Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog as Ireland take on Italy in round three of this year’s Six Nations. With France cruising to victory in Edinburgh yesterday, the prospect of an Irish championship victory this season seems even more unlikely than it did in the aftermath of the six-point defeat in Paris, two weeks ago.
Nonetheless, there is still plenty to play for. A Triple Crown is there to be won. That conversation is on hold for another two weeks, though, as Italy are in town. They have not beaten Ireland since 2013, have not beaten anyone in the Six Nations since the 2015 win over Scotland.
With talk of their future at stake, they – more than Ireland – need to produce a performance today. That, and the excitement generated by the selection of Mike Lowry, James Lowe and Mack Hansen in the back three, adds some spice to an otherwise predictable game.
Kick-off is about 45 minutes away. Let us know your thoughts on how the game will pan out in the comments section below.
27 Feb 2022
2:20PM
Huge day for Mike Lowry. He's got three big fans in our studio.
"He uses every kilo of that bodyweight very aggressively."
If you want to get some reading before today’s game, here is Murray Kinsella’s big-match preview.
The French may well march on to a Grand Slam but Ireland will be hoping that either Wales or England can derail that bid and blow the Guinness Six Nations title race wide open. If Ireland are to come back into trophy contention, every single point today could count.
“Ireland have got smarter. For me, the big turning point for Andy Farrell was the England game last year. That was when they started to change.
“First, they attacked England at set-plays. The scrum just took off that day. Until then, Ireland’s scrummaging philosophy had been pretty passive. It was a case of ‘let’s not give away a penalty’. But in that game (scrum coach) John Fogarty got them to absolutely attack England. Some of the things they did were a little illegal but they got away with it. They ripped England up.”
This piece by Murray profiles the precocious Dan Sheehan.
Battering over for two tries on his Leinster debut just 16 months ago. Smashing Japanese forwards on first Ireland cap back in November. Sidestepping Mack Hansen in remarkable fashion against Connacht last December. Looking very much at home at Stade de France a fortnight ago. His upward trajectory is irresistible.
Joey Carbery warms up. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
27 Feb 2022
2:56PM
Powerful rendition of the Italian national anthem by a proud bunch of players.
27 Feb 2022
2:56PM
Kick off fast approaching.
27 Feb 2022
2:59PM
Anthems over, we are ready to go.
27 Feb 2022
3:01PM
KICK-OFF: Here we go. Paolo Garbisi gets us going.
27 Feb 2022
3:03PM
1 minute – Edoardo Padovani beats Mike Lowry to win the first aerial battle but Ireland soon regain possession; Caelan Doris makes a decent carry; Mack Hansen also makes yards but a pass from Dan Sheehan is too low for James Lowe.
27 Feb 2022
3:04PM
3 minutes Already we have seen some nice handling skills from Joey Carbery – and of course the delicate Tadhg Furlong, who really is a superb operator on so many levels. Mike Lowry has made a couple of attempts to run with the ball, posing an additional threat to the Italians. James Hume, meanwhile, is on as a blood sub for Garry Ringrose.
Well, that was classy. Peter O’Mahony, Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan were all involved in the build-up; Sheehan’s pace and handling skills coming to the fore as Carbery arrived from deep to hook up with the hooker. The try was well executed.
27 Feb 2022
3:10PM
8 minutes – Pierre Bruno penalised on half-way and Carbery bangs his kick into the Italian 22.Ireland have a chance to launch another attack here; Doris carries again, then Hume and Peter O’Mahony as Ireland get to within five minutes of the Italian line. Doris then goes offside.
27 Feb 2022
3:11PM
8 minutes Gianmarco Lucchesi has to go off with an arm injury; Epalahame Faiva has arrived as his replacement.
27 Feb 2022
3:11PM
9 minutes Garry Ringrose has returned, his head bandaged up.
27 Feb 2022
3:14PM
11 minutes Good maul from Italy but their lack of creativity in their backline comes back to haunt them. Varney was too hesitant at scrum-half; Tadhg Beirne produces a great steal.
