How’s it going, everybody? Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Ireland’s final game of the Six Nations against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
It’s also a final game in green for Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray in Simon Easterby’s matchday squad today.
Ireland can still win the championship but it’s well and truly out of their hands and, let’s face it, highly unlikely.
Today is mostly about a response to last week’s disappointment at the hands of France at the Aviva Stadium and heading into an eight-month break — for this full squad, at least — on the right footing.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Kick-off in the Eternal City is at 2:15pm.
15 Mar
1:51PM
How are you feeling about this one?
Will Ireland bounce back, or could Gonzalo Quesada’s Italians prove a banana skin on their own turf?
Poll Results:
Ireland to get back on track in style. (67)
Ireland, but not by much. (40)
Italy to plunge Irish rugby into a state of existential crisis. (7)
Italy’s skipper on the day, Nacho Brex, meets with Ireland’s Caelan Doris and referee Luke Pearce for the coin toss.
The experienced Benetton centre takes over the role from back row Michele Lamaro, who is dropped to the bench for this afternoon’s encounter.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
I’ll fire on finalised team news in a few minutes. Sounds like both sides will line out as named during the week.
15 Mar
2:05PM
Teams
So, yeah, unless anything freakish happens in the next 15 minutes or so, both sides will line out as named.
Gonzalo Quesada has made seven changes to his starting team that fell to defeat against England at Twickenham.
Tommaso Allan returns at full-back after being dropped for last weekend’s 47-24 defeat by England at Twickenham, with Ange Capuozzo being moved back to wing for Saturday’s game.
Martin Page-Relo starts at scrum-half in place of Stephen Varney while centre Juan Ignacio Brex takes the captain’s armband for the first time in the Six Nations with usual skipper in flanker Michele Lamaro on the bench.
The starting Jack Crowley is among six changes for Ireland.
James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, and Jack Conan also come into the starting Ireland team this weekend, while Tadhg Furlong returns from injury among the Irish replacements for what will be his first appearance of the Six Nations.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
15 Mar
2:09PM
The Stadio Olimpico is a sea of green, by the way. You’ll have probably heard by now that 30,000 fans have travelled from Ireland. Honestly, by the looks of things, that seems to have been something of an underestimation.
15 Mar
2:13PM
Ireland’s Call got belted out there by an Italian singer. It was, eh, interesting. Now, time for Il Canto degli Italiani, and then onto kick-off.
1′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Paolo Garibisi gets the game under way at the sound of Luke Pearce’s whistle, and Ireland exit through to the boot of Jamison Gibson-Park.
Italy, of course, didn’t score against Ireland last year. They’ve also conceded 18 tries in their last two games. Huge day for them here — they’re going to start with a vengeance. The question will be whether they can sustain it against this Irish team.
15 Mar
2:21PM
3′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Must admit I’m having a difficult time distinguishing between the two jersey colours at the breakdown. Luke Pearce will have a better vantage point, obviously. But given Ireland’s more teal shade of green in this current Canterbury garb, a change to the white kit might have been appropriate.
Nacho Brex, who typically lines out in the United Colours of Benetton, has made three carries already but Ireland are defending stoutly so far.
15 Mar
2:25PM
9′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Scrappy game mostly being played around midfield at the moment — neither side has yet ventured into the other’s 22′.
Both exchanging penalties on the ground as the game looks for a way to settle.
15 Mar
2:28PM
10′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Loose blind pass by Gibson-Park lands in the breadbasket of Italian loosehead Danilo Fischetti, who boots downfield into grass.
Robbie Henshaw dots down for the Irish goal-line drop-out under pressure from Ange Capuozzo.
A brilliant pass by Brex and Mack Hansen falls off the tackle on Tommaso Menoncello having shot up. The inside centre finds out-half Garibisi, and a chip into the left-hand corner is eventually dotted down by wing Ioane!
The Stadio Olimpico erupts. And it does so again when Tommaso Allan splits the posts from the left-hand touchline.
