With 21 victories and four defeats against Italy, it's fair to say that Ireland have had the edge over the Azzurri historically.
Here we take a look back on five of the most memorable encounters between the two sides.
2014 - Ireland 46 Italy 7
Brian O’Driscoll claimed the man-of-the-match award on his record-breaking final appearance for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium as they humbled Italy in the Six Nations.
It was the Leinster centre’s 140th test for his country and the 35-year-old reeled back the years in another mesmeric display.
Johnny Sexton scored two tries with a personal tally of 16 points on the day, while Andrew Trimble, Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath and Fergus McFadden also dotted down.
Leonardo Sarto bagged the only try for Italy as they were outclassed by Ireland, who set up a final day clash with France that would make or break their championship hopes.
Ireland held a 17-7 half-time lead but needed to get as many points on the board as they could, with the upcoming trip to Paris.
They hit the ground running and after seven minutes a Sexton wrap-around with O’Driscoll saw the out-half break through the Italian defence to dot down.
Italy sensationally equalised when Sarto raced up the left wing and stepped inside the Irish cover to silence the home faithful.
But Trimble’s try just before half-time, set up by another piece of O’Driscoll magic, relieved some of the tension.
Joe Schmidt knew if his side could strike first after half-time Italy would fall away. Healy obliged in the 53rd minute and the floodgates began to open.
On the hour, a brilliant flicked pass from O’Driscoll found Rob Kearney and his exchange with his brother Dave found the on-rushing Sexton who dotted down Ireland’s fourth try.
There was no let up for the Italians, a turnover close to their line saw Cronin dive over in the corner and two minutes before full-time McFadden waltzed through.
There was still time for replacement loosehead McGrath to complete the rout as Ireland dreamed of bigger and better things.
Scorers - Ireland: J Sexton 2, A Trimble, C Healy, S Cronin, J McGrath, F McFadden tries; Sexton pen; Sexton 2, P Jackson 2 cons. Italy: L Sarto try; L Orquera con.
Ireland: R Kearney; A Trimble, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D Toner, P O’Connell; I Henderson, C Henry, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, M Moore, R Ruddock, J Murphy, E Reddan, P Jackson, F McFadden.
Italy: L McLean; A Esposito, M Campagnaro, G Garcia, L Sarto; L Orquera, T Tebaldi; A De Marchi, L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni; Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami; J Furno, P Derbyshire, R Barbieri.
Replacements: D Giazzon, M Rizzo, L Cittadini, A Pavanello, M Vosawai, E Gori, T Allan, A Masi.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).
2008 - Ireland 16 Italy 11
Girvan Dempsey crossed the whitewash early but Ireland had to fight for their opening win of the 2008 Six Nations as a dogged Italian outfit ran them close at Croke Park.
Ireland were 10-3 up at half-time and had to rely on two second-half penalties from Ronan O’Gara to save the day as Martin Castrogiovanni made things very uncomfortable.
The added injury to star centre Gordon D'Arcy made things worse, he suffered a stress fracture to his forearm in the first-half, and they had to travel to take on France away from home the following week.
It took until the 15th minute before an O’Gara penalty went between the posts to settle the hosts. From there it looked as though they would take a stranglehold on proceedings.
Moments later O’Gara sent a cross-field kick to Andrew Trimble and he relayed possession to Dempsey who gave them another boost in the 18th minute.
O’Gara’s conversion gave Ireland a 10-0 lead but they weren’t to score again in the first-half as the sticky Italians got back into the game again.
D’Arcy’s injury came in the 26th minute when he tackled Andrea Masi, and that was a huge blow for the hosts.
And Santiago Dellape was shown yellow before half-time for punching, but Ireland couldn’t capitalise – instead David Bortolussi reduced the deficit to a single score before half-time with a penalty.
Then it was Ireland’s turn to have a man in the bin, when Simon Easterby got yellow for playing the ball on the ground. But O’Gara was next to strike as Ireland took a 13-3 lead.
Then Italy got their try through Castrogiovanni, and although Bortolussi missed the subsequent conversion, there were still just five points in it. O’Gara and Bortolussi traded penalties late on but O’Sullivan’s men held on for the hard-fought win.
