That’s much better from Ireland. Nine tries is a record for them in the Six Nations and they will be pleased that the three early scores meant they were able to cut loose and play a more expansive game. The fans may be wondering why they don’t do that more often, and they have a point, but no one will be getting carried away after smashing an injury-ravaged Italian side that simply didn’t show up.
I’m off to Twickenham now for the big one. Come join me here!
Full-time: Ireland 58-15 Italy
The ball is held up in the ruck and Ireland get an impressive, if easy, victory that lifts them to fourth in the table.
Updated
80 min Donnacha Ryan is named as man of the match. Back on the pitch, Sarto is inches away from an interception try but Earls just about gets his mitts on it and leaves the 22. Ireland work it upfield and Dillane puts Cronin through again. Ireland are up to within five and get a penalty...
Conversion (Madigan 80) Ireland 58-15 Italy
Madigan knocks over the extras from just to the left.
Try! (McFadden 79) Ireland 56-15 Italy
At last a gap emerges and Marmion pops it to McFadden, who flies through and over the line for Ireland’s ninth. That’s a Six Nations record for them.
78 min Through the phases we go but Italy remain firm in defence, for once.
77 min Time for one more for Ireland? Earls looks to find a gap stepping inside off his wing, then, a few phases later, Henshaw makes a half-break arcing left and getting almost to the 22.
75 min From the touchline, Haimona misses to the right.
Try! (Sarto 75) Ireland 51-15 Italy
It wasn’t obviously forward so the try stands, perhaps more out of sympathy than anything else. Odiete’s pass came off the back of a beautiful offload in midfield by Parisse.
Updated
TMO referral
Odiete flings a massive pass out to Sarto, who is totally unmarked on the right. We’re looking to see if it was forwards though.
74 min Italy bash away, Ireland drive them back...
73 min Ireland get the penalty though and Marmion takes a quick tap. They run it out the 22 and Marmion puts it high, but the tap down goes straight to Zanusso. They go right and get a penalty for a high tackle by Henshaw, which is harsh as Odiete was going to ground and very low. It looks like McFadden replaced someone else, sorry. Anyway, Haimona kicks to the corner.
72 min Italy take the scrum five metres out. Zanusso is on for Lovotti, McFadden on for Henshaw.
71 min Five metres out now, Italy, with the advantage for not releasing against White. We go back for the penalty when Geldenhuys knocks on.
70 min Sarto, who is off to Glasgow next season, drives on as does Fabiani. Into the 22 now and they go right but Campagnaro straightens when he should give it out.
69 min Now they get some forward momentum thanks to carries from Parisse and Odiete, but Ruddock drives Haimona back. Then more ground is lost when Ryan scrags Campagnaro behind the gainline.
68 min Eventually the scrum is complete and Italy ship it right. Then left. Still, nowt to be gained for them.
No team should be conceding 50 points in the Six Nations.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) March 12, 2016
Bad day for Italian rugby.
66 min Width again from Ireland and Zebo has a look, but he’s dragged down on halfway. Madigan chips over the top for himself but can’t regather.
65 min Madigan hits the outside of the near post. Bealham comes on for his debut in place of McGrath.
Try! (Madigan 65) Ireland 51-10 Italy
Scrappy ball from the scrum for Ireland but Ruddock and Van der Flier drive it on, being forced wide. It’s back inside to the impressive McGrath who drives on, then Madigan dummies and tries to go himself. No dice, as no one really says. It’s recycled, they go left and Madigan has another dart, this time slipping round the outside of McLean and going over on the left. That’s the half-century up.
Updated
63 min Alberto Lucchese replaces Palazzani, who has been one of Italy’s better players today.
It’s not clear whether it was grounded. Scrum five Ireland, but the massive overlap they had means that goes down as a very bad miss. Ruddock is on for Stander.
“Bonus cocktail if Ireland score 80 points,” offers Simon McMahon.
TMO referral
62 min Italy get it from the lineout, about 15 inside the Irish half. Quickly they’re turned over and Ireland look to run it, but some sloppy handling means they can’t get going and Madigan kicks long. McLean returns but Zebo takes maginificently on halfway. They go left and Cronin bursts through, making 40 metres. Henshaw then Dillane carry it on towards the line and when Payne comes in with the following drive we go to the TMO...
60 min We have a Six Nations debut for Kieran Marmion of Connacht, who replaces Conor Murray. Ireland think they have another interception try from the restart but Dillane was offside.
