IT WASN’T ALWAYS pretty, but three of Ireland’s rugby teams travel home from Italy with a win after the opening weekend of the Six Nations.
Here’s how the men, women and 20s looked.
Conor Murray scored the crucial try as Ireland’s senior men defeated Italy 3 – 26
An early blow for Ireland as Sean O’Brien was forced to pull out with a hamstring injury
His replacement Tommy O’Donnell went well…
… romping in to score Ireland’s second try
Tommy Bowe rising to compete with Luke McLean
Paulie was happy with a job well done
Marie Louise Reilly wins a line-out during Ireland Women’s 5 – 30 win over Italy in Florence
Niamh Briggs goes over for the first try of the night
Katie Fitzhenry finds a gap in the defence after making her debut as a replacement
Alison Miller powers through contact
Ireland under 20s beat Italy 15 – 47 in a mudbath in Biella
Steamy
Nick McCarthy hassled at the back of the scrum
Fergal Clerary makes a carry in tough conditions
It was a day for the boot of out-half Ross Byrne