Round 2: Here we go!
After their superb opening win over France, Ireland seek to continue their Six Nations Grand Slam defence at home to Italy today.
No team has ever completed back-to-back Grand Slams in Six Nations history, and Andy Farrell’s side have clearly shown that there’s no World Cup hangover holding them back. Another big performance is expected today.
We’ll have team line-ups for you in the coming moments as we edge closer to the 3pm kick-off.
Ireland:
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Calvin Nash
- 13. Robbie Henshaw
- 12. Stuart McCloskey
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Jack Crowley
- 9. Craig Casey
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Dan Sheehan
- 3. Finlay Bealham
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. James Ryan
- 6. Ryan Baird
- 7. Caelan Doris (captain)
- 8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
- 16. Ronan Kelleher
- 17. Jeremy Loughman
- 18. Tom O’Toole
- 19. Iain Henderson
- 20. Josh van der Flier
- 21. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 22. Harry Byrne
- 23. Jordan Larmour
Italy:
- 15. Ange Capuozzo
- 14. Lorenzo Pani
- 13. Juan Ignacio Brex
- 12. Tommaso Menoncello
- 11. Monty Ioane
- 10. Paolo Garbisi
- 9. Stephen Varney
- 1. Danilo Fischetti
- 2. Gianmarco Lucchesi
- 3. Pietro Ceccarelli
- 4. Niccolo Cannone
- 5. Federico Ruzza
- 6. Alessandro Izekor
- 7. Manuel Zuliani.
- 8. Michele Lamaro (captain)
Replacements:
- 16. Giacomo Nicotera
- 17. Mirco Spagnolo
- 18. Giosue Zilocchi
- 19. Andrea Zambonin
- 20. Ross Vintcent
- 21. Martin Page-Relo
- 22. Tommaso Allan
- 23. Federico Mori
Suggested pre-match reading:
- Match preview by Ciarán Kennedy – Next generation must seize the day as senior stars sit out Italy clash
- Caelan Doris talks about getting advice from Johnny Sexton on captaining Ireland today – ‘I was on the phone to Sexto’ – Doris reveals words of advice ahead of captaining Ireland
- A look at Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada – 25 years after breaking Irish hearts, ‘Queso’ tries again with Italy
The teams are out on the pitch now. Not long to go!
Kick-Off! Ireland 0-0 Italy
This little dude absolutely smashed it, just as he did on the Toy Show.
What a performance by this guy singing Irelands Call @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/TORyzpIyG9
— Fiona Coghlan (@CoghlanFiona) February 11, 2024
1 min: Ireland 0-0 Italy
So, Italy get us underway at the Aviva and Craig Casey releases his first box kick to get warmed up.
2 mins: Ireland 0-0 Italy
Casey puts it out on the full. The effort sliced off his foot and Italy put it for a short lineout.
2 mins: Ireland 0-0 Italy
Penalty awarded to Italy for an error by Robbie Henshaw. And it looks like they’re going for the posts to get some points.
4 mins: Ireland 0-0 Italy
Disappointing kick from Paolo Garbisi from what was a very scoreable position. He scuffs the shot and the ball just trails wide of the post. Still scoreless at the Aviva.
TRY! Ireland 5-0 Italy (Crowley ’7)
8 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Crowley skips over for his first international try and after Ireland worked well through the phases to spread possession across.
The Munster man doesn’t connect right with the conversion so there will be no extras this time but it’s a lively start for Ireland.
10 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Ireland get a penalty for an intentional knock-on when Caelan Doris was in possession. Crowley sends us to the corner.
12 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Poor from Ireland there. Casey offloads to James Lowe who knocks the ball on and that’s an opportunity for more points gone as Italy will put in for a scrum. Ireland then get penalised and it’s a penalty for the visitors to give them some breathing space.
14 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Garbisi doesn’t get the purchase on that kick that he would have wanted but Italy have made a break, and now it’s Ireland who are under pressure.
16 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Monty Ioane with a poor pass as Italy were advancing well and Lowe does well to help push Italy back. A box kick lands in the hands of Crowley and Ireland have possession back.
Lowe boots it long and a return kick is gathered well by Ryan Baird.
17 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Penalty awarded to Italy for not releasing. Garbisi kicks for the corner and the Italians are giving Ireland plenty to sweat over.
19 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
They win their line-out and spread the ball across. But Joe McCarthy does well to get in an important tackle and suck the life out of their attack.
Italy eventually surrender possession after a wayward pass to Ange Capuozzo out on the far wing.
21 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Casey attempts a little hook-style box kick but it doesn’t land in Irish hands. Dan Sheahan then gets forward for an impressive charge down to push Italy back.
Ireland still have possession but not playing fluidly yet. Jack Conan tries to move possession on but a blue hand reaches out to knock it on.
The teams take a brief recess to take on water as Ireland prepare to put in for the scrum.
22 mins: Ireland 5-0 Italy
Another go at the scrum. Ireland retain possession and Hugo Keenan attempts to storm through when he gathers the ball.
