big win here under brilliant blue skies.

I expect you're on your feet after that, all ready for Ireland's two anthems.

A right old sing song.

Image source, Rex Features

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

After Johnny Sexton’s right boot helped Ireland to snatch victory in Paris, this is the first of three consecutive home games they will be expecting to win to set up that potential Championship finale at Twickenham on St Patrick's Day.

Not for the first time under Joe Schmidt, Ireland struggled to convert territory and possession into tries at the Stade de France, but we should see a more expansive Irish attack today as they hunt for a bonus point win.

The inclusion of the exciting Jordan Larmour on the bench certainly points to that.

It’s a crisp, bright afternoon in Dublin - perfect conditions for a fast-paced and, probably, high-scoring game.

Image source, Inpho

And now for the anthems.

A big build-up to the Italians', but we all know how it goes.

Sing along, wherever you are.

Head-to-head

• Ireland's 63-10 win in Italy last year was their record Six Nations win and the biggest margin of victory recorded by any away side in the competition.
• Ireland have faced Italy 18 times in the Six Nations, winning 17 and losing just once. That solitary 22-15 defeat came in Rome in 2013.
• Italy have won four Tests overall between the two but just once away from home - a 37-29 victory at Lansdowne Road in January 1997.

Ireland

• Ireland are on an eight-game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 13 matches.
• However, Ireland failed to register a try against France, having scored 32 in their previous seven victories.
• They have lost just once at home in 14 Six Nations fixtures, the 2013 defeat to England, and are unbeaten in the last 11, winning nine and drawing two.

Italy

• Italy sustained their 13th consecutive Six Nations defeat against England.
• Their only championship victory during that period was 22-19 away to Scotland three years ago.
• Italy have managed just two away wins in 45 attempts in the Six Nations, both in Scotland.
• The Azzurri have lost 12 of th

While the players go through the formalities in Dublin, there's just enough time to cram in the match stats.

It's taking a long time, thankfully.

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Twenty-year-old Leinster winger Jordan Larmour, the only uncapped player in Ireland's Six Nations squad, is the player most people are talking about on the day he's likely to get his first taste of senior international rugby.

The man tipped to be a real star of the future jogs onto the field wearing his shirt with pride.

Image source, Inpho