Irish win narrowly over Italy in RBS 6 opening match
{{date|February 10, 2006}}

[[Ireland]] won the opening {{w|RBS 6 Nations}} match 26-16 last Saturday. The match, pitting [[Italy]] vs. Ireland at {{w|Lansdowne Road}}, was not the game many thought it would be.  The Italian side Captained by {{w|Marco Bortolami}} showed that the {{w|Italy national rugby union team|Azzuri}} were a force to be reckoned with.  "In the first 20 minutes we really hadn't much ball and didn't get into many attacking positions.  They got their confidence out of that and they took the game to us. It was an ugly game of rugby by any standards," said Ireland coach {{w|Eddie O'Sullivan}}.

The question to be asked is whether or not Italy played well, or Ireland played poorly.  "If you go to the {{w|Stade de France}} and play like that you're going to get obliterated," stated {{w|Brian O'Driscoll}} the Ireland Skipper.  Italian Boss {{w|Pierre Berbizier}} said, "Against the Irish we succeeded in stopping the opposing attacks."  Staying confident of their impressive show against the Irish, Italy's squad to face England next weekend remains unchanged.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/story.jsp?story=678569|title=O'Driscoll has luck of the Irish|author=Gavin Mairs|pub=Belfast Telegraph|date=February 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.6nations.net/report_ire_v_ita_6nations.htm|title=Ireland 26-16 Italy|author=|pub=RBS 6 Nations|date=date not shown}}

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[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Ireland]]
[[Category:Rugby]]
[[Category:Brian O'Driscoll]]
[[Category:Europe]]
Ireland won the opening Lansdowne Road, was not the game many thought it would be.  The Italian side Captained by Italy national rugby union team|Azzuri were a force to be reckoned with.  "In the first 20 minutes we really hadn't much ball and didn't get into many attacking positions.  They got their confidence out of that and they took the game to us. It was an ugly game of rugby by any standards," said Ireland coach .

The question to be asked is whether or not Italy played well, or Ireland played poorly.  "If you go to the Brian O'Driscoll the Ireland Skipper.  Italian Boss  said, "Against the Irish we succeeded in stopping the opposing attacks."  Staying confident of their impressive show against the Irish, Italy's squad to face England next weekend remains unchanged.
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