Preamble Rome is fast becoming Irish rugby's favourite stomping ground. A weekend of fine wine and even finer dining in one of the world's most glamorous cities; a chance to do some Clark Griswold-style shopping in sleek Italian boutiques capped off with what is (usually) a fairly routine victory. What more could you want? Oh, and it offers the chance to pop in and say a quick hello to the Pope. At least that's the way it used to be. Four years ago Ireland took 15,000 fans to Rome for this fixture. Harsh economic realities mean that there will be fewer than 5,000 there today.

Declan Kidney's takes his injury-hit side into a fixture which could set the tone for their entire Six Nations campaign. If Ireland are to stutter to victory - or the unthinkable, a defeat - then the team's already fragile confidence would be shattered. A convincing victory, however, and Ireland can go into their next fixture - at home to France next Sunday - with designs on winning the championship.

There is a theory, however, that the opening fixture is the worst possible time to face Italy. They start each campaign full of optimism, which can dissipate after a few heavy defeats, and without the wear and tear of the inevitable injuries they will pick up along the way, this is when they are at their strongest. That's the theory at least.

Kick off in Rome is at 2:30pm. Here are the team line-ups in full ...

Italy: L McLean (Treviso); A Masi (Racing Métro), G Canale (Clermont Auvergne), A Sgarbi (Treviso), M Bergamasco (Racing Métro); K Burton (Treviso), E Gori (Treviso); S Perugini (Aironi), L Ghiraldini (Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), S Dellape (Racing Métro), Q Geldenhuys (Aironi), J Sole (Aironi), A Zanni (Treviso), S Parisse (Stade Français, capt).

Replacements: F Ongaro (Aironi), A Lo Cicero (Racing Métro), C Del Fava (Aironi), V Bernabo (Treviso), P Canavosio (Aironi), L Orquera (Brive), G Garcia (Treviso).

Ireland: L Fitzgerald (Leinster); F McFadden (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster).

Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Court (Ulster), L Cullen (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster).

Today's match betting, for those who are interested in that kind of thing, sees Italy priced at 5/1; Ireland 1/8 and the draw is 30/1. Interestingly, with a 12-point advantage, Italy are 10/11 which might be a decent punt.

BBC's Six Nations coverage is currently showing a fawning profilie of Italy's devastating No8 Sergio Parisse which is borderimng on the homoerotic. You wouldn't get that with Paul O'Connell.

The teams are just coming out onto the pitch now. Prediction time ... Italy 12-20 Ireland.

The Irish anthem is up first. Actually it's not an anthem at all. It's just a song.

1 min: Peeep!!! The French referee blows his whistle and Kris Burton gets the game underway for Italy.

1 min: The first exchange of kicks as Luke Fitzgerald clears left-footed. Burton launches it back into the Irish 22 and Tomas O'Leary takes a good mark and finds touch. From the resulting line-out Parisse won it well; Burton launched an ambitious crossfield kick towards Bergamasco which very nearly came off.

2 min: Italy have started with plenty of energy, as you would expect. Josh Sole is then penalised and Ireland have their first set piece which is then knocked on by David Wallace and Italy have the put-in at the scrum.

5 min: Ireland get their backs into the game for the first time spreading the ball across the field in their own half. O'Connell is then sloppy in possession and Ireland bnever really recover and are then penalised and Italy have a chance to register their first points of the game. Bergamasco makes no mistake and Italy have the lead. Italy 3-0 Ireland.

8 min: Peter Duggan knows more about Italian banners than I do. "Would the 'G' be crossed out so it spells 'Ruby', a reference to the 'friend' of Mr. Berlusconi?" he writes. You may be right, although yopu could put almost anything on banner and you'd probably reference one of Berlusconi's 'friends'.

9 min: Ireland respond well to falling behind but fail to tak advantage of an overlap during several phases of possession. Keith Earls then loses patience and tries to kick through the Italian defence but there is an offside and Italy clear their lines. Bad news for the home side. They've lost their scrum half Gori to a shoulder injury and Canavosio trundles on in his place.

11 min: Everyone is in on the joke but me. "Your comment at the top of the page says the Italian fans have a banner saying 'we also like rugby'. The 'g' is crossed out. Geddittt????!!??!!" says Rod McLaughlin. Ok, ok, I get it now.

13 min: Ireland have been very sloppy in possession so far - their handling seems to be off

15 min: Back to on the pitch matters after the whole unsavoury Ruby incident - now I know how Berluscoini feels - and Ireland have a penalty after Italy failed to realese. Sexton kicks for touch. Ireland have struggled in the line out so far but this time O'Callaghan claims it cleanly. But again Ireland are sloppy with the ball and Cian Healy is then penalised. This has been fairly anxious stuff from Declan Kidney's side so far.