15 Mar
2:35PM
18′ – ITA 7-0 IRE: Italy go close again and Van der Flier makes a brilliant tackle on the charging Menoncello. The Italians eventually concede a penalty on the reload inside Ireland’s 22′.
Hosts well on top for the moment.
15 Mar
2:40PM
Disallowed try for Ireland
20′ – Finlay Bealham is denied by the TMO after Ireland had battered at the Italian line.
Jack Crowley’s penalty brought them to within five and after a goal-line assault, Bealham, with Conan on the latch, was initially awarded a try but he actually made a triple movement in his effort to touch the ball down.
Penalty to Italy — but Ireland had an advantage, so they’re back knocking on the door from the tap.
15 Mar
2:42PM
22′ – ITA 7-0 IRE: Italy hold Ireland out again but there’s a knock-on amid the carnage by a blue hand, so it’s an Irish scrum-five.
The set-piece works to perfection and the Irish fullback dots down off first phase.
Crowley receives the ball on the openside and attacks the line to draw two defenders. His soft pass around the corner feeds Keenan who crashes over!
Crowley converts from close range and the sides are level in Rome.
15 Mar
2:49PM
27′ – ITA 7-7 IRE: Mack Hansen and Monty Ioane are having a serious battle in the air. Ioane just melted Hansen in a tackle as he collected a kick — the Ireland wing did very well to hold onto the ball.
Hansen then put Ioane under huge pressure on a kick chase and the ball bounced loose, but it pops forward off Van der Flier.
Very even contest to this point. Italy bringing the physicality and intensity that you’d expect in the early throes in Rome. Ireland standing up to it relatively well. Just a decent, enjoyable game as we approach the half-hour mark.
15 Mar
2:53PM
30′ – ITA 7-7 IRE: Italy are bleeding forwards here. Dino Lamb already gone. Sebastian Negri and Lorenzo Cannone both off injured now at the same time. Michele Lamaro and Ross Vintcent come on for the latter two.
Niccolo Cannone on earlier for Lamb.
That’ll be pretty massive for the second half, you’d have to think. Italy losing so much potential bench impact by having to bring on three big men so early.
33′ – ITA 10-7 IRE: Tommaso Allan punishes Ireland from the tee after a really poor offside penalty by Garry Ringrose, who picked up a loose ball from the back of an Italian ruck without ever coming back onside.
On the balance of things, Italy deserve their lead. Had a nice five-minute surge there, stretching Ireland on a couple of occasions.
15 Mar
2:58PM
36′ – ITA 10-7 IRE: Lovely break by Crowley on the Sexton loop but the move breaks down when Doris runs into his own man, Beirne, and is pinged for obstruction.
Symptomatic of Ireland’s attacking performance so far: their detail is just ‘off’.
Half-time – ITA 10-12 IRE: Well, take a breather there and ruminate over that — or don’t.
It’s been… okay from an Irish perspective.
They were never going to annihilate Italy in the first half and will fancy themselves to pull away ultimately. But the Italians are bang in this and might argue they shaded the first half overall.
Tries by Hugo Keenan and Dan Sheehan have given the away side a slender half-time advantage.
Yeah, no, I’ve checked that Crowley missed conversion a few times and while it still doesn’t look right, I don’t know what happened with it; he may have just botched it!
41′ – ITA 10-12 IRE: Jack Crowley gets us back underway in Rome.
Remember: Italy are down to 14 men for the next nine minutes with Lamaro in the bin.
15 Mar
3:27PM
46′ – ITA 10-12 IRE: Lovely break by Hansen off a pop pass by Henshaw. Takes it into the Italian 22′ and reverses to Ringrose who takes it to within seven or eight yards. Ireland go left but Dan Sheehan is well marshalled and the ball drops into touch.
Chance missed, but positive play.
Another negative for Italy: scrum-half Martin Page-Relo, who has been outstanding, off injured for Stephen Varney.