27 Feb 2022
3:16PM
13 minutes Yet again we see some soft hands from Furlong in midfield; his work rate really is remarkable; but Italy’s defence is excellent and aggressive. They win a penalty on half-way after Beirne is offside. Padovani is going for goal from half-way.
Just brilliant from the Italian full-back, that was 50 yards out and it was still travelling as it went over the posts.
27 Feb 2022
3:19PM
15 minutes Giovanni Pettinelli wins a penalty at the breakdown – Robbie Henshaw isolated at the ruck. Italy are enjoying a nice little period across the last few minutes. Garbisi kicks deep into the Ireland half, just outside the 22.
27 Feb 2022
3:21PM
17 minutes – Italy hold possession for 10 phases off that line-out but they go nowhere. Brex, Cannone and Marin all carry but in the end Garbisi was forced to kick. Lowe collected impressively for a mark and then thumped his clearance deep into the Italian half.
27 Feb 2022
3:24PM
20 minutes - So the TMO is going to check a tackle on Dan Sheehan by the replacement hooker, Epalahame Faiva.
27 Feb 2022
3:25PM
RED CARD ITALY – Epalahame Faiva
The Italians are down to 14 men. Faiva sent off for that high tackle on Dan Sheehan.
27 Feb 2022
3:31PM
20 minutes – Porter drops Doris’ pass five metres from the line. Italy are without a hooker now as Lucchesi is unable to play again because of the arm injury. Bruno, the winger, has to go off; Ivan Nemer, a loosehead is coming on. Scrums will be uncontested.
This is going to be carnage. Hard enough with 15 players; they now have 13 because of the complexity of the laws. Worse again, Garbisi has got injured. They could cough up 70 points in this match.
26 minutes Here is a great pic of the red card incident.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
27 Feb 2022
3:38PM
27 minutes Van der Flier’s carry gets Ireland deep into Italy territory but Danilo Fischetti saves Italy from coughing up a third try to win a turnover penalty.
27 Feb 2022
3:40PM
29 minutes Five metre scrum to Ireland after Ioane carries over his own line under pressure from Hansen. Ringrose’s kick was excellent.
27 Feb 2022
3:42PM
30 minutes – TRY IRELAND (Michael Lowry)
Try on his debut for Lowry after Ireland score off that uncontested scrum; Carbery thought about kicking before passing outside; credit too for Gibson-Park for the speed of his deliveries and his ability to get to the breakdown after Robbie Henshaw made the first carry. Carbery misses the conversion.
33 minutes – replacement prop, Ivan Nemer, is throwing into the line-out – and doing a decent job. The fizz has completely gone out of this game, though. Henshaw knocks on. Ireland have lost concentration and – it seems – a little motivation. They know this game is won.
27 Feb 2022
3:47PM
35 minutes – Italy have a scrum just inside their 22. Down to 13 players, they can only hope to limit the damage. Padovani kicks to touch off that scrum, Sheehan has the line-out.
27 Feb 2022
3:51PM
37 minutes – TRY IRELAND (O’Mahony)
Much better by Ireland this time, van der Flier made a good carry, Carbery’s passing was excellent throughout that move and O’Mahony – involved at the start of the move – is also there at the end of it, patiently waiting on the wing, before he touched down in the corner.
Ireland have a bonus point and they could end up posting a score that would make their points differential just way better than everyone else’s.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
27 Feb 2022
3:51PM
39 minutes Carbery misses the conversion
27 Feb 2022
3:52PM
40 minutes – Penalty to Italy within range. Gibson-Park offside.
27 Feb 2022
3:53PM
PENALTY: ITALY (Garbisi)
That’s half-time now, Ireland 24-6 Italy.
27 Feb 2022
3:57PM
So, this is a training game in all but name now. Italy reduced to 13 players after their starting hooker, Gianmarco Lucchesi, had to go off injured, his replacement – Epalahame Faiva – got red-carded and the laws dictated that another player had to be withdrawn in circumstances where ‘a team cannot continue with contested scrums’.
Ireland have scored four tries and really they could end up with 10 in this game if they are motivated and ruthless enough to do so.
To their credit, Italy are continuing to defend with ferocity and pride. It is too tough an ask, though. They can only hope to limit the damage.