Conversion (Haimona 60) Ireland 46-10 Italy
Padovani has hurt himself there and is going to be replaced by McLean, so Haimona will take the conversion from wide on the right. He keeps his 100% record for the tournament.
Try! (Odiete 58) Ireland 46-8 Italy
The comeback is on! Palazzani sends a lovely pass over the top, wide for the full-back to dot down in the right-hand corner.
Updated
57 min Ceccarelli is also on for Chistolini for Italy. They go right from the lineout and get another penalty, which Padovani takes quickly. He’s held on the line...
56 min Time for some changes on both sides. Dillane and White come on for Tone and Ross; Haimona and Fabiani come on for Garcia and Giazzon. Italy have a penalty and stick it in the corner on the left.
Conversion (Madigan 55) Ireland 46-3 Italy
Madigan chips over, again from straight in front.
Try! (Cronin 54) Ireland 44-3 Italy
Earls steps and jinks towards the line. Murray gets quick ball and there’s a huge gap in the defence for Cronin to go through on an angle to score from close range.
Updated
53 min Murray goes right and Henshaw crashes over the gainline, as does Stander. Italy remain firm in defence though. For once.
52 min It’s about 15 metres out, in the middle of the pitch.
51 min Time for Ireland to experiment now as Cronin and Madigan come on for Best and Sexton, with Heaslip taking the captaincy. Payne chips over the top, Heaslip gathers and Henshaw goes bullocking into the 22 down the right. It’s recycled inside and Murray, after a nice dummy, knocks on. We’ll go back though as Italy went offside. Ireland take the scrum.
Conversion (Sexton 50) Ireland 39-3 Italy
Easy as you like from under the posts.
Try! (Heaslip 49) Ireland 37-3 Italy
Ryan takes and Van der Flier drives off the base. Five metres out now and Stander drives on towards the posts. They’re right on the line here... and Heaslip forces his way over!
Updated
48 min Sexton drives his kick into touch on the right, 10 metres from the Italian line. The way things are going I’ll be surprised if they don’t get a sixth try from here.
47 min That should actually have been an Italian scrum in the 22 as it came off McGrath’s hand. As it is, it’s an Ireland lineout and Toner takes. Ireland get the penalty for pulling down the maul.
46 min Odiete steps and finds a bit of space, getting up to the 22 on the left. Shifted right now as Italy continue to plug futilely away. Eventually it’s knocked on by Zanni in midfield and Trimble kicks ahead, but Sarto sidefoots it into touch midway inside his own half.
45 min Very slow ball for Italy as Steyn makes a couple of metres down the right. Left now to Lovotti then back inside. Now they put width on it but Ireland are using the drift defence and doing so very effectively.
44 min You’ve got to admire Ireland’s line speed there, but it was so simple. Italy get the ball back from the short restart and bash away on the Irish 10 metre line.
Conversion (Sexton 44) Ireland 32-3 Italy
Sexton chips over and this is officially a pasting.
Try! (Payne 43) Ireland 30-3 Italy
Padovani flings a pass straight to Payne, who canters under the posts from 25 metres. You could see that coming as soon as the No10 got the ball.
Updated
42 min Henshaw is back on, by the way.
41 min Sexton gets us back under way and Padovani, looking to run, gets wrapped up in his 22. He goes right to Sarto, who chips over the top then Ireland take it into the maul, get held up and that’s a scrum Italy. What a score this was:
We have to play another 40 minutes, even though this one is done, so let’s get on with that. Italy have had chances but Ireland have shut them down effortlessly, while simultaneously being able to shred Italy for fun.
Half-time: Ireland 25-3 Italy
Sexton misses again. That was a much, much more encouraging half though from Ireland who really showed what these players are capable of with that last try.
What a try! (Heaslip 40) Ireland 25-3 Italy
This is more like it! Sexton on the loop gives it to Earls on his own 22 and he offloads out the back of the hand to Zebo, who flies down the right. Back inside nicely to Sexton, who carries it on and then, from the 22, they work the ball via Trimble, left to Heaslip and he shows good strength to go over in the corner under pressure from Sarto!
Updated
39 min Best hits Toner at the back and Stander makes yet another good carry over the gainline. Kicked through and a beautiful little interchange by the Italian backs gives it to Campagnaro, who accelerates down the left. He chips ahead but just overcooks it, the ball going into the in-goal area and Zebo dots down.
Yeah that’s pretty obvious. Penalty Ireland right in the middle of the park on the 22 and Sexton whacks that one into touch on the 10 metre line.
