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A huge game at Murrayfield, with kick-off in 10 minutes time …
Some post-game reaction from Cormac Izuchukwu, via RTÉ. “We needed more fight and edge about us [after losing to France], and we showed that in the second half. It was tough this week, maybe we pushed too much. Sometimes you try and give 101%, it’s too much. But we have our process, we believe in it. Quick turnaround, but we’ll go again.”
And player of the match, Rob Baloucoune: “It’s been three years since my last chance to play Ireland. To make my Six Nations debut, and get a try as well, it’s unbelievable. Hopefully there’s more to come. Close game, but we got the win.”
“It was a brilliant performance from Italy, they didn’t get the win but they backed up the performance after Scotland,” Maggie Alphonsi says on ITV. “I feel for Italy because they didn’t get the result, but next week will be big for them.”
Next week, the Azzurri head to Paris for a showdown with France, while Ireland travel to Twickenham to face England.
ShareFull-time! Ireland 20-13 Italy
What a brilliant game! Ireland turned a 10-5 deficit at half-time into a victory that won’t silence every critic, but at least kickstarts their Six Nations campaign.
Italy were fantastic and looked to run away with it but Lynagh’s try was chalked off which then sparked the Irish resurgence.
Excellent stuff.
80+3 min: Turonver! Lowe with the intercept on his own 22! He’s tearing up field. Can he go all the way. NO! He runs out of steam but they keep the ball alive. They’re forming down the left. Into Italy’s 22. Ireland could pinch a bonus point win! Italy stray off side on the scramble. They give away a penalty. Game over but not quite because Ireland want it all with a four try bonus point.
80+2: Italy still hammering the line from the line-out. 10 phases. 22 metres short. Ireland’s defence, with Ringrose leading it, holding firm.
80 min: Penalty for Italy as Ireland slowed the ball down illegally. Garbisi makes a proper mess of his touch finder but find touch he does. About seven metres short of the line. One last chance for a draw.
79 min: Garbisi kicks a ball off the floor and chases. But Ireland mop up. They’re five out from their own line where they clear. Italy back on the ball. 30 metres out. Now 22. Can they do it? Seems they’ve run out of puff. Ireland’s defence looking strong.
78 min: Ireland’s scrum holds firm. That might have been their best scrum of the match. That allows Osborne to catch the pass under no pressure and launch a big clearance kick. Italy have to come back from 40 metres out.
77 min: Italy win the line-out and Garbisi chips over the rush defence and Menoncello almost grabs it! But he can’t. Oh, so close! He spills and Ireland clear. But they knock on. Scrum for Ireland under the shade of their own poles. Can Italy force a penalty here? They can’t go early.
75 min: Penalty for Italy after Menoncello, for the millionth time, broke from midfield, forcing the covering defence to scramble. Not sure who, but an Irish defender strayed off side as he tried to pinch the ball. That means Garbisi can kick for touch. Not quite to the corner but they have the line-out just inside Ireland’s 22. They can’t rumble over from here. Too far out. Ireland probably have the freedom to compete for the ball.
74 min: Up to the Irish 22 thanks to neat work from Lynagh cutting in off his right wing. Garbisi keeps it ticking. Now Garbisi kicks high into the 22. It’s a 50/50 that lands for Ireland and Gibson-Park clears. Ireland’s defence is holding firm. Getting close to now or never for Italy who have the line-out between halfway and Ireland’s 22.
71 min: Italy were going nowhere from their own half so Garbisi hoisted a speculative kick. Lowe gathered but the ball went loose and Italy had it back with Odogwu. Now they’re inside Ireland’s half and trying to find a crack in the green wall.
70 min: Warm applause for the Irish second rower, Edwin Edogbo, who comes on to make his Test debut. A lot of work to do. A forward pass as Ireland were mounting something threatening down the left means we’ll have an Italian scrum deep in their own patch. They’ll want a penalty to kick long.
69 min: Gibson-Park, take a bow. He has just unfurled a majestic box kick that lands in space and rolls out of touch in the corner. Sublime. That pins Italy right back in their own patch. Before that, Italy were looking slick on the ball until Ruzza spilled in contact. Ireland playing this game where they want it played.
SharePenalty! Ireland 20-13 Italy (Garbisi, 67)
Italy choose to take the three and Garbisi nails a kick under immense pressure! They needed to score twice but first so it was the right decision. But if he missed that, that might have been the game. He didn’t. Cool as you like.
65 min: Another monstrous Italian scrum ends with a penalty. Furlong pops up as he’s folded in half. Not sure the legendary prop has expereinecd that too often.
64 min: Now it’s time for Italy to respond. They kick deep from the restart and manage to smother Osborne, holding him up and forcing the turnover. We’ll have an Italian scrum on Ireland’s 22. very short blind to the right. Allesandro Garbisi is on and will feed the ball.