15 Mar
3:30PM
47′ – ITA 10-12 IRE: Ireland blow Italy off their own ball on the Italian 5′!
But with the line at their mercy, Doris’ pass to Ryan is unsympathetic and he can’t quite dot it down as he gathers it from behind.
The ball bobbles up to Lowe, who also can’t touch it down in the corner due to Italian bodies on the floor.
Incredibly profligate by Ireland. They have a penalty, though, for offside, and Crowley will prod it to the Italian 5′.
46′ – TRYYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! Dan Sheehan on the double!
Ireland again monster Italy at maul time, with replacements Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong involved, and Sheehan finishes well from a low body position.
Crowley pushes his kick narrowly wide, it’s another poor miss.
Yellow card and bunker review: Ross Vintcent (Italy)
49′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: Ross Vintcent smashes Hugo Keenan high straight off the restart. He gets yellow and it’ll be reviewed — and realistically, that’ll be a 20-minute red.
Just as Lamaro returns, Italy are back down to 14 and with their dearth of forward replacements on the bench, that’s a real body blow.
15 Mar
3:36PM
51′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: Huge Irish roar as Peter O’Mahony pops onscreen, he’s about to enter the fray.
O’Mahony, embarrassed, turns back to the bench, where Sam Prendergast and Conor Murray are among those howling laughing at him.
15 Mar
3:37PM
52′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: O’Mahony on for Josh van der Flier. The 30,000-odd Irish fans in the Olimpico are going nuts. His wife, Jess, is also spotted on the big screen — great work by the Italian TV director!
15 Mar
3:41PM
Disallowed try for Ireland
55′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: Ireland fashion a nice score from close range through Hugo Keenan but it’s pulled back when the TMO spots a knock-on by Doris in the build-up.
That’s three tries that Ireland have had chalked off.
58′ – TRYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! HAT-TRICK FOR DAN SHEEHAN!
Jamison Gibson-Park spots the numerical advantage out right and crossfield kicks it to Mack Hansen. A beautiful piece of fielding sees the wing pop it back inside to Sheehan, who waltzes over.
Crowley again misses the conversion — that’s one-from-four for him. He’s had a decent day otherwise.
63′ – TRYYYYYY FOR ITALY! Stephen Varney brings the Italians right back into it!
Capuozzo finds himself in space down the right. He chips downfield and a horrible bounce evades the covering Hansen, who still might have done better.
Varney pounces on the loose ball and touches down!
Allan nails the conversion from the right and all of a sudden, Italy are back within five points!
Crowley’s missed conversions feeling costly at the moment.
15 Mar
3:52PM
66′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Sam Prendergast on for Jack Crowley.
15 Mar
3:55PM
67′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Conor Murray on for Jamison Gibson-Park. His final outing in green. As was the case with O’Mahony’s intro, the Italian TV director finds Murray’s wife, Joanna, in the stand.
That person in the truck is possibly my player of the match so far.
15 Mar
3:57PM
70′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Jack Boyle on at loosehead. Italy have a scrum on their own 22′.
The Olimpico is alive as Italian fans smell what would be an incredible upset given the pattern of the second half.
15 Mar
4:03PM
74′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Ireland have what appears to be a perfectly good try for Hugo Keenan ruled out because James Lowe is incorrectly (at least in my opinion) adjudged by the assistant to have had a foot in touch before playing the assist pass back inside.
His foot is not on the line on any replay that we’ve seen but Luke Pearce and co. have decided to play on without a formal check.
Lowe and Ireland furious, and justifiably.
15 Mar
4:08PM
79′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Italy with a couple of dangerous surges into Irish territory! James Lowe makes a vital intercept of a speculative over-the-top pass.
Ireland hanging on a small bit here at the end. Italy throwing everything into it.
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As it happened: Italy v Ireland, Six Nations
How’s it going, everybody? Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Ireland’s final game of the Six Nations against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
It’s also a final game in green for Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray in Simon Easterby’s matchday squad today.