27 Feb 2022
4:03PM
Here's the World Rugby guide re. uncontested scrums.
First event = contact injury Second event = red card.
41 minutes Ireland on the attack again; Italy’s linespeed is great and they have won a penalty after Henshaw was pinged for not releasing.
27 Feb 2022
4:11PM
42 minutes – Garbisi’s penalty is wide; Dave Kilcoyne was poised to come on for Andrew Porter who was nursing a leg injury but the Munster loosehead has to be patient for a little longer.
27 Feb 2022
4:11PM
44 minutes – So Porter is off, Kilcoyne on.
27 Feb 2022
4:12PM
45 minutes - Ireland had won a penalty and off the advantage, Gibson-Park tried a grubber kick which came to nothing.
27 Feb 2022
4:13PM
46 minutes - Italy survive off another uncontested scrum. Lowry’s attempted pass to Hansen doesn’t reach its target.
27 Feb 2022
4:14PM
46 minutes Van der Flier is penalised for not releasing at the breakdown. Brilliant from the Italians; sloppy from Ireland.
27 Feb 2022
4:18PM
48 minutes – Carbery kicks a penalty into Italy’s half. Manuel Zuliani comes in for Niccolò Cannone in the Italian second row; Ireland move off first phase and make a mess of things again, Lowry and Lowe failing to click.
27 Feb 2022
4:20PM
51 minutes TRY IRELAND (Lowe)
Sheehan throws short at the line-out and Ireland’s maul pushes the Italians backwards; play moves quickly infield and Lowry’s footwork leads to a penalty. Lowe taps and goes and Ireland, in an instant, get to the Italian line. Beirne carries hard; Gibson-Park then spins a pass wide to Lowe who goes across for his fourth try for Ireland.
27 Feb 2022
4:21PM
53 minutes Carbery misses another conversion. Hume has come on for Ringrose, Sexton for Carbery. Ireland 29-6 Italy
27 Feb 2022
4:22PM
54 minutes Conan has come in for Doris.
27 Feb 2022
4:26PM
56 minutes – TRY IRELAND (Lowry)
Nice break by Hansen on the right wing. Eventually it ends up as a scrum for Ireland. From it, Sexton does some great work, takes the ball on the loop, Lowry appeared on his shoulder and scores. TMO checks it and it gets awarded, 34-6 now.
27 Feb 2022
4:27PM
57 minutes – Ireland 36-6 Italy
Sexton kicks the conversion. So, if France lose to Wales or England, and if Ireland beat England and Scotland, then the championship could – potentially – come down to points difference. In this respect, they could do with adding another 20 points in the final quarter.
27 Feb 2022
4:30PM
59 minutes – Mack hacks upfield; Garbisi tidies and then clears. From the lineout, Sheehan goes on a charge; Furlong carries next, then Conan has a go; Furlong had O’Mahony as an overlap but didn’t it. Next to have a go is Sheehan and then van der Flier knocks on.
The Italian defence, quite simply, has been brilliant. Ireland have been sloppy but credit the visitors for being so brave with 13 players.
27 Feb 2022
4:31PM
61 minutes Furlong, Gibson-Park and Beirne all off; Bealham, Casey and Treadwell come in. Kilcoyne has also replaced Porter.
27 Feb 2022
4:33PM
63 minutes – Sheehan knocks on – and this has been a terrible spectacle since the sending off. Ireland have not clicked; Italy – reduced to 13 players – have stuck at their job.
27 Feb 2022
4:36PM
65 minutes – Treadwell wins the line-out; Casey zips a pass out to Henshaw who tips a pass on to Conan; Ryan Baird looks like getting through but he knocks on.
Caelan Doris goes on an attack. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
27 Feb 2022
4:38PM
68 minutes – Robbie Henshaw is leaving the field for a HIA. Ringrose returns.
27 Feb 2022
4:39PM
68 minutes – Hansen tries an ambitious kick. It bounces into touch. This has been the worst game I have seen this season. No shape or pattern to it.
27 Feb 2022
4:39PM
69 minutes – Rob Herring is in for Dan Sheehan.