Scorers - Ireland: G Dempsey try; R O’Gara 3 pens, con. Italy: M Castrogiovanni try; D Bortolussi 2 pens.
Ireland: G Dempsey; A Trimble, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, G Murphy; R O’Gara, E Reddan; M Horan, R Best, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, M O’Kelly; S Easterby, D Wallace, D Leamy.
Replacements: B Jackman, T Buckley, M O’Driscoll, J Heaslip, P Stringer, P Wallace, R Kearney.
Italy: D Bortolussi; K Robertson, G Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, P Canavosio; A Masi, P Travagli; A Lo Cicero, L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni; S Dellape, C Del Fava; J Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse.
Replacements: C Festuccia, S Perugini, L Cittadini, T Reato, A Zanni, A Marcato, E Galon.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).
2006 - Ireland 26 Italy 16
Ronan O’Gara saved Ireland in a lacklustre display as they edged over the line against Italy in their Six Nations opener at Lansdowne Road.
The Munster No 10 slotted four penalties and two conversions for Ireland who claimed a hard-fought win over a resilient Azzuri outfit.
It was 10-10 at half-time and tries from Jerry Flannery and Tommy Bowe helped Ireland to the win – Mirco Bergamasco bagged the only try for Italy.
Ireland looked to spread the ball wide early but they couldn’t break down a resolute Italian defence. Ireland were losing the battle up front and Italy took advantage of their dominance.
Ramiro Pez scored Italy’s first penalty in the 12th minute. O’Gara missed a penalty but he made amends when he slotted the conversion after debutant Flannery dotted down Ireland’s opening try.
The Munster hooker rumbled over off the back a rolling maul when Paul O’Connell stole an Italian line-out.
But Italy didn’t falter and went back in the lead through Bergamasco. Pez broke the Ireland cover when he got between O’Gara and Gordon D’Arcy to set-up the try.
Pez was sent to the bin for a high-tackle before half-time, and an O’Gara penalty tied the game up at the break.
Italy then took the lead after half-time when Paul Griffen kicked a penalty but gradually were getting into the game and Italy would only score once more.
In the 54th minute O’Gara sent over a cross-field kick and it culminated with Bowe’s try when he evaded the cover of Cristian Stoica.
That was the turning point for Ireland. O’Gara then traded two penalties with Pez’s single effort. And combined with the conversion Ireland took a seven-point lead.
The Perpignan out-half could have drawn Italy even closer in the last ten minutes, but he fluffed his lines and O’Gara’s late penalty made the game safe for Ireland.
Scorers - Ireland: T Bowe, J Flannery tries; R O’Gara 4 pens, 2 cons. Italy: Mirco Bergamasco try; R Pez 2, P Griffen pens; Pez con.
Ireland: G Murphy; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, T Bowe; R O’Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; M O’Kelly, P O’Connell; S Easterby, D Wallace, D Leamy.
Replacements: R Best, S Best, D O’Callaghan, J O’Connor, E Reddan, D Humphreys, A Trimble.
Italy: C Stoica; P Canavosio, G Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, L Nitoglia; R Pez, P Griffen; S Perugini, F Ongaro, C Nieto; S Dellape, M Bortolami; J Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse.
Replacements: C Festuccia, A Lo Cicero, M Castrogiovanni, C Del Fava, A Persico, S Picone, R Wakarua.
Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU).
2002 - Ireland 32 Italy 17
Debutant John Kelly touched down twice as Ireland claimed a hard-fought 32-17 win against Italy at Lansdowne Road.
Ireland held a 19-0 half-time lead and they were comfortable throughout with Italy scoring late and not having enough to put Ireland under pressure.
Ireland were looking for their third win of the championships and Italy were in search of their first. But they couldn’t trouble a dominant Ireland side who failed to stretch clear and impress.
Kelly had a debut to remember however and the Munster wing touched down either side of half-time, with Ireland’s other try a second-half effort from Denis Hickie.
Mauro Bergamasco and Giampiero De Carli were the try-scorers for the out-classed visitors, who left with their heads held high, but their fourth defeat in a row.
Ireland needed to score first to prevent any chance of an upset and captain David Humphreys nailed a fourth-minute penalty from in front of the posts after Italy were reckless and dived in off their feet at ruck-time.