Ireland can still win the championship but it’s well and truly out of their hands and, let’s face it, highly unlikely.
Today is mostly about a response to last week’s disappointment at the hands of France at the Aviva Stadium and heading into an eight-month break — for this full squad, at least — on the right footing.
Kick-off in the Eternal City is at 2:15pm.
Will Ireland bounce back, or could Gonzalo Quesada’s Italians prove a banana skin on their own turf?
Poll Results:
Italy’s skipper on the day, Nacho Brex, meets with Ireland’s Caelan Doris and referee Luke Pearce for the coin toss.
The experienced Benetton centre takes over the role from back row Michele Lamaro, who is dropped to the bench for this afternoon’s encounter.
I’ll fire on finalised team news in a few minutes. Sounds like both sides will line out as named during the week.
So, yeah, unless anything freakish happens in the next 15 minutes or so, both sides will line out as named.
Gonzalo Quesada has made seven changes to his starting team that fell to defeat against England at Twickenham.
Tommaso Allan returns at full-back after being dropped for last weekend’s 47-24 defeat by England at Twickenham, with Ange Capuozzo being moved back to wing for Saturday’s game.
Martin Page-Relo starts at scrum-half in place of Stephen Varney while centre Juan Ignacio Brex takes the captain’s armband for the first time in the Six Nations with usual skipper in flanker Michele Lamaro on the bench.
The starting Jack Crowley is among six changes for Ireland.
James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, and Jack Conan also come into the starting Ireland team this weekend, while Tadhg Furlong returns from injury among the Irish replacements for what will be his first appearance of the Six Nations.
Nostalgia.
The Stadio Olimpico is a sea of green, by the way. You’ll have probably heard by now that 30,000 fans have travelled from Ireland. Honestly, by the looks of things, that seems to have been something of an underestimation.
Ireland’s Call got belted out there by an Italian singer. It was, eh, interesting. Now, time for Il Canto degli Italiani, and then onto kick-off.
1′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Paolo Garibisi gets the game under way at the sound of Luke Pearce’s whistle, and Ireland exit through to the boot of Jamison Gibson-Park.
Italy, of course, didn’t score against Ireland last year. They’ve also conceded 18 tries in their last two games. Huge day for them here — they’re going to start with a vengeance. The question will be whether they can sustain it against this Irish team.
3′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Must admit I’m having a difficult time distinguishing between the two jersey colours at the breakdown. Luke Pearce will have a better vantage point, obviously. But given Ireland’s more teal shade of green in this current Canterbury garb, a change to the white kit might have been appropriate.
Nacho Brex, who typically lines out in the United Colours of Benetton, has made three carries already but Ireland are defending stoutly so far.
9′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Scrappy game mostly being played around midfield at the moment — neither side has yet ventured into the other’s 22′.
Both exchanging penalties on the ground as the game looks for a way to settle.
10′ – ITA 0-0 IRE: Loose blind pass by Gibson-Park lands in the breadbasket of Italian loosehead Danilo Fischetti, who boots downfield into grass.
Robbie Henshaw dots down for the Irish goal-line drop-out under pressure from Ange Capuozzo.
12′ – TRYYYYYYY FOR ITALY! Monty Ioane!
A brilliant pass by Brex and Mack Hansen falls off the tackle on Tommaso Menoncello having shot up. The inside centre finds out-half Garibisi, and a chip into the left-hand corner is eventually dotted down by wing Ioane!
The Stadio Olimpico erupts. And it does so again when Tommaso Allan splits the posts from the left-hand touchline.
18′ – ITA 7-0 IRE: Italy go close again and Van der Flier makes a brilliant tackle on the charging Menoncello. The Italians eventually concede a penalty on the reload inside Ireland’s 22′.
Hosts well on top for the moment.
20′ – Finlay Bealham is denied by the TMO after Ireland had battered at the Italian line.
