Rugby Union: Ireland seek overdue revenge for run of defeats

Ireland seek their first victory over Italy in almost nine years when they meet in Bologna this afternoon.

Ireland's 22-12 defeat in 1988 made them the first Five Nations member to lose to Italy and they were beaten 37-29 when the Italians visited Dublin in January.

Centre Mark McCall, hooker and captain Keith Wood and No 8 Eric Miller are the only survivors of the team that lost at the beginning of the year.

Ireland have to overcome the absence of key players Jeremy Davidson, Paul Wallace and Rob Henderson who are absent because of injury.

Scrum-half Niall Hogan returns to take the place of the injured Conor McGuinness and fly-half David Humphreys is chosen ahead of Eric Elwood.

The Italians will field 10 of the side which beat Ireland 11 months ago including fly-half Diego Dominguez, who scored 22 of the 37 points.

ITALY: C Pilat (Benetton); P Vaccari (Fly Flot), C Stoica (Narbonne), M Dallan (Benetton), Marcello Cuttita (Milan); D Dominguez (Stade Francais), A Troncon (Benetton); Massimo Cuttita (Harlequins), C Orlandi (Milan), A Castellani (L' Aquila), G Croti (Milan), C Checchinato (Benetton), M Giovanelli (Narbonne), capt), A Sgorlon (Benetton), J Gardner (Benetton).

IRELAND: K Nowlan (St Mary's College); D Hickie (St Mary's College), K Maggs (Bristol), M McCall (London Irish), D O'Mahony (Moseley); D Humphreys (London Irish), N Hogan (London Irish); R Corrigan (Greystones), K Wood (Harlequins, capt), P Clohessy (Young Munster), P Johns (Saracens), M O'Kelly (London Irish), D Erskine (Sale), D O'Grady (Sale), E Miller (Leicester).

Referee: D Mene (France).

Andrew Ker, the Watsonians coach, believes Scott Hastings could assume his brother's full-back mantle in the Scotland side.

Hastings was impressive in his new role last week and the 33-year-old has a further chance to show his form in the No 15 shirt today when Watsonians take on the league leaders Stirling County.