38 min On they drive. Parisse fires it wide for Steyn but he’s well tackled into touch by McFadden. We’re going back to the TMO though to check for a neck roll by Giazzon.
37 min Geldenhuys takes and Italy drive well, gaining 10 metres upfield. Inside they go, Parisse carrying over the gainline and up to the 22.
36 min Italy have a bit of a problem here: Biagi is limping off, replaced by Steyn with Minto moving into the second row. Murray makes Ireland’s exit, finding touch up towards halfway. Henshaw is going off for a blood replacement.
35 min Italy need to score here: five metres out on the right. It’s taken by Geldenhuys and they form the maul, which is well defended. Inside to Garcia and he’s held up in the tackle, meaning Ireland get the turnover and scrum.
34 min Ireland go left and Zebo kicks ahead, but it’s easily fielded by Sarto. They take it into contact and Best gives away a penalty, off his feet at the ruck. Padovani pushes his kick into the 22.
33 min Italy spill the restart and Ireland have a scrum a few metres outside their 22, 15 in from touch.
32 min From about eight metres infield from the right, Sexton’s kick drifts left.
Try! (Stander 31) Ireland 20-3 Italy
Trimble returns from the blood bin. From the lineout, Palazzani clears to touch midway inside his own half on the right. Toner takes the lineout and they go right, Sexton putting Earls away with a neat pass and the wing cuts Italy to ribbons running a glorious line! He spins it right to Trimble, who takes it standing still and can’t get over the line, but Earls comes round in support again. He’s stopped but Stander drives over from close range for his first international try!
Updated
29 min Zebo gives it inside to Van der Flier when he should have gone right. Eventually Sexton puts a kick over the top for Earls to chase down the left, but the ball beats him into touch seven metres or so out.
28 min Change for Italy early on: Fuser is off, Geldenhuys on. Zebo runs the restart back up towards halfway then Henshaw tries to stab a kick through only to see his effort easily blocked. Back in Irish hands and Henshaw goes over halfway, running a good line off Earls, but he’s well tackled. McGrath carries it on, then Sexton makes more ground. This is good, patient stuff from Ireland.
Updated
Penalty (Sexton 27) Ireland 15-3 Italy
Through it goes.
26 min It was a low tackle, after the pass had gone, from Parisse on Sexton. It was only a touch late and a very good tackle otherwise, so penalty only. Sexton, after wincing a touch, will have a crack at goal from straight in front, 38 metres from goal.
25 min Sexton with the shallow restart and it’s knocked on into the hands of Heaslip. Ireland go left and Sexton, then Zebo look to step their way through. Nothing doing though and Ireland have advantage for a late tackle on Sexton. Zebo goes through a gap now, down the left, but no advantage so we go back for the penalty.
Penalty (Padovani 24) Ireland 12-3 Italy
15 metres out and right in front of the posts, Padovani won’t get many easier than this.
22 min The ball went to ground off Henshaw there so it’s an Italy scrum a metre outside the 22. It’s a solid set-piece and they go right from it, Campagnaro again stepping and making ground. Back inside to Parisse and he gets a penalty; Mike Ross playing the ball on the ground.
21 min Another lineout steal by Ryan and Ireland go right quickly, but Campagnaro comes up with an excellent tackle on Payne to force the knock on. Italy recycle and go right, with the Exeter No13 carrying up into the 22. Left they go but Henshaw is up into the line quickly to force the ball loose. Ireland bring McFadden on for the bleeding Trimble.
Updated
20 min Toner wins the lineout, Murray makes the exit with a good touch-finder around eight metres inside the Ireland half.
19 min Decent scrum from Italy but, after going left through the hands, they’re unable to make any ground so Palazzani kicks over the top and nicely into touch, eight metres out from the Irish line on the Italy right.
18 min There was a big collision there between the heads of Earls and Odiete. Surprisingly the referee doesn’t order him off for an HIA. Anyway, Italy get the scrum.
17 min Padovani looks to step through a gap but is scragged. Lovotti takes it on but good work by Van der Flier at the breakdown wins the turnover. A long looping pass puts Earls away down the left but Italy drift across to make the tackle and Minto wins the turnover.
16 min That was an excellent finish from McGrath, reaching out to dot down as the tackle came in low. Ireland go left from the restart, Zebo and Best looking to find gaps. There are none, so Murray goes high to Sarto.
Try! (McGrath 15 + Sexton con) Ireland 12-0 Italy
After a moment of technical difficulty – the referee couldn’t hear the TMO – it only takes one look to confirm that McGrath got it down.