SharePenalty! Ireland 20-10 Italy (Crowley, 63)
Ireland are taking control of this! Since the Lynagh try was scrapped it’s been all Ireland. They have romped to a deserving 10 point lead.
62 min: Ireland are under the Italian poles and have another advantage. Ringrose has come into this game. He’s everywhere. With the advantage, Gibson-Park looks for Lowe on the left wing with a raking cross-field kick, but he doesn’t get it right. No matter, the easy three will be taken by Crowley.
60 min: Ireland are on it! Italy spill the ball from their own line-out and Ireland spark a move down the line. Quick passes and swift hands has it with Osborne who lands a kick deep into Italian territory. Lowe is after it and putting pressure on Ioane. Italy almost over play but just about get away thanks to Menoncello’s hack that doesn’t clear the 22. Ireland will have the throw with momentum truly with them.
ShareTRY! Ireland 17-10 Italy (Baloucoune, 58)
What. A. TRY! My word. Ireland, that is what you’re capable of. Crowley is on for Prendergast and, I have to say, things have started to click. Lowe heavily involved. Ryan with a big carry and the flood of Irish green jerseys forward was irresistible. With an advantage McCloskey passed to Baloucoune as if he were a quarterback in the NFL. He found the winger off his line and the finish from about 15 metres away was something. All strength, all speed and a long reach to dot down.
The extras are landed and Ireland now have some breathing room.
Updated at 11.35 EST
56 min: This is madness. End to end. Both teams throwing the kitchen sink at each other. Zuliani made a break after gathering a loos ball. Then Menoncello dropped it under pressure. Ireland kicked away their advantage so Ioane countered and found Fusco in support. Menconcello then had it again and attempted an outrageous off load after being tackled and almost found Lynagh but the winger ran out of space as the ball dribbled out. Irish throw to the line just inside their own half on the left.
55 min: In a flash Ireland are on the ball inside Italy’s 22 after a few fortunate bounces. McCloskey and then Doris with big carries. OH, they lose it! My word, both teams doing their best to win/not win this. That all came from a spiralling high kick from Prendergast. All that chaos ends with a Kelleher line-out throw just inside Italy’s patch.
53 min: Italy give away a free kick at the scrum. Furlong held his own and the hosts come away with a big let off.
52 min: NO TRY! Forward pass is the call. That’s a shame as it was sublime from Menconcello who showed the ball before changing direction and exploding through midfield. He just needed to find Lynagh on the right wing. Well, he also needed to keep his pass legal, which he couldn’t. He shakes his head but it’s the right call. Scrum to Ireland on their 22. A raft of changes as well. Gibson-park among others on the pitch.
52 min: Stunning from the Italians! World class from Menoncello who burst through midifield and then unfurled a delicious pass for the flying Lynagh! But was it forward. It certainly drifts forward, but were his hands moving backwards? This will cause controversy either way. We await the decision…
52 min: Italy are slick. Italy are cohesive. But Italy dilly dally at the back of a ruck inside Ireland’s 22 and Doris, after consulting with the referee, stoops low to pinch the ball. The clearing kick goes over halfway but the Italians regroup and launch a counter,.
49 min: Pani is bundled out of touch about a metre short in the left corner! Lovely work from the Italians. Zulani bust through about three tacklers and kept going even after losing his feet. Then they went left where Ione joined the line. He found Menoncello who then quickly passed for Pani. The fullback cantered and almost had the legs, but was cut down by the cover tackle of Osborne. Italy have it back though and here they come again inside Ireland’s 22.
47 min: Ireland pinch the Italian line-out. Izuchukwu challenges at the front and disrupts the ball. Ireland then clear to halfway. The scrum might be creaking but the line-out has come good this half, so far, for Ireland.
46 min: A third scrum penalty in a row for Italy. My goodness, they are taking the Irish pack to the cleaners. So, with the advantage, they try a swift move down the right. Fusco wraps around and almost stitches things together, but the return pass is a little too far in front of him so he spills it. No matter, Garbisi hoofs it into Ireland’s 22 and finds good ground for a line-out.
45 min: Italy have a line-out on halfway. This time Ireland to compete and turn the ball into a scrappy thing out the back. Italy can’t get their move going but will get the scrum feed bang on the halfway mark as Prendergast, rushing up, knocked on as he made the tackle.
ShareTRY! Ireland 10-10 Italy (Conan, 43)
Ireland rumble over and the gamble pays off! An easy three points was turned down but they come up with the goods. Loughman, from the line-out, had two carries. They kept it close until Conan spotted the gap and forced his way through the Italian defenders.
Prendergast, for the second time this afternoon, misses a simple conversion. That’s four simple points he’s left out there. Will it cost them?
