The clocks ticks past 40 minutes as Ireland load a scrum.
It’s stuck in the tunnel and Italy win a penalty! Garbisi kicks for touch to give his side one last chance at the end of the half.
Italy win the line-out unchallenged…but the maul is moved on and McCloskey does briliantly to win the ball in the tackle to hold it up!
Half-time and the visitors lead by five points, but could that final passage prove pivotal?
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 15:03
Some good Italy phases but a clever offload is knocked on. Prendergast collects but a poor kick allows Italy possession again.
Pani brings it forward but the kick is too long and Osborne touches down for a drop out.
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:59
Huge reaction from Italy as they win a penalty on their scrum. There are some afters between the two sets of players but it’s all clear.
Garbisi kicks for the line-out and secures it.
That yellow card will stay as a yellow for Casey – he was “going backwards” so there’s a “high degree of mitigation”.
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:57
A great chance for Italy to get ahead here. They take their line-out on the 10m line…
…and they’re over! They form the maul and spin to the right before Nicotera goes over.
Garbisi splits the posts with a lovely kick to add two.
(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:53
YELLOW CARD! Ireland 5-3 Italy
Italy enter the 22 but a poor pass sees Italy fumble the ball forward.
Elsewhere, the referee is reviewing a penalty for a high tackle, with Craig Casey guilty of foul play.
The Ireland scrum half gets a yellow card.
(Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:50
Almost a nasty collision as Pani and Ringrose compete for a catchm but both players seem okay. Pani needs a bit of treatment after landing awkwardly.
Italy win a penalty and Garbisi goes for touch, landing just about on the 22.
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:47
A few good phases from Italy but Osborne collects a kick before feeding it to Lowe, who collects his own kick to move the hosts up the pitch.
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:45
So close for the visitors! Pani collects a kick and then chips over the defenders, collecting it to skip past one tackle.
He’s taken down and he has support but he can’t get enough height on the offload and it’s knocked on! He would’ve been in there.
Lynagh is back on for the visitors.
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:42
There’s a line-out from the restart and Italy win a penalty. Garbisi opts for the kick and slots it between the posts for three.
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:37
TRY! Ireland have the opener!
The hosts work it through the phases and Stuart McCloskey breaks the tackle before offloading superbly to Jamie Osborne, who is free to cross the line unchallenged.
Prendergast misses the conversion and the lead is by five!
(Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Chris Wilson14 February 2026 14:34