Updated
TMO review
15 min Ireland rumble towards the line, Van der Flier with the ball at the back. It’s stopped but Stander carries on, then McGrath dives over. We’re going to the TMO...
14 min I’ve just realised the line-ups in my preamble were out of date following last night’s injury withdrawals. Refresh the page and you’ll have the correct ones.
Ireland win the lineout and get a penalty once again for Italy’s failure to roll away from the tackle. Sexton goes back into the corner.
13 min Free-kick Ireland as Italy pre-engage and Stander goes rumbling up over the gainline once again. The men in green bash their way up to 30 out then go wide as Sexton loops round. Italy’s defence is stretched and Henshaw grubbers through, but Bellini is there to run it into touch.
12 min But it’s an Irish scrum as Giazzon’s throw isn’t straight.
11 min Campanaro makes a half-break but his offload goes into the hands of Zebo, who gives it to Payne and he kicks ahead into space in the Italian 22. Earls gives chase but Palazzani gets the legs pumping and sweeps up. Italy get the penalty and clear to their own 10 metre line.
10 min Trimble takes the restart and Giazzon is penalised for flopping off his feet at the breakdown. Sexton though misses touch with his ambitious penalty and Odiete returns. This time Sexton does clear to touch, but only on his own 10 metre line and this time it’s an Italian throw.
8 min Sexton sends his touchline conversion across the face of goal from the left.
Try! (Trimble 7) Ireland 5-0 Italy
Ireland are up on the 10 metre line, in the Italian half for the first time. Sexton chips over the top and Sarto makes a horlicks of it, tapping it straight back into the hands of Payne with Odiete overrunning. It’s worked left and Trimble is there to crash over in the corner!
Updated
6 min Stolen by Toner and Ireland fling it wide right quickly but Trimble is shut down. They get a penalty on halfway for not rolling away and Murray goes quickly, Ireland working it left.
5 min Big scrum from Ireland and they move it into the middle, looking to bash out of the 22 through Stander. Back to Sexton and he fires it clear down the Irish left, into touch on his own 10 metre line.
4 min Another good chance then for Italy with the lineout 10 metres out. This time it’s to the front but Zanni runs into Lovotti and it’s a scrum Ireland for accidental offside. It should have been a try a minute ago but Biagi delayed his pass just a second or two too long.
3 min Italy go right and Biagi offloads to Garcia. He dots down in the corner but moments after being bundled into touch. A big scare from Ireland, who clear via Zebo’s sliced clearance that doesn’t get beyond the 22.
Updated
2 min Taken in by Biagi and Italy get the penalty as Ireland enter the ensuing maul at the side straight away. Padovani kicks to touch just outside the Irish 22 on the right. Quick ball off the top and they drive to within 15 metres.
Kick-off!
1 min Angus Gardner blows his whistle and Padovani, making his first start of the tournament, gets us going. Toner takes, Murray box kicks clear and it’s well chased by Trimble. Another kick over the top from Murray, Odiete returns and Zebo clears to touch on halfway.
Weather watch
Probably should have done this earlier, but it’s bright and sunny in Dublin. I imagine the Italians will be happier about that, but it’s good news for us neutrals too.
Updated
The players are out, anthems coming shortly.
@DanLucas86 Sergio P what a great 8 but Heaslip is a tad underrated started 5 Lions Tests & medals with Leinster not too shabby. 2 battlers!
— Toniwater (@Toniwater) March 12, 2016
Indeed. I’m not sure Heaslip is as effective as he used to be though, whereas Parisse... well, I’ve waxed lyrical about him plenty of times on here before.
“Afternoon Dan.” Afternoon, Simon McMahon. “Cup of tea? I’m disappointed. Let’s have a treble, shall we? Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Cocktails on me if they all win. Or if there’s a super over in the Scotland – Hong Kong T20.”
Some stats here for you to peruse while I go and get a cup of tea.
Are Ireland a team in transition? The Accenture Analysis Team investigated. #RBS6Nations #IREvITA pic.twitter.com/PVlkNf0QVZ
— Accenture Rugby (@AccentureRugby) March 12, 2016
Joe Schmidt speaks. I missed the first bit of his interview but the gist of it is that he’s looking for more cohesion from his team today. He thinks they’re not too far away from getting the results his side expect but have missed too many opportunities.
And we’ve got our first prediction of the day. Personally I reckon Ireland by 15.
