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IRL vs ITA
Six Nations
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Ireland
vs
Italy
36
FT
0
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Full-Time: 36 - 0
Ireland will be disappointed about the two disallowed tries, but they still secured the try bonus (and then some) and take a huge points difference to the table as well for their efforts. That means they jump back to the top of the table over England who have not managed to pick up any bonus points so far in the opening two rounds. There's a week off coming up before round three kicks off on 24 Feb. Ireland will be at home again against Wales, while Italy travel to Lille to take on France.
With their set pieces on the back foot, Italy really just didn't have any good quality ball to try and put Ireland under pressure with. They managed to force a couple of turnovers here and there, but seemed to cough it right back up almost immediately each time. The strong defense of the Irish also put Italy under pressure on the odd occasion they did have possession, with some epic tackles forcing the ball loose on a number of occasions.
The set pieces were a bit shaky at the start of the match, with Italy winning the first free kick at the scrum. But after that they found themselves with a different problem: A monster shove from Ireland that either forced them around or down to the floor, resulting in penalty after penalty for the home side. The lineouts were little better, with Ireland managing to snatch quite a few of Italy's balls out of the air, putting enough pressure on the Azzurri that they forced a couple of knocks and a skew feed.
The opening few minutes were messy all around, with Italy finding themselves in Ireland's half as a result. But once the home side got themselves into the game there was no going back. Italy barely got their hands on the ball, to say nothing of their lack of territorial advantage after that. They spent so much time defending a quick and agile Irish attacking line, and more often than not they were on the back foot doing so.
A huge win for Ireland! The men in green will go top of the Six Nations table after their second bonus point win in a row, but on the other end of the pitch will be massive disappointment. Italy came so close against England last weekend, but couldn't even get a sniff today against the defending Six Nations champions. They had a couple of opportunities early on while Ireland were still trying to wake up, but they weren't able to capitalise on those and actually put points on the board, with the closest they came being the single missed penalty.
80+3'
Lineout set up in the left corner. Henderson secures the ball in the air and brings it into the maul, but this one is going nowhere slowly.... Pearce calls to use it, and it's Gibson-Park who throws the dummy and then dives right through the gap and onto the line for a seventh and final try! Pearce initially calls it, but the replay shows he's lost that and short of the line! No try, but a resounding win for Ireland nonetheless!
80+2'
The ball pops out of the breakdown and Italy scoop it up, but it's come loose through Italian hands on the floor! Penalty Ireland.
80+1'
Lineout set up halfway between the 10 and the 22. The clock is in the red as Ireland secure the set piece ball. Infield they go through Gibson-Park with some quick recycling. Shift back to the right wing where McCloskey only just manages to stay infield. Crowley back on the inside dragged down on the 10. Nash makes a couple of metres before Doris with the pick and go makes some more and then offloads to Gibson-Park who takes it up into contact.
80'
Short restart from Italy this time, but Ireland are still there to secure it. Quick hands wide to the right wing where a high tackle on McCloskey brings the penalty on Ireland's 10.