Fear of the unknown: Ireland wonder what to expect from Mallett’s new-look Italians

After a woeful World Cup, Ireland are a team searching for redemption.

One thing they will not lack is experience as their 15 players have a combined total of 755 caps — two more than England's starting XV in the 2003 World Cup Final.

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Despite all this accumulated wisdom, O'Sullivan remains unsure just what his opposite number Nick Mallett has planned for his new charges.

"Italy play lots of phases and they're a very hard team to get the football off, because they are prepared to hang on to it and hang on to it," he said.

"The one thing we have to be careful of is that we don' t over-read that because, with a new coach and a new midfield, they've got something else up their sleeves as well.

"You can't put all your eggs into one basket and assume they'll play like they always do. You've got to keep an open mind or else you're going to get caught cold."

How much of this caution stems from O'Sullivan's inherent conservatism is open to debate, but it has been a rough week for the coach who has been widely criticised for his team selection, especially the decision to stick with Simon Easterby.

"I've talked about the shadow from the World Cup, but we just want to get started, get on with it, and get past it," said O'Sullivan.

The bookmakers make Ireland comfortable winners, but weather conditions could upset all predictions. With forecasts of snow for Dublin, a sodden pitch could result in 'trench warfare'.

The Italians, with their strong pack, would not mind that a bit.

Defeat would be a blow to O'Sullivan's tenure that he could not survive, but a win followed by victory in Paris over Marc Lievremont's experimental French team could yet leave Ireland eyeing a first championship in 23 years.

Skipper Brian O'Driscoll will not let his thoughts stray beyond this afternoon, however.

One World Cup lesson that has been well absorbed is ensuring the team keep focused.

Thus, unlike last summer, when players felt confident enough to state that a last-four place was their starting aim, ambition is now more measured.

"We're looking at one game, and one alone," O'Driscoll flatly asserted.

"I've been asked all week, and all last week too, about other games and what we feel our goals should be for this championship.

"In all honesty, I really haven't given a thought to any game other than Italy. I said that maybe we made the error of looking beyond our games in the World Cup, so we're not going to make that mistake again." Italy were hit by a late withdrawal when Gloucester prop Carlos Nieto flew home to Argentina following the death of his father.

Calvisano's uncapped Lorenzo Cittadini has been called up to join the substitutes.

Sergio Parisse, the Stade Francais No 8 who is skippering Italy for the first time, expects Ireland to play it rough.

"I will respond to provocation with a tough exterior. I am the captain and I won't forget it," he said.

Ireland's most recent meeting with Italy was an undeserved World Cup warm-up win at Ravenhill in August.

Before that, there was the eight-try pasting they doled out in the Stadio Flaminio in the final game of last season's championship, but a capacity attendance at Croke Park will hardly dare to dream of such an uninhibited display.

They will settle for a win, before fearful thoughts turn to Paris.