How’s everyone? Here we go.
An experimental Ireland side takes on a strong-looking Italian outfit at the Aviva in just over 20 minutes’ time as Andy Farrell’s men ramp up their preparations for the World Cup.
Gavan Casey with you here and, if you’re not at the Aviva or if you can’t make a telly, I’ll be posting live updates here.
Let’s hope for a fun game and, most importantly, no injuries!
Big day in the saddle for this guy…
Not quite a full house at the Aviva — tickets were pretty expensive given the context — but a decent turnout all the same.
A reminder of today’s lineups…
The man in the middle, meanwhile, is Mathieu Raynal of France.
Ireland
- 15. Jimmy O’Brien
- 14. Keith Earls
- 13. Robbie Henshaw
- 12. Stuart McCloskey
- 11. Jacob Stockdale
- 10. Jack Crowley
- 9. Craig Casey
- 1. Dave Kilcoyne
- 2. Rob Herring
- 3. Tom O’Toole
- 4. Iain Henderson (captain)
- 5. Joe McCarthy
- 6. Ryan Baird
- 7. Caelan Doris
- 8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
- 16. Tom Stewart
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Tadhg Furlong
- 19. Tadhg Beirne
- 20. Cian Prendergast
- 21. Caolin Blade
- 22. Ciarán Frawley
- 23. Calvin Nash
Italy
- 15. Tommaso Allan
- 14. Paolo Odogwu
- 13. Juan Ignacio Brex
- 12. Tommaso Menoncello
- 11. Montanna Ioane
- 10. Paolo Garbisi
- 9. Stephen Varney
- 1. Danilo Fischetti
- 2. Giacomo Nicotera
- 3. Marco Riccioni
- 4. Dino Lamb
- 5. Federico Ruzza (captain)
- 6. Sebastian Negri
- 7. Manuel Zuliani
- 8. Toa Halafihi
Replacements:
- 16. Luca Bigi
- 17. Paolo Buonfiglio
- 18. Simone Ferrari
- 19. Niccolò Cannone
- 20. Michele Lamaro
- 21. Lorenzo Cannone
- 22. Alessandro Fusco
- 23. Lorenzo Pani
Ireland’s Call getting getting belted out here.
I’m having some connectivity issues which is the absolute job. We’ll get it sorted.
Also, my colleagues Ciarán Kennedy and Murray Kinsella will have reports and reaction after the game, so keep an eye on The 42 for everything you need tonight and over the weekend!
Back at it. pic.twitter.com/1sT9pS59e3
— Ciarán Kennedy (@CiaranKennedy_) August 5, 2023
I’ll take you through things until full-time.
1′ – IRL 0-0 ITA: Paolo Garbisi gets us underway at the Aviva. Nice start by Italy, too, as they catch Jack Conan in the choke and win a scrum in Ireland’s 22′.
And then they win a penalty at that scrum!
3′ – IRL 0-3 ITA: Tommaso Alan splits the posts from right of centre and Italy take an immediate lead.
10′ – IRL 0-3 ITA: It’s tame enough so far. Ireland created one very early opportunity on turnover ball in the Italian half but Iain Henderson spilled the ball forward as he galloped into the visitors’ 22′.
Jacob Stockdale just barbecued Stephen Varney with a fend, which was pretty funny.
12′ – IRL 0-3 ITA: Good period of pressure by Ireland, who batter at the Italian line before Craig Casey makes the wrong call and passes blind to Jacob Stockdale in traffic. Ireland had the advantage, though, and they’ll tap and go from five!
13′ – IRL 7-3 ITA: Dave Kilcoyne crashes over and grounds it!
That all started with a brilliant kick by Craig Casey which was spilled inside his own 22′ by Paolo Odogwu.
Ireland knocked on the door, then, and Kilcyone blew it down. Crowley adds the extras.
Good stuff!
16′ – IRL 7-3 ITA: Jack Crowley’s flat, delayed passes are a joy to behold, and he usually gets them spot-on.
Ireland win a penalty in the Italian 22′ as the Raynal pings the visitors for going off their feet.
Crowley prods Ireland to the 5′ but they make a balls of the lineout maul and get pinged for obstruction.
21′ – IRL 7-3 ITA: OH WHAT A TAKE BY JACOB STOCKDALE! And away he goes!
The Ulster wing, featuring for Ireland for the first time in 25 months, grabs a brilliant Casey box kick out of the sky and charges into Italian grass.
He’s eventually halted and Ireland go wide right, with Keith Earls chipping down the wing. Jimmy O’Brien gives chase! But he’s fractionally beaten to the ball by an Italian defender.
Goal-line drop-out. Nice rugby!
23′ – IRL 7-3 ITA: More pressure from Ireland who are back on the brink of the Italian line — but Robbie Henshaw is pinged for a neckroll.
Paolo Odogwu took a nasty bang to the head in a ruck, as well, and he’s replaced for the moment by Lorenzo Pani.
26′ – IRL 7-3 ITA: Ireland’s scrum — with a front row of Kilcoyne, Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole — has been on top since that early concession of a penalty.
Nice flash from Italy who nearly go pillar to post but a lightning-quick attack in transition breaks down when Jimmy O’Brien tackles Lorenzo Pani and forces a forward offload.
29′ – IRL 14-3 ITA: Excellent maul try! Herring to Henderson at the lineout, big drive from Tom O’Toole, and Caelan Doris dives over from the back of the maul.
Crowley slots the conversion from the right-hand side.
This has been an impressive-enough opening half hour by Ireland!
Ireland in total control through 31 minutes.
34′ – IRL 14-3 ITA: Some beautiful phase play by Ireland, with nearly every player on the pitch getting meaningful touches. Forwards showing serious hands.