27 Feb 2022
4:40PM
And he begins with a poor throw at the line-out.
27 Feb 2022
4:41PM
TRY IRELAND (Ryan Baird) Ireland 41-6 Italy
First international try for Baird who blocked Fusco’s boxkick and then follows up to score.
27 Feb 2022
4:42PM
71 minutes – Sexton adds the conversion
It is now Ireland 43-6 Italy
There are another 14 points to be gained here – and if it comes down to points difference, those scores could turn out to be crucial.
27 Feb 2022
4:43PM
73 minutes – Ringrose tries a clever grubber which Mike Lowry reads well but the ball bounces unkindly into touch.
27 Feb 2022
4:46PM
75 minutes – Much better from Ireland, Casey was superb in his orchestration of that move. Some good carries, too. Steyn could be yellow carded here for deliberately palming the ball into touch. And he is. Italy are now down to 12.
27 Feb 2022
4:47PM
75 minutes – Josh van der Flier has been named player of the match.
27 Feb 2022
4:48PM
Ireland should score here, 15 v 12. Seriously … even the ball boy would get over.
27 Feb 2022
4:48PM
TRY IRELAND (James Lowe)
Ireland 48-6 Italy
27 Feb 2022
4:49PM
So Sexton and Hume exchanged passes, Lowry received possession with the chance of getting his hat-trick but selflessly passes wide instead to Lowe who scores in the corner; Sexton adds the conversion and Ireland are now 50-6 ahead. Another score is in them, it is 15 versus 12 remember.
27 Feb 2022
4:51PM
78 minutes Nice break from Ireland; Herring ran a great line but then panicked and threw infield when he had an overlap to his right. Sexton’s dummy created the chance.
27 Feb 2022
4:52PM
78 minutes – Sexton’s crossfield kick is carried into touch by Fusco. Ireland are five metres from the Italian line; Herring finds Treadwell; maul moves forward; Casey tries to get across, fails, then Bealham has a go.
Camped on the Italian line, van der Flier makes an attempt to cross and is held up. It is a goalline drop-out.
27 Feb 2022
4:53PM
Clock is in the red now.
27 Feb 2022
4:54PM
TRY IRELAND (Treadwell) Ireland 55-6 Italy
27 Feb 2022
4:55PM
Try created by Conan and Casey, the former with a direct carry, the latter with the awareness to know Treadwell was appearing on his shoulder.
27 Feb 2022
4:55PM
FULL-TIME: Ireland 57-6 Italy
Sexton converts.
27 Feb 2022
4:58PM
So, Ireland win by 51 points and yet this was a damp squib. Italy finished the game with 12 players; Ireland failed to click. There were plenty of unforced errors and also plenty of tries.
To Italy’s credit, their linespeed was superb and their spirit prevented this game from being absolutely horrific in terms of the scoreline. Down the line, this may help Ireland as the points differential could come into play. But really, this was horrific to watch. For Italy to lose two players on the back of one red card is an issue that will not sit well with anyone.
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As it happened: Ireland versus Italy, Six Nations championship
Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog as Ireland take on Italy in round three of this year’s Six Nations. With France cruising to victory in Edinburgh yesterday, the prospect of an Irish championship victory this season seems even more unlikely than it did in the aftermath of the six-point defeat in Paris, two weeks ago.
Nonetheless, there is still plenty to play for. A Triple Crown is there to be won. That conversation is on hold for another two weeks, though, as Italy are in town. They have not beaten Ireland since 2013, have not beaten anyone in the Six Nations since the 2015 win over Scotland.
With talk of their future at stake, they – more than Ireland – need to produce a performance today. That, and the excitement generated by the selection of Mike Lowry, James Lowe and Mack Hansen in the back three, adds some spice to an otherwise predictable game.
Kick-off is about 45 minutes away. Let us know your thoughts on how the game will pan out in the comments section below.
Here are the teams for today’s game.
Ireland:
Replacements:
Italy:
Replacements:
Referee: Nika Amashukeli [GRU]
If you want to get some reading before today’s game, here is Murray Kinsella’s big-match preview.