TRY! Ireland 10-0 Italy (Sheehan ’24)
26 mins: Ireland 12-0 Italy
Ireland are motoring now as Jack Crowley gets his first conversion of the day. And it was the Munster man who made the key contribution to that try with that lovely no-look pass.
The play ended with Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan rampaging over for Ireland’s second try.
30 mins: Ireland 12-0 Italy
Brief halt in proceedings as Crowley misplaces his mouthguard. Italy get things back underway from the lineout.
McCarthy gets in for a half blockdown. Ireland get the ball back as Stuart McCloskey tries to set Lowe on his way with a grubber kick. They don’t succeed however, and the ball is back with Italy. Garbisi kicks for touch.
33 mins: Ireland 12-0 Italy
Casey does well to wrap up Capuozzo as he was trying to break through at speed. Ireland get a scrum which results in a penalty for Andy Farrell’s side. Italy prop Pietro Ceccarelli is the one who gets penalised.
35 mins: Ireland 12-0 Italy
Ireland starting to pick holes in the Italy cover now. A kick-through effort doesn’t quite stick but we’re coming back for a penalty and Crowley puts us in the corner again.
TRY! Ireland 17-0 Italy (Conan ’36)
38 mins: Ireland 19-0 Italy
We’re well on the way to the bonus point now as Jack Conan, back in at eight today, thunders over for the try after a successful Ireland set-piece.
Brilliant strength from the Leinster man to power over and Crowley knocks it over from roughly the same position as the second conversion.
Half-Time! Ireland 19-0 Italy
Ireland 19-0 Italy
Slow to get going, but Ireland finish the first half with three tries on the board and the bonus point within reach.
Jack Crowley got them on the board with the first try. Dan Sheehan added the second and Jack Conan supplied the third shortly before half-time.
Italy haven’t threatened hugely just yet but they’re producing flashes of promise.
Highlight images of the first half:
Second-Half! Ireland 19-0 Italy
40 mins: Ireland 19-0 Italy
Lowe and Garbisi play a bit of kick tennis in the opening minute of the second half. The Italian out-half eventually finds touch with a booming kick. Federico Ruzza requires a bit of treatment after absorbing a heavy hit from McCloskey.
46 mins: Ireland 19-0 Italy
Super pass from Henshaw to send Lowe firing down the wing. Hopeful attack but a knock-on from Baird gives the ball back to Italy.
TRY! Ireland 24-0 Italy (Sheehan ’49)
50 mins: Ireland 24-0 Italy
BONUS POINT!
Sheehan gets at the back of his own lineout and charges over for his second try of the day, and his third of the tournament so far. Crowley tries to loop his conversion inside the post but there’s not enough angle on the kick so it remains 24-0.
53 mins: Ireland 24-0 Italy
Sheehan so close to his hat-trick there but Italy miraculously manage to hold him short of the line. Ireland still have the ball and are into double-digits with the phases.
Mere metres from the tryline.
TRY! Ireland 29-0 Italy (Henshaw ’54)
Ireland 29-0 Italy
Hold the phone…. we’re going to the TMO for that Robbie Henshaw try.
NO TRY! Ireland 24-0 Italy (TMO)
57 mins: Ireland 24-0 Italy
Unlucky! After all the injury hell that Henshaw has been through, his comeback deserved that try. But referee Luke Pearce went to the TMO and his effort was ruled out.
There’s a yellow card for Italy’s Tommaso Menoncello for a cynical foul on James Lowe.
Meanwhile, Harry Byrne comes in to replace Hugo Keenan.
TRY! Ireland 29-0 Italy (Lowe ’61)
63 mins: Ireland 29-0 Italy
Excellent from Lowe!
He gets a pass from McCloskey and turns on the afterburners to scorch through the Italian bodies and reach over for Ireland’s fifth try. He’s been threatening all day, and he finally gets his reward.
Crowley fails to nail the conversion but Ireland are really rolling now.
72 mins: Ireland 29-0 Italy
Great interplay there from Harry Byrne and James Lowe. The pace of the game has dipped slightly as Ireland run in the replacements in the final 10 minutes.
75 mins: Ireland 29-0 Italy
James Lowe, unsurprisingly, named man-of-the-match for an excellent display. Very consistent throughout the day.
TRY! Ireland 34-0 Italy (Nash ’77)
78 mins: Ireland 36-0 Italy
Lovely try from Calvin Nash in at the corner. A quieter afternoon for Nash but he finished that move well.
Jamison Gibson-Park, who is now in at scrum-half, played a big role in that move and has been conducting play well since his introduction.
Harry Byrne slots the conversion beautifully from a tricky angle.
Full-Time! Ireland 36-0 Italy
Ireland 36-0 Italy
Job done, move on.
There was really no other result on the cards today. Erroneous in patches, no doubt but bonus point secured in a five-try display is enough to send Ireland on to the next step towards a Grand Slam defence.
We hope you all enjoyed today’s live coverage. Stay tuned for our match report live from the Aviva Stadium by Ciarán Kennedy, and Gavan Casey’s player ratings.
Until the next time, bye bye!