Ireland nearly notched a try through Brian O’Driscoll when Malcolm O’Kelly charged down Alessandro Troncon’s up-and-under, but Cristian Stoica got back just in time.
Humphreys kicked two more penalties as Ireland took a 9-0 lead and Italian prop Salvatore Perugini was sent to the bin for an altercation with Peter Stringer.
Ireland finally crossed for their first try when Kelly evaded Denis Dallan to touch down. And with Ronan O’Gara on the field he kicked a conversion and penalty as Ireland led by ten at the break.
Italy had the better of the second-half exchanges although Ireland were never in trouble. A huge drop-goal from Gert Peens gave Italy their first points in 44th minute.
But Kelly sealed it as Ireland went 24-3 in front, a further effort from Denis Hickie was cancelled out by Bergamasco and De Carli but Ireland held on.
Scorers - Ireland: J Kelly 2, D Hickie tries; D Humphreys 4, R O’Gara pens; O’Gara con. Italy: G De Carli, M Bergamasco tries; G Peens drop-goal; D Dominguez 2 cons.
Ireland: G Dempsey, J Kelly, B O’Driscoll, S Horgan, D Hickie; D Humphreys, P Stringer; P Clohessy, S Byrne, J Hayes; G Longwell, M O’Kelly; S Easterby, D Wallace, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, P Wallace, P O’Connell, E Miller, G Easterby, R O’Gara, T Howe.
Italy: G Peens; N Mazzucato, C Stoica, N Raineri, D Dallan; D Dominguez, A Troncon; G De Carli, A Moscardi, S Perugini; M Bortolami, M Giacheri; A Persico, M Bergamasco, M Phillips.
Replacements: A Moretti, F Pucciarello, S Dellape, A De Rossi, M Mazzantini, R Pez, C Zanoletti.
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)
2000 - Ireland 60 Italy 13
Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara kicked 30 points as Ireland romped to a six-try victory over Italy at Lansdowne Road.
After Ireland's big win over Scotland in the previous round it was the first time they had put victories back-to-back in the championship since 1993.
The Six Nations debutants bagged a consolation try from Andrea De Rossi but Ireland were totally dominant and O’Gara was the class act.
The 22-year-old was selected ahead of David Humphreys and re-paid the faith put in him by coach Warren Gatland as he registered a new Irish record points tally.
On a day when almost everything went right for the hosts, Shane Horgan touched down twice, while Girvan Dempsey, Brian O’Driscoll, Keith Wood and Kieran Dawson all crossed the whitewash.
Ireland were already 33-0 up at half-time and they never looked back, almost doubling their points’ total. O’Gara kicked the first of his six penalties in the third minute and it was a sign of things to come.
Ireland then went further ahead when Peter Stringer set up Wood to blast his way over and the conversion, along with two O’Gara penalties, put Ireland 13-0 clear.
Horgan dotted down his first and another O’Gara penalty put Ireland out of sight. Dawson crossed and another O’Gara penalty gave Ireland the big half-time margin.
There was no sign of an Irish let-up either. O’Gara kicked two penalties to Diego Dominguez’s effort, and then O’Driscoll got his name on the scoreboard.
Italy finally got some field-position and No 8 de Rossi crashed over with Dominguez slotting the conversion. But Italy only scored one more penalty.
Ireland bagged two more tries, Horgan made it two for the day, and Dempsey added his name to the long-list of try-scorers as Ireland kept up their scintillating form.
Scorers – Ireland: S Horgan 2, G Dempsey, B O’Driscoll, K Wood, K Dawson; R O’Gara 6 pens, 6 cons. Italy: A de Rossi try; D Dominguez 2 pens, con.
Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, M Mullins, D Hickie; R O’Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, K Wood, J Hayes; M Galwey, M O’Kelly; S Easterby, K Dawson, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, J Fitzpatrick, P Johns, D O’Cuinneagain, G Easterby, D Humphreys, R Henderson.
Italy: M Pini; J Francesio, C Stoica, L Martin, D Dallan; D Dominguez, A Troncon; M Cuttitta, A Moscardi, T Paoletti; C Checchinato, A Gritti; W Visser, A de Rossi, M Bergamasco.
Replacements: C Orlandi, S Perugini, G Lanzi, L Travini, G Mazzi, M Rivaro, G Preo.
Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)
