Although the Azzurri are winless this campaign, they have run both Ireland and England close.
O'Gara slotted the conversion to extend the advantage to 10-0 and things looked ominous for the Azzurri.
The Azzurri welcome back Andrea Marcato and Marco Bortolami, both of whom missed the Irish defeat through injury.
Local media and Azzurri fans have called for Lippi to get the Sampdoria star back in the national side.
Also, 18-year-old defender Davide Santon could make his Azzurri debut after helping Inter Milan retain the Serie A Championship.
Italians may cheer for gli azzurri when their football side takes the field.
The Azzurri will be without captain Fabio Cannavaro for this weekend's showdown with the Juventus defender serving a one-match ban.
Along the way, he was also instrumental for the Italian national team, propelling the Azzurri to the final of Euro 2012.
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Man of the match Byrne enjoyed a solid display under the high ball against the Azzurri and produced a successful tactical kicking game.
South African Mallett has been lined up by Italy to replace outgoing coach Pierre Berbizier and admits he is now committed to the Azzurri.
Last week it was a rendition of "Return to Sendai" mocking the chances of "gli azzurri" making it back to Japan for the final.
The Azzurri, thrashed 76-14 by New Zealand at the weekend, took the lead thanks to a Santiago Dellape try and a penalty from David Bortolussi.
And should that dream come true, Montella is convinced that he can be part of an Azzurri side that can go on to achieve great things.
But Italy went off the boil as Romania fought back, and the Azzurri started making a catalogue of errors as well as looking lacklustre in defence.
The Azzurri have been accused of illegal tactics in the contact area and flanker Mauro Bergamasco has been picked out as one of the main culprits.
The Azzurri finished fourth in the tournament last season after winning two of their five games, but they flopped at the World Cup with a group stage exit.
Both Shane Williams and Lee Byrne enjoyed try doubles against the Azzurri as Wales backed up wins over England and Scotland with a ruthless display at The Millennium Stadium.
Italy have lost both their games so far but have pushed Ireland and England close, and the Azzurri beat Wales in Rome last year and drew in Cardiff the previous season.
Jones and half-back partner Dwayne Peel start against the Azzurri after impressing off the bench in the 30-15 win over Scotland, with Hook and Mike Phillips taking their places among the replacements.
Although the wheels came off for the Azzurri in their next match with a 59-13 hammering by England at Twickenham, Wales also have memories of losing twice in Rome - in 2003 and 2007.
The uncapped Franco Sbaraglini has been called up to replace Saracens hooker Fabio Ongaro, who was initially named on the bench after starting the Azzurri's defeats to England and Ireland but injured himself in training yesterday.
Tentative at the beginning, the Italians developed a steady efficiency two-thirds of the way through the first half and bullied the Irish until late in the second, when the Azzurri sagged back on defense to protect their lead.
Defender Frodi Benjaminsen's own goal put the home side in front after 11 minutes, Luca Toni doubled the lead on 36 minutes and Giorgio Chiellini's stunning strike four minutes before the break gave the Azzurri a commanding advantage.
Strangely, Irish fans dominated the crowd at the at Municipal Stadium here, their green shirts and orange, white and green flags vastly outnumbering the blue of the Azzurri faithful, even though the match meant nothing more than honor to the Irish.
The Azzurri pressed hard for three points in a pulsating second half, but the All Whites stood firm and could have snatched a remarkable victory had 18-year-old West Brom forward Chris Wood not guided a late left-foot shot just wide of the post.
Playing with a newfound calm and touch, Altidore collected the ball, held it just long enough for Dempsey to break free, then laid off a perfect ball that Dempsey slammed into the lower left corner for a goal that left the Azzurri dumbfounded on home soil.
The former Italian national coach must feel on a personal level that he still has some unfinished business of his own on the world stage, after the Azzurri were controversially knocked out of the World Cup in 2002 by co-hosts South Korea, after seeing a late goal dubiously disallowed.
The visitors had a let off as Bergamasco's radar also went awry but after some bright moments in attack England had begun to lose their way and after they came off worst in the latest of a series of increasingly tedious kicking duels, the Italy wing landed his second penalty to give the Azzurri a 6-3 lead.
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