Ninth 6-nations game - Ireland v Italy at the Aviva in Dublin
From the kickoff, Ireland attack and push deep into the Italian half. Italy are very narrow in defence and smooth passing sees Joey Carbery over the line for a try. He converts his own try at 4 minutes
Ireland 7 - 0 Italy after 4 minutes.
Italy catch their throw-in just and launch just into the Ireland half, but it gets kicked down and then Italy are penalized for holding.
Against the run of play, Italy get a penalty on the halfway line and Italy choose to kick for points - successfully
Ireland 7 - 3 Italy after 14 minutes.
Italy's defence are strong and they gain another penalty from inside their half, kicking for touch towards Ireland’s 22. They win the throw-in and set off for the Ireland line, but frustrated by the Irish defence, kick away possession. Ireland kick the ball into touch in the Italy half. Again there is an aerial battle, but Ireland secure the ball. Italy's defence is strong, but there is head contact without any attempt to tackle and Italy are both penalized and Faiva, the replacement hooker is given a
red card after 18 minutes. So Italy drops to
14 men - and have lost their two hookers.... so the referee decides that Italy must lose another player to allow another front-row player to come on - which means Italy will drop to
13 men.
The results are immediate. Lowe takes the ball forward, Gibson-Park takes the pass and goes over for a try. Carbery converts easily.
Ireland 14 - 3 Italy after 21 minutes.
Italy chase downfield, but Lowe goes for touch near the Italy 5-metre line. It is kicked downfield, but a cross-kick to Hansen takes the ball into touch on the Italy 22, for a scrum. Italy win and kick downfield, but Ireland attack, to be penalized just in front of the Italy posts. Ireland kick a 50-22, but it is kept infield by Italy, who are then forced back behind their line. From the restart, Ireland spread across the field and score another try. Carbery fails to convert, so it's 5 points.
Ireland 19 - 3 Italy on 31 minutes.
On the restart, Ireland set off downfield, but are forced into a scrum outside the Italy 22. Ireland win, but then knock the ball forward for another scrum inside the Italy 22. Italy kick the ball into touch, but Ireland still have the attack inside the Italy half. O'Mahoney goes over in the corner for a fourth try - and a
bonus point. Carbery fails to convert, so it's another 5-pointer
Ireland 24 - 3 Italy after 38 minutes.
At the restart, Ireland attack but are caught offside just outside their 22. The resultant penalty gives Italy a last score before half-time.
Half-Time score - Ireland 24 - 6 Italy
This is not the "normal" Italy game..... their defence is working well, their kicking is going well, but a 13-man team seems destined to fail - the only question is by how much....
Ireland take the restart after half-time, but Italy come away with a penalty, which Garbisi opts to kick, but fails.
Ireland win a penalty on the restart, but kick for touch into the Italy half. Italy are penalized and there is an Ireland scrum just inside the Italy 22. Ireland set off but are penalized for holding-on. Italy find touch just over halfway and win the throw-in...just. An Italy scrum outside the Ireland 22 is successful , but they are caught offside. Ireland win the throw-in in the Italian half and chase down the boundary, but lose the ball into touch. Italy then go offside just outside their 22 and a kick-and-go to suck in the Italian players is followed by and easy try on 52 minutes... but Carbery again fails to convert.
Ireland 29 - 6 Italy after 52 minutes.
Sexton comes on to replace Carbery. But Italy gain a scrum for a knock-on inside the Ireland 22 but are bundled into touch. Ireland drive from the throw-in and kick to the Italy 22. Italy are caught in a choke-tackle and Ireland set off for the line, Sexton passes to Lowry, who goes over for a sixth try. Sexton converts for a 7-pointer.
Ireland 36 - 6 Italy after 57 minutes.
From the restart, Hansen catches the ball and launches back inside the Italy 22. A throw-in on the 22 sees Ireland stretch the Italy line again, but knock the ball forward. An Italy scrum just beyond the 5-metre line is successful and relieves the pressure. A collision in mid-field looks like a high tackle, but passes, then an Ireland throw-in and resultant maul takes them into the Italy 22 again.
Italy get a penalty for Ireland kicking in the ruck, but fail to take advantage of it. Hansen kicks the ball forward, but a battle on the line with Ioane sees an Italy lineout inside their 22. Italy clear, but Ireland push on again and an Italy kick is charged down and Baird follows up to score. Sexton converts for another 7-pointer.
Ireland 43 - 6 Italy after 70 minutes.
Italy take the restart to the Ireland 22, but Ireland win the throw-in... only to put the ball into touch in the Italy half. Ireland attack to within a few metres of the Italy line, but Italy then slap the ball into touch... and Italy lose another player to a yellow card on 74 minutes,. Italy down to 12 players.
Ireland get a scrum on the Italy 5-metre line... and cross-field to Lowry puts Lowe over in the corner, for another try. Sexton converts a difficult angle.... but that's why he is Sexton"
Ireland 50 - 6 Italy after 76 minutes.
Italy foil another Ireland attack to kick for touch. An Ireland cross-kick is caught by Italy, but taken into touch close to the line. Ireland drive for the line, but the ball is held up for an Italy goal-line dropout. The clock is red, but Italy cannot kick out directly. Ireland catch the ball and drive again for the line... getting yet another try on 82 minutes. The last kick is from Sexton, who gains an easy extra 2 points.
FINAL SCORE - Ireland 57 - 6 Italy