Ireland goes it alone against Italy and regains the lead of the Tournament

Even though they lined up in a mixed composition with six changes, including four within the pack, and a new captain in the person of Caelan Doris, the Irish had no qualms on Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, to achieve an improved success (36-0) against Italy. Big winners over France (17-38) in Marseille, they were favorites against a valiant transalpine team which, in Rome, had stood up to England (24-27) a week earlier: undisciplined and sometimes clumsy , this Irish XV nevertheless lived up to its standing.

As expected, Doris’s teammates did not take long to mark their territory on the pitch at the Aviva Stadium once they had paid tribute to Syd Millar, a great figure in Erin’s rugby. A penalty goal missed by Paolo Garbisi (5th) and, two minutes later, the Green Devils opened their counter through Jack Crowley (7th). Jonathan Sexton’s substitute converted his try and, although Italy played their chances bravely during the first twenty minutes, they would give in afterwards.

Sheehan l’arme fatale

Invigorating, hooker Dan Sheehan improved at the end of the line (24th) a lively attack from his team, then Jack Conan (37th) in force collapsed behind a ball carried on a penalty. At the break, Ireland led 19-0, and they only needed one try to recover the offensive bonus. This was done in the 50th minute with Dan Sheehan’s double behind a penalty, the lethal weapon of these green giants. Italy, certainly pugnacious, found itself at fourteen for ten minutes after the yellow card collected by center Tommaso Menoncello (58th) for tripping James Lowe.

The Transalpines, who will travel to Lille in two weeks (Sunday February 25, 4 p.m.) to face the French XV, then suffered the Irish physical intensity in the confrontation zones and conceded a fifth try, signed Lowe (62nd) . Then a sixth, later (78th), by Calvin Nash in a final burst. Without the bankruptcy of Irish scorer Jack Crowley (2/5), the bill could even have been a heftier one for a Nazionale well in place but not physically powerful enough to hope to worry these Irish, who retain first place in the standings at the end of this second day.