18 min: Thankfully for Ireland Italy have been nearly as wasteful as they have and are penalised and Sexton clears upfield. Once again Ireland are unconvincing in the lineout - losing about 15 metres instantly. Out of that, however, Ireland launch their best move as Earls and Fitzgerald make a breakthrough before Sexton is tackled 10 yards from the Italian line. Italy manage to turn it over and clear. That's better from Ireland, however.

21 min: Ireland are on the Italian line here after a great break from Brian O'Driscoll. They work it wide to Earls who fumbles but manages to grasp it at the third attempt to avoid knocking on. He needen't have bothered because in the next phase D'Arcy knocks on and the attack comes to an end.

22 min: Thank you all for the Ruby explanations, particularly from James Stevenson who goes into great detail on the background to Berlusconi's carry-on before adding: "It's an gorgeous spring-like day here in Rome, and we were planning on going over to Stadio Flaminio this afternoon (it's quite possible to turn up and buy tickets at face value from other fans) but my daughter is ill. Her name.... Ruby. Six months ago, we'd introduce her to Italians and they'd have no idea how to say it, usually settling on Rudy. Now we just get raised eyebrows."

23 min: More picture caption comments, this time from Gary Naylor. "Just catching up with your coverage and I was glad to read your picture caption - I thought for a moment that it was Sergio Parisse."

24 min: Brian O'Driscoll, somewhat unsuprisingly, is the man trying to add some invention to Ireland's play. He tries a little through kick which he nearly races on to but can't quite gather and knocks on.

25 min: Ireland have really improved these last few minutes - keeping possession of the ball and chipping away at the Italian defence, who are forced to handle in the ruck - I'm not sure who it was - and Sexton stands over what should be an easy penalty.

27 min: Sexton knocks it straight through the posts to make it Italy 3-3 Ireland.

29 min: The Italian pack is really delivering and Ireland are penalised for joining the ruck from the side and Bergamasco is going to have his second kick at goal.

30 min: It's a poor effort from the Italian No10 - he really should have converted that - but it sails just past the left hand post and it remains Italy 3-3 Ireland.

32 min: Some of Ireland's passing has been incredibly wayward. They're really struggling to impose their backs on a which has now turned into a series of exchanged kicks.

34 min: Keith Earls's handling has been poor today but he comes and claims a catch in the area and starts an attack which ends when D'Arcy makes another unforced error, passing forward to McFadden and the attack ends. Italy make a blood substitution and Andrea Lo Cicero comes on for Perugini.

38 min: Cian Healy is penalised in the scrum and Italy opt for the lineout rather than a big attempt on goal. The Irish defence is standing firm as they attempt to break through. They work an opening for a drop at goal but Bergamasco skews his kick well wide and it's a bit of a let-off for Ireland.

40 min: Italy are going to have a chance to go back in the lead after Tomas O'Leary is penalised for not releasing on the ground and Bergamasco is going to have his third attempt on goal.

Penalty! Italy 6-3 Ireland. It's a great kick from Bergamasco and Italy have a deserved half-time lead. I'm off for my slice of orange. Back in five.

Half-time emails: "Re: unforced errors by Ireland, almost as many in the updates as we've managed on the pitch!" writes Graham Barrett. At least I can go back in and clear up my typos. I'd like to see Keith Earls do that.

41 min: Peeeep!!! We're underway in the second half. This is a huge 40 minutes in Ireland's year. They should be able to wear Italy down as the game goes on but it's been far from impressive so far.

42 min: An early knock on from Denis Leamy and Italy have the put-in on their own 22. Once again it's a difficult scrum and Ireland are awarded a free kick. O'Driscoll tries to launch an attack on the wing but Ireland run out of room and Italy have a lineout. This time Ireland are better from the throw and O'Callaghan does well and Ireland have ascrum.

Try for Ireland!!! Italy 6-8 Ireland (O'Driscoll, 43)The Irish skipper crosses after an initial breaks from Earls was stopped by Sole. Sexton then seemed have turned down a blind alley but Ireland kept the ball alive and broke through the Italian rearguard to make it a perfect start to the second half.

45 min: Jonathan Sexton makes no mistake with a tricky conversion and it's now Italy 6-10 Ireland.

46 min: Straight for the restart O'Connell won it and, as Sexton tried to fire it out to D'Arcy, Parisse nipped in and very nearly intercepted but couldn't quite hold on to it and Ireland have the scrum.

47 min: Sexton's kicking is always a highlight for Ireland and he's just found a hiuge touch after McLean had launched a kick deep into the Irish 22. We've just had it confirmed that Italian debutant Edoardo Gori has a dislocated shoulder and his Six Nations season is probably over before it had really began.

50 min: More defensive heroics from Brian O'Drsicoll who puts in a huge tackle on Parisse, who then flings the ball aimlessly out of play. Italy use the stoppage to make a change as Bernabo comes on for Josh Sole.

