Italy vs Ireland time, TV channel, live stream, lineups, betting odds for 2023 Six Nations match

After a week's break following the second round of matches, the 2023 Six Nations championship resumes this weekend, with current leaders Ireland looking to pick up where they left off as they face Italy in Rome. Two wins from two, both accomplishing four-try bonus points along the way, has Ireland sitting pretty at the top of the table, while Italy are second bottom with two consecutive defeats despite good performances in both games.

The world's number one side stamped their authority on the tournament, and their position at the top of World Rugby's rankings, by thumping France 32-19 in Dublin. The scoreline may have been relatively close, but Ireland scoring four tries to France's one, and limiting Les Bleus to just three second-half points via Thomas Ramos' drop goal, showed just how dominant Andy Farrell's men were as they rocketed to the top of the Six Nations table. 

Italy also played out of their skin against France the week prior, but were unable to overcome Les Bleus at the Stadio Olimpico. Three early French tries looked to have taken the game away from the hosts, but the Azzurri hit back, capitalising on indiscipline from the champions to cross for two of their own, one of which was a penalty try. 12 points off the tee from Tommaso Allan gave Italy a slender lead, before a late Jalibert try swung the game back in France's favour.

MORE: Six stars to watch in this year's Six Nations Championship

🧠 'Non farlo, l'H è troppo lontana'
💙 Gert Peens: #ITAvIRE @SixNationsRugby#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/kGx5ywxPNF

— Italrugby (@Federugby) February 19, 2023

Coming off the back of a game from which there were plenty of positives, Italy headed to London with ambitions of a win over an England side who lost at home the previous week. However, England's pack had a monster of a first half, with three set-piece tries giving them a comfortable lead. Italy responded with two well-taken scores in the second period, but England scored two more of their own to win 31-14.

While Italy's games have largely been in the balance, the way Ireland have started this tournament has laid down one hell of a marker, and they're certainly the team to beat so far. Their five-try victory over France followed a four-try thrashing of Wales a week prior in Cardiff, in which they were arguably even better.

It took just three minutes for Andy Farrell's men to cross for the lead, which was trebled inside the first 20. Wales crossed early in the second half, but Josh van der Flier's closing score finished off a resounding 34-10 victory. Following this up with an equally impressive win over the current Grand Slam holders shows just how difficult it's going to be to stop Ireland going all the way in 2023, and having lost 57-6 to them in 2022, the Azzurri know it's going to take a titanic defensive effort to keep the frontrunners at bay for long in Rome.

© James Ryan will skipper @IrishRugby in Rome on Saturday.

He powered over for a try against Wales in Round 1 💪#GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/1kx5FzMo1b

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 22, 2023

Italy vs Ireland kick-off time

Italy host Ireland in the Six Nations Championship at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. The game kicks off at 2:15 p.m. GMT on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Here's the kick-off times for this game around the world:

Italy vs Ireland live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the major territories:

USA: All games are streaming live on Peacock and will also be available through fuboTV. However, they will also be repeated on CNBC on delay, usually by a couple of hours. 

Canada: All games are streaming live on DAZN.

UK: Matches will be shown on BBC and ITV, with S4C also broadcasting in Wales. BBC has the rights to this match.

Australia: Six Nations coverage is provided by Stan Sport.

India: Premier Sports Asia is the main place to watch the Six Nations.

MORE: Ireland prove world-leading status is no fluke with convincing France victory.

Italy vs Ireland confirmed lineups

The big inclusion for Italy is the return of their maverick fly-half Paolo Garbisi. The 22-year-old Montpellier playmaker missed the Azzurri's first two games due to injury, but is back in the starting XV for this game to direct his side around the park against the world's best side. Outside him is Tommaso Menoncello, who moves in from the wing to inside centre. His decisive drive through the middle of staggered English defence laid on Alessandro Fusco's second-half score at Twickenham, and coach Kieran Crowley no doubt thinks he could have a similar effect in this game.

Kieran Crowley said he needed a plan B after defeat at Twickenham.

In the form of Paolo Garbisi, he has it.@Federugby | #GuinnessSixNations

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 22, 2023

Italy's forwards were bullied outright for the first 40 minutes against England, but gave some of their own back in the second half, sparked by prop Marco Riccioni's early try. Riccioni drops to the bench for this one though, replaced in the XV by Simone Ferrari, who was sin-binned not long after coming on at Twickenham! In the back row, Sebastian Negri will be looking to build on his dynamic 74-minute performance against England, while Michele Lamaro and Lorenzo Cannone, injured and sin-binned respectively in that game, will be out for a dose of redemption in Rome.

Italy starting XV: Ange Capuozzo, Edoardo Padovani, Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Italy replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Allan.

🔵 #Italrugby
Il Capo Allenatore Kieran #Crowley ha annunciato la formazione del 3° match del Guinness Six Nations 2023 ➡ https://t.co/aCUUQhnjtn
🇮🇹☘ #ITAvIRE
📍 Stadio Olimpico, Roma
🏉 Sabato 25/2, kick off ore 15.15
🎟 @TicketOne
📺 @SkySport 1 ▪ @NOW▪ @TV8it pic.twitter.com/XNs30DaMrD

— Italrugby (@Federugby) February 23, 2023

Having maintained an almost entirely unchanged matchday 23 in their two victories so far, Ireland do make some alterations this time around. Most notably, the halves are shaken up, with captain Johnny Sexton rested and scrum-half Conor Murray on the bench. Craig Casey and Ross Byrne wear jerseys nine and 10 respectively in their places, as Andy Farrell tests his depth in two of the most important positions on the field.

In Sexton's absence, lock James Ryan will lead the side out at the Stadio Olimpico, and is joined in the second row by Iain Henderson after Tadhg Beirne was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament through injury. Caelan Doris switches from the back of the scrum to blindside flank, displacing Peter O'Mahony, who takes the vacated bench spot of starting number eight Jack Conan.

Ireland starting XV: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Stuart McCloskey, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Ireland replacements: Dan Sheehan, Dave Kilcoyne, Tom O'Toole, Ryan Baird, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O'Brien.

📋 The @IrishRugby 23 heading to Rome ☘️#ITAvIRE | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/1MDNJx7R1N

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 23, 2023

MORE: A definitive history of the Six Nations Championship.

Italy vs Ireland odds

As expected when facing the world's number one side who are bang in form, Ireland are fancied by many of the bookmakers to taste victory in this game. The shortest odds for a home win come via Ladbrokes' $7.00, with Sky Bet's 12/1 the longest offer.

Ireland are heavily backed by all of the listed bookmakers, with BetMGM's odds of 1/50 showing how much confidence they have in a win for Andy Farrell's side. Sports Interactive's $1.02 is also an incredibly short offer, with all four suggesting an Ireland win is almost rudimentary.