Six Nations has ‘lot to gain’ from Italy despite losing streak — McKinley

The Six Nations championship has a “lot to gain” from having Italy involved, their former fly-half Ian McKinley told AFP, despite today’s match with Ireland in Dublin likely to be another “difficult weekend”. The Italians go into the match on a run of 34 successive Six Nations defeats and against an Ireland side who have won nine of their last 10 Tests, including an impressive victory over New Zealand last November. Italy started this championship with a 37-10 defeat in France and then a dire 33-0 loss a week later at home to England. McKinley, 32, is well versed in the ups and downs of Italian rugby having had a renaissance in his career there after losing sight in his left eye when playing in Ireland. Armed with special goggles, the former Leinster and Ireland Under-20 international went on to be capped nine times by Italy, for whom he was eligible under residency rules. “Calls for promotion and relegation are valid from a rugby supporters’ point of view,” he told