The French may well march on to a Grand Slam but Ireland will be hoping that either Wales or England can derail that bid and blow the Guinness Six Nations title race wide open. If Ireland are to come back into trophy contention, every single point today could count.
And here is a long-read on the big issues affecting Ireland and European rugby today.
“Ireland have got smarter. For me, the big turning point for Andy Farrell was the England game last year. That was when they started to change.
“First, they attacked England at set-plays. The scrum just took off that day. Until then, Ireland’s scrummaging philosophy had been pretty passive. It was a case of ‘let’s not give away a penalty’. But in that game (scrum coach) John Fogarty got them to absolutely attack England. Some of the things they did were a little illegal but they got away with it. They ripped England up.”
This piece by Murray profiles the precocious Dan Sheehan.
Battering over for two tries on his Leinster debut just 16 months ago. Smashing Japanese forwards on first Ireland cap back in November. Sidestepping Mack Hansen in remarkable fashion against Connacht last December. Looking very much at home at Stade de France a fortnight ago. His upward trajectory is irresistible.
Powerful rendition of the Italian national anthem by a proud bunch of players.
Kick off fast approaching.
Anthems over, we are ready to go.
KICK-OFF: Here we go. Paolo Garbisi gets us going.
1 minute – Edoardo Padovani beats Mike Lowry to win the first aerial battle but Ireland soon regain possession; Caelan Doris makes a decent carry; Mack Hansen also makes yards but a pass from Dan Sheehan is too low for James Lowe.
3 minutes Already we have seen some nice handling skills from Joey Carbery – and of course the delicate Tadhg Furlong, who really is a superb operator on so many levels. Mike Lowry has made a couple of attempts to run with the ball, posing an additional threat to the Italians. James Hume, meanwhile, is on as a blood sub for Garry Ringrose.
4 minutes TRY IRELAND (Joey Carbery)
5 minutes – Ireland 7-0 Italy (Carbery conversion)
Well, that was classy. Peter O’Mahony, Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan were all involved in the build-up; Sheehan’s pace and handling skills coming to the fore as Carbery arrived from deep to hook up with the hooker. The try was well executed.
8 minutes – Pierre Bruno penalised on half-way and Carbery bangs his kick into the Italian 22.Ireland have a chance to launch another attack here; Doris carries again, then Hume and Peter O’Mahony as Ireland get to within five minutes of the Italian line. Doris then goes offside.
8 minutes Gianmarco Lucchesi has to go off with an arm injury; Epalahame Faiva has arrived as his replacement.
9 minutes Garry Ringrose has returned, his head bandaged up.
11 minutes Good maul from Italy but their lack of creativity in their backline comes back to haunt them. Varney was too hesitant at scrum-half; Tadhg Beirne produces a great steal.
13 minutes Yet again we see some soft hands from Furlong in midfield; his work rate really is remarkable; but Italy’s defence is excellent and aggressive. They win a penalty on half-way after Beirne is offside. Padovani is going for goal from half-way.
14 minutes Penalty Italy (Padovani) Ireland 7-3 Italy
Just brilliant from the Italian full-back, that was 50 yards out and it was still travelling as it went over the posts.
15 minutes Giovanni Pettinelli wins a penalty at the breakdown – Robbie Henshaw isolated at the ruck. Italy are enjoying a nice little period across the last few minutes. Garbisi kicks deep into the Ireland half, just outside the 22.
17 minutes – Italy hold possession for 10 phases off that line-out but they go nowhere. Brex, Cannone and Marin all carry but in the end Garbisi was forced to kick. Lowe collected impressively for a mark and then thumped his clearance deep into the Italian half.
20 minutes - So the TMO is going to check a tackle on Dan Sheehan by the replacement hooker, Epalahame Faiva.
RED CARD ITALY – Epalahame Faiva
The Italians are down to 14 men. Faiva sent off for that high tackle on Dan Sheehan.
20 minutes – Porter drops Doris’ pass five metres from the line. Italy are without a hooker now as Lucchesi is unable to play again because of the arm injury. Bruno, the winger, has to go off; Ivan Nemer, a loosehead is coming on. Scrums will be uncontested.
