Ireland 58-15 Italy
By Nick Powell
Ireland eased to a thumping win over Italy to ensure they will not be receiving the Wooden Spoon and consign it to the Azzuri.
By Nick PowellIreland eased to a thumping win over Italy to ensure they will not be receiving the Wooden Spoon and consign it to the Azzuri.
Ireland went over twice in the first 15 minutes as they took control playing some attractive rugby.
Italy eventually got on the scoreboard, but another two tries, including a stunner finished by Jamie Heaslip secured the victory for the hosts by half-time.
Ireland scored two inside 10 minutes of the second half and Sean Cronin began to make the scoreline look humiliating for the visitors.
The sides exchanged two tries and 12 points as the game ended more evenly in the last quarter, but 43 points separated the sides at the final whistle
Ireland scored two inside 10 minutes of the second half and Sean Cronin began to make the scoreline look humiliating for the visitors.
The sides exchanged two tries and 12 points as the game ended more evenly in the last quarter, but 43 points separated the sides at the final whistle
Italy had been below par in their last two games, but would have felt confident by a positive start as Garcia went close in the corner.
Ireland soon found themselves in front however, as Italy's defence embarrassingly crumbled. Sexton's simple chip through was bizarrely tapped back into the Italian 22 by Leonardo Sarto and after Jared Payne collected the ball, it was sent down the blindside after a few phases where Andrew Trimble finished.
Ireland were beginning to dominate and after repeated penalties and time spent in the 22, Sexton went for the corner. From the lineout, Ireland only needed a few phases after the maul broke up before Jack McGrath doubled Ireland's lead. After missing his first kick, Sexton was on target with the conversion.
Italy had a good spell and earned a deserved penalty of their own as Edoardo Padovani sent the ball over the top to score his first points in Test rugby and his side's first in the match. But Sexton immediately responded with one of his own and soon Ireland were back in control.
His ball inside to Earls got Ireland back into the 22, and it wasn't long before CJ Stander rolled over to continue the Ireland scoring and move the hosts onto 20 points.
And a quite extraordinary try made the result a formality. Simon Zebo burst through a gap, he gave a brilliant offload to Jared Payne, the play then switched back to the other wing and Jamie Heaslip breezed into the corner to finish a sensational try. Sexton missed again but Ireland were making tough kicks for him with their tries in the corners.
Normal service resumed after the break, Padovani threw a horrendously predictable pass through midfield which was plucked out of the air by Jared Payne who coasted over for Ireland's fifth.
They weren't done their, infact they were over again inside 5 minutes. A penalty in midfield moved Ireland deep into the Italian 22 again and after several phases it was Heaslip who became the only player to get a brace.
England had scored 40 against Italy, at this point Ireland had 39 but it was obvious they would cruise past that total. Sean Cronin had only been on a couple of minutes, but after sustained pressure in the Italian 22, he was on the end of a pass which left him in yards of space only a few metres out and dotted down under the posts. The Italian defence was all over the place and just could not take the momentum.
It therefore seemed that Ireland were set to get 50 in the next couple of minutes but it was Italy that scored next. They proved they have the ability to break down defences, moving into the 22 after winning a penalty in midfield, and Gori's phenomenal low-hard miss pass put David Odiete over for Italy's first try. Kelly Haimona sent over a difficult kick to put Italy into double figures.
Their relief didn't last for long, Ireland were soon through for 50. Sean Cronin's dummy saw him launch into a sensational 50 yard break. Ireland couldn't convert immediately but a few phases after a five-metre scrum, Madigan was in. His conversion hit the post as he trudged off back to halfway.
Italy then scored their second through Leanardo Sarto. Italy had some good possession but Ireland had seen off several attacks, Odiete threw it wide and despite the pass seeming to be forward, Italy were awarded another. Haimona missed the next one but Italy had something to take from it
Ireland had the last word though. With the Italian defence at sixes and sevens, Fergus McFadden found a way through a gap around the ruck to get Ireland up to 9 and cap off a resounding victory by 58 points to 15.
Photos:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/mar/12/ireland-v-italy-six-nations-live
Normal service resumed after the break, Padovani threw a horrendously predictable pass through midfield which was plucked out of the air by Jared Payne who coasted over for Ireland's fifth.
They weren't done their, infact they were over again inside 5 minutes. A penalty in midfield moved Ireland deep into the Italian 22 again and after several phases it was Heaslip who became the only player to get a brace.
England had scored 40 against Italy, at this point Ireland had 39 but it was obvious they would cruise past that total. Sean Cronin had only been on a couple of minutes, but after sustained pressure in the Italian 22, he was on the end of a pass which left him in yards of space only a few metres out and dotted down under the posts. The Italian defence was all over the place and just could not take the momentum.
It therefore seemed that Ireland were set to get 50 in the next couple of minutes but it was Italy that scored next. They proved they have the ability to break down defences, moving into the 22 after winning a penalty in midfield, and Gori's phenomenal low-hard miss pass put David Odiete over for Italy's first try. Kelly Haimona sent over a difficult kick to put Italy into double figures.
Their relief didn't last for long, Ireland were soon through for 50. Sean Cronin's dummy saw him launch into a sensational 50 yard break. Ireland couldn't convert immediately but a few phases after a five-metre scrum, Madigan was in. His conversion hit the post as he trudged off back to halfway.
Italy then scored their second through Leanardo Sarto. Italy had some good possession but Ireland had seen off several attacks, Odiete threw it wide and despite the pass seeming to be forward, Italy were awarded another. Haimona missed the next one but Italy had something to take from it
Ireland had the last word though. With the Italian defence at sixes and sevens, Fergus McFadden found a way through a gap around the ruck to get Ireland up to 9 and cap off a resounding victory by 58 points to 15.
Photos:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2016/mar/12/ireland-v-italy-six-nations-live
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