Ireland scrape past Italy in Six Nations clash as Andy Farrell’s side underwhelm in Dublin

IRELAND survived a scare to edge out Italy and get back to winning ways.

Andy Farrell’s side trailed 10-5 at the break but did just about enough to see off a spirited Italian challenge.

The hosts spent the last few minutes defending in their own 22 before having a chance to claim a bonus-point try after James Lowe’s intercept but he ran out of steam and support.

Earlier, Jamie Osborne had scored the opening try before Italy hit back througth a converted Giacomo Nicotera try following a Paolo Garbisi penalty.

Jack Conan and Robert Baloucoune then went over with five points from the boot of replacement Jack Crowley pushing Ireland’s lead into double digits.

But another Garbisi penalty meant Italy were still in it until Lowe snatched the ball late on.

The display with provide more questions than answers with Sam Prendergast enduring a difficult day, prompting a loud cheer when he was withdrawn.

There had been plenty said about intent over the preceeding nine days after Farrell had bemoaned the lack of it in Paris.

And, now, it was time for Ireland to walk the walk as well as talking the talk and, early on, there was a sense of purpose about the home side.

Osborne, Lowe, Baloucoune, Joe McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu all had good early contributions.

Against an Italy team of old, they might have managed an early breakthrough but the Italians were doing a good job of snuffing out threats as they appeared.

And, when Alessandro Fusco came close to intercepting a pass from Craig Casey, with Lowe then knocking it on, it served as a reminder that any laxness could be punished.

The hosts continued to bring the game to their opponents with Lowe able to beat the first defender, but not a second, when he collected a looped pass on the left.

But Ireland maintained their position in the Italian 22 and, eventually won a penalty for offside.

They opted to tap and go but, when Dan Sheehan jumped into the tackle, not only was he penalised but he was thrown back by Simone Ferrari like a rag doll.

Lowe’s vociferous appeals for a deliberate knock-on by Louis Lynagh may have helped it being referred to the TMO with the winger yellow-carded.

They did not make as much use of the numerical advantage as they would have liked with Garry Ringrose turned over following good work by Baloucoune and Lowe.

But they got there in the end when Osborne ran through to collect and touch down after a a clever pivot and offload from Stuart McCloskey.

Prendergast failed to convert which meant when Garbisi kicked a penalty after Izuchukwu infringed at the lineout there were just two points between the sides.

And there was a real let-off when Lorenzo Pani shurgged off Prendergast’s tackle after chasing down his own kick.

Casey scrambled and forced the offload with Michele Lamaro knocking on when, had he held onto the ball, it would have been a certain try.

The scrum-half was then yellow-carded for a high tackle on Lorenzo Cannone although he came off considerably worse in the head-on-head collision with the back row.

ITALIAN JOB

The Azzurri smelled blood and scored almost immediately. They went to the corner with the lineout and mauled their way over the line with Nicotera touching down with Garbisi converting to put them 10-5 ahead.

That is how it remained until the interval at which point Farrell decided he had seen enough scrum collapses with Thomas Clarkson withdrawn and replaced by Tadhg Furlong.

And, within three minutes of the restart, Ireland had drawn themselves level after they went short at the lineout with Conan going over.

Again, Prendergast was unable to add the extras.

Ireland continued to look nervous and Tommaso Memoncello cut them open with both Ringrose and Conan missing tackles.

He picked out Lynagh on the right who dived in at the corner but a videow review clearly showed the pass was forward much to Ireland’s relief.

Soon afterwards, Ireland changed their half-backs in quick succession and it seemed to do the trick with Ireland taking the lead for the first in the second half.

A passing move seemed to have broken down on the right win when a Baloucoune pass hit Lowe on the leg.

But he gathered and they went again with the Ulster winger slipping through two tackles after collecting McCloskey’s clever throw-in style pass.

Crowley converted and subseqently kicked a penalty to put Ireland 10 points ahead and, for the first time in the afternoon, looking comfortable.

It did not last with Garbisi bringing it back to a one-score game with a penalty after Furlong had found himself airbone in a scrum with Ireland having tpend most of the closing stages defending their line.

IRELAND: 20
ITALY: 13

IRELAND: Tries: Osborne, Conan, Baloucoune; Conversion: Crowley; Penalty: Crowley.

ITALY: Try: Nicotera; Conversion: Garbisi; Penalties: Garbisi 2.