Ireland Have Edge Over Italy

• Italy beat Ireland three times between 1995-97 before they entered the Six Nations Championship.
  
• But Ireland have won the last 13 matches in succession between the sides.
  
• The average score between the sides in the past decade is 35-15 in Ireland’s favour with a try count  of four to one.

Now that the tag of ‘nearly men’ has well and truly been shed, there is a real feeling that the current Ireland squad can leave an indelible mark on the Six Nations history books.

A first Grand Slam since 1948 and a calendar year unbeaten has raised expectations that Declan Kidney’s star-studded and, importantly, settled squad can push on and repeat the success of last year – a feat, though, that is easier said than done.

Only France in 1997/98 in the professional era have managed consecutive slams and even the iconic Welsh sides of the ‘70s failed to do it. So history is not on their side, but the message from the squad is strong, there will be no let-up and history is there to be made.

Players from both countries were set to see a lot more of each other over the forthcoming years until the Italian Rugby Federation withdrew this week from talks to join the Magners League, claiming they were being priced out of negotiations.

This came as a bitter blow to Italy coach Nick Mallet, who saw the move as crucial to improving the long-term future of Italian club rugby and therefore the national side.