TRY IRELAND (Jamison Gibson-Park)
22 minutes – Ireland 14-3 Italy
This is going to be carnage. Hard enough with 15 players; they now have 13 because of the complexity of the laws. Worse again, Garbisi has got injured. They could cough up 70 points in this match.
26 minutes Here is a great pic of the red card incident.
27 minutes Van der Flier’s carry gets Ireland deep into Italy territory but Danilo Fischetti saves Italy from coughing up a third try to win a turnover penalty.
29 minutes Five metre scrum to Ireland after Ioane carries over his own line under pressure from Hansen. Ringrose’s kick was excellent.
30 minutes – TRY IRELAND (Michael Lowry)
Try on his debut for Lowry after Ireland score off that uncontested scrum; Carbery thought about kicking before passing outside; credit too for Gibson-Park for the speed of his deliveries and his ability to get to the breakdown after Robbie Henshaw made the first carry. Carbery misses the conversion.
Ireland 19-3 Italy
33 minutes – replacement prop, Ivan Nemer, is throwing into the line-out – and doing a decent job. The fizz has completely gone out of this game, though. Henshaw knocks on. Ireland have lost concentration and – it seems – a little motivation. They know this game is won.
35 minutes – Italy have a scrum just inside their 22. Down to 13 players, they can only hope to limit the damage. Padovani kicks to touch off that scrum, Sheehan has the line-out.
37 minutes – TRY IRELAND (O’Mahony)
Much better by Ireland this time, van der Flier made a good carry, Carbery’s passing was excellent throughout that move and O’Mahony – involved at the start of the move – is also there at the end of it, patiently waiting on the wing, before he touched down in the corner.
Ireland have a bonus point and they could end up posting a score that would make their points differential just way better than everyone else’s.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
39 minutes Carbery misses the conversion
40 minutes – Penalty to Italy within range. Gibson-Park offside.
PENALTY: ITALY (Garbisi)
That’s half-time now, Ireland 24-6 Italy.
So, this is a training game in all but name now. Italy reduced to 13 players after their starting hooker, Gianmarco Lucchesi, had to go off injured, his replacement – Epalahame Faiva – got red-carded and the laws dictated that another player had to be withdrawn in circumstances where ‘a team cannot continue with contested scrums’.
Ireland have scored four tries and really they could end up with 10 in this game if they are motivated and ruthless enough to do so.
To their credit, Italy are continuing to defend with ferocity and pride. It is too tough an ask, though. They can only hope to limit the damage.
Here is the red card explanation.
41 minutes Ireland on the attack again; Italy’s linespeed is great and they have won a penalty after Henshaw was pinged for not releasing.
42 minutes – Garbisi’s penalty is wide; Dave Kilcoyne was poised to come on for Andrew Porter who was nursing a leg injury but the Munster loosehead has to be patient for a little longer.
44 minutes – So Porter is off, Kilcoyne on.
45 minutes - Ireland had won a penalty and off the advantage, Gibson-Park tried a grubber kick which came to nothing.
46 minutes - Italy survive off another uncontested scrum. Lowry’s attempted pass to Hansen doesn’t reach its target.
46 minutes Van der Flier is penalised for not releasing at the breakdown. Brilliant from the Italians; sloppy from Ireland.
48 minutes – Carbery kicks a penalty into Italy’s half. Manuel Zuliani comes in for Niccolò Cannone in the Italian second row; Ireland move off first phase and make a mess of things again, Lowry and Lowe failing to click.
51 minutes TRY IRELAND (Lowe)
Sheehan throws short at the line-out and Ireland’s maul pushes the Italians backwards; play moves quickly infield and Lowry’s footwork leads to a penalty. Lowe taps and goes and Ireland, in an instant, get to the Italian line. Beirne carries hard; Gibson-Park then spins a pass wide to Lowe who goes across for his fourth try for Ireland.
53 minutes Carbery misses another conversion. Hume has come on for Ringrose, Sexton for Carbery. Ireland 29-6 Italy
54 minutes Conan has come in for Doris.