Jack Crowley’s penalty brought them to within five and after a goal-line assault, Bealham, with Conan on the latch, was initially awarded a try but he actually made a triple movement in his effort to touch the ball down.
Penalty to Italy — but Ireland had an advantage, so they’re back knocking on the door from the tap.
22′ – ITA 7-0 IRE: Italy hold Ireland out again but there’s a knock-on amid the carnage by a blue hand, so it’s an Irish scrum-five.
23′ – TRYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! Hugo Keenan!
The set-piece works to perfection and the Irish fullback dots down off first phase.
Crowley receives the ball on the openside and attacks the line to draw two defenders. His soft pass around the corner feeds Keenan who crashes over!
Crowley converts from close range and the sides are level in Rome.
27′ – ITA 7-7 IRE: Mack Hansen and Monty Ioane are having a serious battle in the air. Ioane just melted Hansen in a tackle as he collected a kick — the Ireland wing did very well to hold onto the ball.
Hansen then put Ioane under huge pressure on a kick chase and the ball bounced loose, but it pops forward off Van der Flier.
Very even contest to this point. Italy bringing the physicality and intensity that you’d expect in the early throes in Rome. Ireland standing up to it relatively well. Just a decent, enjoyable game as we approach the half-hour mark.
30′ – ITA 7-7 IRE: Italy are bleeding forwards here. Dino Lamb already gone. Sebastian Negri and Lorenzo Cannone both off injured now at the same time. Michele Lamaro and Ross Vintcent come on for the latter two.
Niccolo Cannone on earlier for Lamb.
That’ll be pretty massive for the second half, you’d have to think. Italy losing so much potential bench impact by having to bring on three big men so early.
33′ – ITA 10-7 IRE: Tommaso Allan punishes Ireland from the tee after a really poor offside penalty by Garry Ringrose, who picked up a loose ball from the back of an Italian ruck without ever coming back onside.
On the balance of things, Italy deserve their lead. Had a nice five-minute surge there, stretching Ireland on a couple of occasions.
36′ – ITA 10-7 IRE: Lovely break by Crowley on the Sexton loop but the move breaks down when Doris runs into his own man, Beirne, and is pinged for obstruction.
Symptomatic of Ireland’s attacking performance so far: their detail is just ‘off’.
39′ – ITA 10-7 IRE: Michele Lamaro infringes at the breakdown inside his own 22′ and gets his marching orders.
Ireland go the line. Five-metre lineout for the visitors on the stroke of half-time.
Huge chance here for Easterby’s side.
40′ – TRYYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! Dan Sheehan!
With Lamaro in the bin, Ireland roll over the lineout maul with relative ease.
Crowley botches his conversion, think he might have lost his footing slightly as he struck it.
But Ireland will take a lead in at the break.
Half-time – ITA 10-12 IRE: Well, take a breather there and ruminate over that — or don’t.
It’s been… okay from an Irish perspective.
They were never going to annihilate Italy in the first half and will fancy themselves to pull away ultimately. But the Italians are bang in this and might argue they shaded the first half overall.
Tries by Hugo Keenan and Dan Sheehan have given the away side a slender half-time advantage.
Yeah, no, I’ve checked that Crowley missed conversion a few times and while it still doesn’t look right, I don’t know what happened with it; he may have just botched it!
41′ – ITA 10-12 IRE: Jack Crowley gets us back underway in Rome.
Remember: Italy are down to 14 men for the next nine minutes with Lamaro in the bin.
46′ – ITA 10-12 IRE: Lovely break by Hansen off a pop pass by Henshaw. Takes it into the Italian 22′ and reverses to Ringrose who takes it to within seven or eight yards. Ireland go left but Dan Sheehan is well marshalled and the ball drops into touch.
Chance missed, but positive play.
Another negative for Italy: scrum-half Martin Page-Relo, who has been outstanding, off injured for Stephen Varney.
47′ – ITA 10-12 IRE: Ireland blow Italy off their own ball on the Italian 5′!