51 min: From the restart Gordon D'Arcy again mishandles for no apparent reason and Italy have the scrum. Each time an Ireland player does that it adds to the anxiety throughout the team.

53 min: neither side seems to be capable of holding the ball for any sustained period. A scrappy game suits Italy a lot more than it suits the Irish. Ireland have the better of the possession and the territorial advantage but while there is only four points in it the game is still alove. Sexton then launches another huge kick downfield and instantly turns defence into attack. Another Italy change as Del Fava comes on for Dellape.

56 min: Keith Earls attempts a little scuffed kick through the Italian defence. Hhe loses the ball but Ireland turn it over and work it wide to O'Driscoll who attempts to put in McFadden for a debut try in the corner but the looped pass is just too high and goes out of play.

57 min: Ireland are in the mood now and work the ball through several phases of play. Disappointingly for Gordon D'Arcy he is again the weak link as he loses the ball as he tries to jink through the Italians massed ranks.

59 min: It's a strong scrum from Italy five yards from their own line and they win a penalty which gives them a bried period of respite.

61 min: The Italian lineout is poor - signs of tiredness perhaps - and Ireland agin try to work the ball wide. They lose possession, however, and Italy get the chance to show that they still have some gas left in the tank.

63 min: Italy work 11 phases of possession but Ireland turn it over. Fitzgerald tries a little kick and run and seems to be taken out off the ball but the referee doesn't see it that way and fails to give the advantage to Ireland. The game is getting quite stretched, however, and that will suit Ireland.

63 min: Sean O'Brien, who has been excellent for Leinster this season, fails to make up his mind and end up fumbling which allows Declan Kidney to make his first change of the afternoon as Eoin Reddan comes on for Tomas O'Leary. Italy also make a double-change as Lo Cicero comes on for Perugini and Ongaro replaces the hooker Ghiraldini.

65 min: Ireland are penalised for not rolling away from the ruck. Ronan O'Gara comes on for Jonathan Sexton. Kris Burton hoofs upfield from the penalty and finds a good touch. This is a big set piece for the home side.

68 min: "Is there any better No.8 in world rugby than Parisse?" asks Dan Lucas. " He's made wonderboy O'Brien look like a chump today." There was certainly a lot of hype around O'Brien and so far, you would have to say, he hasn't really delivered. Parisse is leading the Italian forwards on a charge at the moment. They have a scrum five yards from the Ireland line.

68 min: Ireland take the scrum down and we're going to go again. This is tense stuff now.

69 min: Penalty to Italy as Ireland again collapse the scrum. The referee warns O'Driscoll that this is the third time that's happened, with Cian Healy playing a dangerous game. Italy take the scrum 10 metres out.

70 min: Parisse breaks off the scrum and drives for the line. Ireland stand firm but Italy keep driving for the line. Parisse again tries to launch the attack but it's knocked on. Ireland gather it anyway O'Gara hoof clear. Ireland breath again.

72 min: Parisse is having his finger taped up - it was already dislocated and it looks like he's done it again. There's no way he'll come off. Garcia came on for Sgarbi a moment ago. Orquera is on too.

73 min: Italy win a penalty and Denis Leamy is shown a yellow card and Ireland will play the remainder of this game with 10 men. He played the ball while on the ground. Italy find touch and Leo Cullen is on for Paul O'Connell.

74 min: Italy drive for the line trying to make their numerical advantage counr. Parisse makes a breakaway but it's really strong defending from Reddan and Ireland stand firm.

Try!!! Italy 11-10 Ireland (McLean, 74)Ireland don't stand firm for long and Italy work the ball out and there's awonderful quick pass from Garcia and McLean crosses in the corner. Great try and Ireland are in big, big trouble.

76 min: McLean can't convert and it stays Italy 11-10 Ireland. D'Arcy comes off and Sean Cronin is on. Ireland are down to 14 men and need someone to stand up and be counted now.

Drop goal!!!! Itay 11-13 Ireland (O'Gara, 77) It was all set up for o'Gara and he made absolutely no mistake from 30 yards and Ireland have a slender lead, but can they hang on?

79 min: Italy are trying to work a drop goal opportunity for themselves. They're a long wat out at the moment. The crowd are roaring them on.

79 min: Orquera drops at goal .... but he doesn't catch it properly and it falls short.

Full time: Italy 11-13 Ireland It wasn't much of a game but it was the most dramatic finale possible and Ireland can thank Ronan O'Gara for getting them out jail and getting their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start, albeit a hugely unconvincing one. Brian O'Driscoll says it was a "sub-standard performance" and he's not wrong. It was error-strewn and then, when they seemed to have found their groove in the second half, they failed to make their dominance count on the scoreboard. That's it from. France v Scotland is comimng up shortly. Thanks for your emails. Bye.