Ireland’s Jack Conan (centre) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a try. Photograph: Niall Carson/PAShare
Updated at 10.23 EST
41 min: Ireland win back their own kick-off and mount an attack on Italy’s 22. Prendergast floats one out to Lowe who does well, yet again, to find metres post contact. Ireland keep the ball as they go from right to left and win a penalty. It’s bang in front on the 22 but Prendergast turns down the easy three and kicks to the corner. Ireland rolling the dice.
The players are out. Phew, I honestly don’t know which way this is going to go. Taidgh Furlong is on to help solidify the scrum.
Do you have strong thoughts on Casey’s card?
J P Murphy certainly does:
50 years watching rugby union and I’m done. If Casey deserves a yellow card for getting butted in the face, that’s it, I’m done. It’s the final straw. The game is now unwatchable.
Not sure I agree. I’m really enjoying watching this game. Hopefully you change your mind JP. You might miss a cracking second half as Ireland have a big job on their hands.
Italy have never led Ireland at half-time!
Well, they have now. And to be honest, they could have added two more tries. Then again, Ireland twice coughed the ball up inside Italy’s red zone. So perhaps it evens out.
Either way, Italy fully deserve their lead.
ShareHalf-time: Ireland 5-10 Italy
Brilliance from McCloskey on defence brings the half to an end. Zambinon – again – won the line-out but they couldn’t get the rumble on at the maul. So the ball went into midfield where Marin charged forward. McCloskey met him well and held him up, forcing the turnover.
That was that for the opening 40 though a few players still found the energy to push and shove each other.
Italy head into the sheds in front. Staggering stuff but fully deserved.
40+2 min: Correction! Garbisi doesn’t go for the three. He kicks to the corner. Italy are going to try and shove over for another try at the end of the first half.
40 min: My goodness! Italy get the shove on at the scrum and win a penalty! That’s two scrums in a row. They are consuming the Irish pack. Garbisi will have a chance to add three more to the tally before the half ends.
40 min: Prendergast has the ball inside his own goal area as an Italian kick bobbles a little too long. The Italians are back on the ball following Prendergast’s kick but they can’t keep it for long. Another knock on in contact. Lynagh that time. The half is ending on a messy note. Scrum to Ireland inside their own half. I reckon Ringrose – slotting in at 9 – will just get the ball off the park once it emerges out the other side.
39 min: Italy win another line-out inside Irish territory. It becomes a bit scrappy but Ioane gathers the loose ball and carries back into the maw. Italy do eventually lose it and Prendergast delays a pass and finds McCarthy with a lovely ball. They’re a long way back in their own patch but can they work this upfield? Instead they choose to kick. Another poor hoof from Prendergast and it’s an easy gather for Italy.
38 min: Some good news for Ireland. Casey’s yellow card will not be upgraded. He was going backwards as he met the ball carrier Cannone. But Casey’s nose appears to be broken.
35 min: Now then. What can Ireland do? Well, they have a scrum to defend inside Italy’s half. It doesn’t go their way. In fact, they give away a penalty. Rather, Italy win the penalty. Their pack is well on top here and there’s a bit of afters once Davidson awards the Italian pen. Big celebrations from the men in blue. They are pumped!
ShareTRY! Ireland 5-10 Italy (Nicotera, 32)
Italy lead in Dublin! Zambonin wins the line out and after stalling, but being held up, he receives help from the backs who pile into the maul. Nicotera soon as it over the line. Brilliant from the Italians. Garbisi slots the extras. We’ve got a proper game here!
Giacomo Nicotera of Italy scores his team’s first try. Photograph: Evan Treacy/Getty ImagesNicotera celebrates scoring. Photograph: INPHO/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 10.01 EST
Yellow card for Ireland! Casey, 32
A bloodied Casey is shown yellow! An illegal tackle, upright on the ball carrier. Meets the yellow card threshold and they’ll take a look if it needs an upgrade. Don’t think it will, but it means Italy have the chance to kick for touch and set up a line-out five out.
32 min: Zambonin wins the line-out inside Ireland’s 22. Menoncello then receives a flat pass and charges through the Irish midfield before he’s hauled down. The ball is fired left where Nicotera makes some ground. But yet again Italy hand possession back after Ferrari inexplicably spills it before taking contact. Ioane gathers the long clearing kick and challenges the Irish defence from deep. Pani tries to find space with a kick but it comes to nothing.
30 min: Lynagh is back and mops up a loose ball after Ringrose made a real nuisance of himself as he attacked a lovely spiralling kick into Italian territory. He got a hand on it but couldn’t gather so Lynagh countered. Pani came off second best there but Italy have the penalty after Ireland lose their feet at a ruck following a charge down from a Garbisi kick. A little scrappy from both sides.
Credit to Italy here. They absolutely look the equals of their hosts.