56 minutes – TRY IRELAND (Lowry)
Nice break by Hansen on the right wing. Eventually it ends up as a scrum for Ireland. From it, Sexton does some great work, takes the ball on the loop, Lowry appeared on his shoulder and scores. TMO checks it and it gets awarded, 34-6 now.
57 minutes – Ireland 36-6 Italy
Sexton kicks the conversion. So, if France lose to Wales or England, and if Ireland beat England and Scotland, then the championship could – potentially – come down to points difference. In this respect, they could do with adding another 20 points in the final quarter.
59 minutes – Mack hacks upfield; Garbisi tidies and then clears. From the lineout, Sheehan goes on a charge; Furlong carries next, then Conan has a go; Furlong had O’Mahony as an overlap but didn’t it. Next to have a go is Sheehan and then van der Flier knocks on.
The Italian defence, quite simply, has been brilliant. Ireland have been sloppy but credit the visitors for being so brave with 13 players.
61 minutes Furlong, Gibson-Park and Beirne all off; Bealham, Casey and Treadwell come in. Kilcoyne has also replaced Porter.
63 minutes – Sheehan knocks on – and this has been a terrible spectacle since the sending off. Ireland have not clicked; Italy – reduced to 13 players – have stuck at their job.
65 minutes – Treadwell wins the line-out; Casey zips a pass out to Henshaw who tips a pass on to Conan; Ryan Baird looks like getting through but he knocks on.
68 minutes – Robbie Henshaw is leaving the field for a HIA. Ringrose returns.
68 minutes – Hansen tries an ambitious kick. It bounces into touch. This has been the worst game I have seen this season. No shape or pattern to it.
69 minutes – Rob Herring is in for Dan Sheehan.
And he begins with a poor throw at the line-out.
TRY IRELAND (Ryan Baird) Ireland 41-6 Italy
First international try for Baird who blocked Fusco’s boxkick and then follows up to score.
71 minutes – Sexton adds the conversion
It is now Ireland 43-6 Italy
There are another 14 points to be gained here – and if it comes down to points difference, those scores could turn out to be crucial.
73 minutes – Ringrose tries a clever grubber which Mike Lowry reads well but the ball bounces unkindly into touch.
75 minutes – Much better from Ireland, Casey was superb in his orchestration of that move. Some good carries, too. Steyn could be yellow carded here for deliberately palming the ball into touch. And he is. Italy are now down to 12.
75 minutes – Josh van der Flier has been named player of the match.
Ireland should score here, 15 v 12. Seriously … even the ball boy would get over.
TRY IRELAND (James Lowe)
Ireland 48-6 Italy
So Sexton and Hume exchanged passes, Lowry received possession with the chance of getting his hat-trick but selflessly passes wide instead to Lowe who scores in the corner; Sexton adds the conversion and Ireland are now 50-6 ahead. Another score is in them, it is 15 versus 12 remember.
78 minutes Nice break from Ireland; Herring ran a great line but then panicked and threw infield when he had an overlap to his right. Sexton’s dummy created the chance.
78 minutes – Sexton’s crossfield kick is carried into touch by Fusco. Ireland are five metres from the Italian line; Herring finds Treadwell; maul moves forward; Casey tries to get across, fails, then Bealham has a go.
Camped on the Italian line, van der Flier makes an attempt to cross and is held up. It is a goalline drop-out.
Clock is in the red now.
TRY IRELAND (Treadwell) Ireland 55-6 Italy
Try created by Conan and Casey, the former with a direct carry, the latter with the awareness to know Treadwell was appearing on his shoulder.
FULL-TIME: Ireland 57-6 Italy
Sexton converts.
So, Ireland win by 51 points and yet this was a damp squib. Italy finished the game with 12 players; Ireland failed to click. There were plenty of unforced errors and also plenty of tries.
To Italy’s credit, their linespeed was superb and their spirit prevented this game from being absolutely horrific in terms of the scoreline. Down the line, this may help Ireland as the points differential could come into play. But really, this was horrific to watch. For Italy to lose two players on the back of one red card is an issue that will not sit well with anyone.
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Ireland Italy Minute-by-Minute