Ireland clung on for a 20-13 win over a dogged Italy side at the Aviva on Saturday.

It was one of the best performances from Italy in recent years but Ireland only played in fits and starts. It’s rare to see Ireland relying on their character to beat an Italian, but it’s a sign of where this Irish team is right now.

Brian O’Driscoll was watching the game from Murrayfield for ITV. Speaking after the game, he cast a sombre note about the performance.

We said beforehand it was about the result more than anything else. We wanted a bit of performance too. Components of the game – I thought they were very good in parts in the first half, and in a 10-15 minute section in that second half.

But to be honest with you, it’s not the Ireland that we’ve expected over the past few years.

They’ve got plenty of work to do, but you know what, they’ll take a lot of solace. I think that was a very very good Italian team, some really good individual performances and a vastly improved Italian team which is very good for the tournament.

It was tough opposition today and they ground it out.

Ireland were completely off colour in a dreadful first-half performance, with Jamie Osborne’s try after 16 minutes a rare moment of quality.

Sam Prendergast’s woefully shanked conversion was a truer reflection of Ireland’s quality, and Italy grew in confidence as the half wore on.

There were handling errors aplenty on the Irish side, which neglected how improved their aerial game was from Paris last week.

By the time Giacomo Nicotera went over to give Italy a 10-5 lead shortly after 30 minutes, they were full value for it.

Craig Casey had moments earlier been controversially sent to the sin bin for a hugely unfortunate clash of heads, and Italy were dominant in the ten minutes the Munster scrum half was off the pitch.

𝗬𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗 🟨

Ireland’s Craig Casey receives ten minutes in the sin bin with an off-field review.#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/y0H2KByJzD

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026

Ireland did respond immediately after the break, with Jack Conan crashing over for a try to level things up – though, once again, Prendergast could not convert.

𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋!

Great start to the second half 👏

Ireland 5-10 Italy#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/RwzlEpZQXI

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026

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A lucky break came moments later, as Louis Lynagh’s brilliant breakaway try was ruled out for a forward pass by Tomasso Menoncello.

𝐓𝐑𝐘 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐃

Louis Lynagh’s try is disallowed for a forward pass from Tommaso Menoncello.

Ireland 10-10 Italy#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/aBLox2QYvI

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026

The sense of anxiety in the Aviva Stadium was palpable.

Italy were superb to watch, but the strength of the Ireland bench began to tell as they finally clicked into gear just before the hour mark.

Jack Crowley’s introduction injected a new dynamism into Ireland’s attack, and he was instrumental in the move that led to Robert Balouocune’s sublime finish to put Farrell’s side back in front.

𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐄! 🔥

What a way to start your Six Nation’s debut! 💪

Ireland 17-10 Italy#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/iUqZt9rbyi

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026

Crowley converted that try, and a penalty moments later made it a two-score game.

Garbisi would pull back another penalty, and Italy returned to the ascendancy in the closing minutes as they desperately sought a score to salvage a draw.

The roar that met James Lowe’s decisive interception with the clock in the red was indicative of the relief among Ireland’s fans.

This was a day when Ireland got out of jail, and Italy will feel hugely unlucky not to have won on the day.

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