@DanLucas86 Ireland shud win this but not that handy. Parisse what a hero he'll be immense as usual. Stade v R.Metro may be better viewing!
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) March 12, 2016
Given their two locks at 6’10” and 6’7”, you would expect them to have a decent lineout. Perhaps it’s on account of Rory Best’s throwing, but they don’t. Devin Toner has been thinking about that. Brendan Fanning has the lowdown.
A colleague on this newspaper asked on Friday if Ireland would be able to avoid the wooden spoon in this Six Nations. While the sound of a hopping ball could be heard clearly across the Irish Sea, nevertheless it illustrates two things: the tight lanes on the championship highway mean that accidents put you out of the race; and Ireland no longer prompt questions about how they can cruise along on the fast track.
The standard line in Camp Ireland has been that they are not far off the pace even though they lie fifth in the table with a solitary point, one more than their opponents on Saturday in Dublin: Italy. A draw; defeat by a point; defeat by two scores: it supports the theory that a team who last season were winning without exactly running their opponents off the park have slowed only slightly to be a close second in two of three races so far.
Preamble
Afternoon, folks.
“That was awful. If there was any justice in the world, both of these teams would be kicked out on aesthetic grounds, with Fiji and Japan allowed through in their stead
“As it is, Ireland qualify along with France, for the quarter-finals. Italy are knocked out on mathematical grounds, as they cannot pick up enough points to catch the other two now. And that’s about all there is to say about that dire slog.”
That’s how your MBMer signed off the last time these two teams met, in the worst game of the 2015 World Cup. It was a truly dire match in what turned out to be a truly dire campaign for both sides. And they have form:
“I don’t want to brag, but that was almost exactly what I said would happen. “Joe Schmidt wouldn’t be happy with that in any way, shape or form,” says Keith Wood and you can’t argue with that. Ireland got involved in a scrap with the Italian forwards and the result was a bloody ugly match.”
That’s how the same MBMer signed off from last year’s Six Nations clash in Rome, another comfortable but unpleasant-to-watch slog. These two sides have met 25 times and Italy have only ever won four of the matches; never on foreign soil and only once since the dark days of Irish rugby that were the 1990s. Since Warren Gatland built the foundations of Ireland’s best team for generations there have been some mighty impressive whumpings handed out, but the only time these games are ever a close contest is when the Irish regress.
Ireland are in regression now. Winless since being Red Weddinged by Argentina and with none of their sides in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, this is the lowest Irish rugby has been since they failed to make it out of their pool at the 2007 World Cup, if not since 1998 – the last time none of their provinces progressed in Europe. They have home advantage and surely – surely – too much strength, experience and class to lose to the wooden spoon favourites. Then again, complacency could see them finish bottom of the pile for the first time in 18 years.
Italy aren’t winning games, but they’re at least showing some spirit. Sergio Parisse is ageless, his pack are supporting him well for once, Edoardo Gori is a world-class No9 and will be sadly missed through injury today, and they have a strong contender (Parisse is a certainty) for the Tournament XV in Michele Campagnaro. We all expected them to be pasted in every match after a miserable two years and a dead man walking as coach, but they have at least looked decent and, along with Scotland, perhaps played the most ambitious rugby. They had their chances to beat Scotland and they really should have won in Paris.
A first win in Dublin is unlikely for the visitors but if they give Ireland a scare then the Irish fans, already slowly beginning to turn on Joe Schmidt, may begin a more vocal revolt. Already there must be some disquiet over the decision to drop Stuart McCloskey – outstanding on debut against England – from the 23 altogether, while Ultan Dillane contributed more in his 20 minutes off the bench than Devin Toner – essentially an oversized, less mobile Mathieu Bastareaud – has in a good year.
Kick-off in Dublin is at 1.30pm. The teams are...
Ireland
S Zebo; A Trimble, J Payne, R Henshaw, K Earls; J Sexton, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best (Capt), M Ross, D Ryan, D Toner, CJ Stander, J van der Flier, J Heaslip.
Replacements S Cronin, F Bealham, N White, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, F McFadden.
Italy
D Odiete; L Sarto, M Campagnaro, G Garcia, M Bellini; E Padovani, G Palazzani; A Lovotti, D Giazzon, D Chistolini, G Biagi, M Fuser, F Minto, A Zanni, S Parisse (capt).
Replacements O Fabiani, M Zanusso, P Ceccarelli, Q Geldenhuys, A Steyn, A Lucchese, K Haimona, L McLean.
Updated