But with the line at their mercy, Doris’ pass to Ryan is unsympathetic and he can’t quite dot it down as he gathers it from behind.
The ball bobbles up to Lowe, who also can’t touch it down in the corner due to Italian bodies on the floor.
Incredibly profligate by Ireland. They have a penalty, though, for offside, and Crowley will prod it to the Italian 5′.
46′ – TRYYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! Dan Sheehan on the double!
Ireland again monster Italy at maul time, with replacements Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong involved, and Sheehan finishes well from a low body position.
Crowley pushes his kick narrowly wide, it’s another poor miss.
49′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: Ross Vintcent smashes Hugo Keenan high straight off the restart. He gets yellow and it’ll be reviewed — and realistically, that’ll be a 20-minute red.
Just as Lamaro returns, Italy are back down to 14 and with their dearth of forward replacements on the bench, that’s a real body blow.
51′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: Huge Irish roar as Peter O’Mahony pops onscreen, he’s about to enter the fray.
O’Mahony, embarrassed, turns back to the bench, where Sam Prendergast and Conor Murray are among those howling laughing at him.
52′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: O’Mahony on for Josh van der Flier. The 30,000-odd Irish fans in the Olimpico are going nuts. His wife, Jess, is also spotted on the big screen — great work by the Italian TV director!
55′ – ITA 10-17 IRE: Ireland fashion a nice score from close range through Hugo Keenan but it’s pulled back when the TMO spots a knock-on by Doris in the build-up.
That’s three tries that Ireland have had chalked off.
The Exeter back row’s day is over. Italy will be down a man for 20 minutes, some of which have elapsed.
58′ – TRYYYYYY FOR IRELAND! HAT-TRICK FOR DAN SHEEHAN!
Jamison Gibson-Park spots the numerical advantage out right and crossfield kicks it to Mack Hansen. A beautiful piece of fielding sees the wing pop it back inside to Sheehan, who waltzes over.
Crowley again misses the conversion — that’s one-from-four for him. He’s had a decent day otherwise.
63′ – TRYYYYYY FOR ITALY! Stephen Varney brings the Italians right back into it!
Capuozzo finds himself in space down the right. He chips downfield and a horrible bounce evades the covering Hansen, who still might have done better.
Varney pounces on the loose ball and touches down!
Allan nails the conversion from the right and all of a sudden, Italy are back within five points!
Crowley’s missed conversions feeling costly at the moment.
66′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Sam Prendergast on for Jack Crowley.
67′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Conor Murray on for Jamison Gibson-Park. His final outing in green. As was the case with O’Mahony’s intro, the Italian TV director finds Murray’s wife, Joanna, in the stand.
That person in the truck is possibly my player of the match so far.
70′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Jack Boyle on at loosehead. Italy have a scrum on their own 22′.
The Olimpico is alive as Italian fans smell what would be an incredible upset given the pattern of the second half.
74′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Ireland have what appears to be a perfectly good try for Hugo Keenan ruled out because James Lowe is incorrectly (at least in my opinion) adjudged by the assistant to have had a foot in touch before playing the assist pass back inside.
His foot is not on the line on any replay that we’ve seen but Luke Pearce and co. have decided to play on without a formal check.
Lowe and Ireland furious, and justifiably.
79′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: Italy with a couple of dangerous surges into Irish territory! James Lowe makes a vital intercept of a speculative over-the-top pass.
Ireland hanging on a small bit here at the end. Italy throwing everything into it.
80′ – ITA 17-22 IRE: A moment of stupidity by replacement Italian hooker Giacomo Nicotera all but ends the game.
His clear-out straight to Peter O’Mahony’s head results in a yellow, a bunker review, and an Irish penalty on their own 22′ as the clock ticks red.
Listen, the less said about that the better.
Thanks for joining us for live updates of that one. I hope it wasn’t as much of a slog for you as it was for me!
Catch you all soon. Enjoy the rest of your St Patrick’s weekend!
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