They work it up to the Italian 5′ and the visitors are penalised at the breakdown. Crowley pokes it into touch.
36′ – IRL 14-3 ITA: Ireland make a bags of the lineout maul again. Henderson’s handling has been subpar by his standards. Italy turn them over.
Jack Conan goes off with a knock — he took a heavy hit from behind earlier in the game. He’s replaced by Cian Prendergast.
37′ – IRL 21-3 ITA: Wow — Italy get the ball away from the scrum but Ireland put them under ferocious pressure inside their own 5′.
Caelan Doris catches Stephen Varney behind the ruck and Ireland’s forwards steamroll the Italians at the breakdown, turning the ball over.
Stuart McCloskey pounces and dives over!
Brilliant, brilliant work by Doris.
Crowley chips over the extras.
42′ – IRL 21-3 ITA: Clock red, but Italy win a penalty with a monster scrum on halfway.
Garbisi goes up the line, taking the Italians to the Irish 22′.
…And Ryan Baird steals the lineout!
Craig Casey pops it out and takes us to the break.
A pretty good half by Ireland, all told. Italy have lost a few heads to injury and, in general, have been pretty hideous.
41′ – IRL 21-3 ITA: Ciarán Frawley is on for his first Test appearance. He replaces Jimmy O’Brien at fullback, who might have been carrying a knock towards the break.
So, Jack Crowley remains at 10, but Frawley actually gets the second half under way with the restart.
44′ – IRL 21-3 ITA: Craig Casey, arguably man of the match so far, produces a beautiful box kick which finds touch deep in the Italian 22′.
Italy’s lineout nearly goes arseways and Casey dives for the loose ball behind the Italian line — but they just about recover.
He took a bit of a bang, and Caolin Blade comes on for him. Casey might be just off for a HIA, we’ll see.
Crowley and Frawley are interchanging between 10 and 15, which should be fun to watch.
46′ – IRL 21-3 ITA: I think Frawley is actually the the out-half, with Crowley slotting in at first receiver on occasion.
49′ – IRL 21-3 ITA: Doris with a huge poach as Ireland come under a bit of pressure in their own 22′ for the first time.
The Mayo man has been outstanding at openside today.
51′ – IRL 21-10 ITA: Nice try for the visitors! Scrum between the Irish 10′ and 22′, fast hands across the backline, and the 21-year-old Lorenzo Pani beats Jacob Stockdale to touch down in the right-hand corner.
Poor by Stockdale, who has been good otherwise.
Tomasso Alan converts from the right-hand touchline and, just like that, the gap is down to 11!
56′ – IRL 21-10 ITA: Casey is staying off with what appeared to be a stinger. Jack Conan could be in a bit more trouble, there have been sightings of him in some sort of protective boot.
57′ – IRL 21-10 ITA: Italy halt Ireland at the lineout maul again. Big celebrations.
They’ve been far better in the second half, and particularly since the introduction of Michele Lamaro.
Scrappier second half for Ireland who have lost some zip since Casey went off.
61′ – IRL 21-10 ITA: Calvin Nash about to be introduced. He’ll become Ireland’s third debutant of the day after Ciarán Frawley and Tom Stewart were introduced earlier.
Tadhg Beirne wins a penalty on the ground to arrest Italian momentum.
64′ – IRL 21-10 ITA: Nash immediately gets involved with Sebastian Negri off the ball, which you’d have to say is unwise.
Ireland win a penalty because Monty Ioane tackled Jacob Stockdale in the air.
Nice kick by Frawley moves them back to within five, from where they have been profligate at times today.
66′ IRL 28-10 ITA: Ireland take it right to the line and, after a couple more phases, Cian Healy burrows over for the score on his 124th cap!
Crowley is off the mark with the conversion from the left, but Ireland’s lead is probably unassailable now, you’d imagine.
67′ – IRL 26-10 ITA: Italian pressure on the Irish line from a lineout maul.
They have an advantage and are three yards short.
69′ – IRL 26-17 ITA: Tommaso Menoncello crashes over for Italy and, eh, they’re right back in it again!
A nine-point game as Alan converts.
Poor stuff from Ireland, who failed to support Doris on the restart from Healy’s try and wound up paying a huge price.
Nash straight into it…
73′ – IRL 33-17 ITA: A couple of nice attacks by Ireland result in a deserved try for my man of the match, Caelan Doris!
Nash comes close on his debut but is stopped short, and Ireland recycle before Doris dives over from a yard out.
Crowley got absolutely minced during the initial attack down the left, and he stayed down for about a minute afterwards. Frawley takes the conversion — but Crowley is now thankfully back on his feet now!
75′ – IRL 33-17 ITA: Oh no, oh no, oh no. Young Tommaso Menoncello seems to have dislocated his shoulder. The poor fella. He’s in tears and, unfortunately, that’s more than likely his World Cup over.
What a player he is. Let’s hope it’s not as bad as it very clearly looks from this vantage point. He receives warm applause as he’s helped off the field.
78′ – IRL 33-17 ITA: Italy hammering away at the Irish line for two or three minutes but Tom Stewart rips the ball off one of the visitors in the tackle and Ireland look to break.
Super moment for the Ulster debutant!
Well, let’s be honest: that second half was muck!
But some good moments and cohesion from an experimental Ireland side in the first 40, and some nice cameos off the bench too.
It was what it was: a World Cup warm-up game. And Ireland have won a 13th home game in a row!
Keep an eye on The 42 for a full report, reaction and analysis by the two O.G.s, Murray Kinsella and Ciarán Kennedy.
I’ll catch you soon, cheers for joining me!
