Italian Job Complete

Ireland have secured a 3-26 victory in their opening encounter of the 2015 RBS 6 Nations with tries from Conor Murray and Tommy O’Donnell, and a four-from-four kicking return from Ian Keatley.

O’Donnell was promoted to the starting line-up after Sean O’Brien sustained a hamstring injury during the warm-up.

Not the most fluid of performances from Joe Schmidt’s side, but the Head Coach will nonetheless take the win as he looks to further gel his side and build momentum in the competition.

Rustiness from both sides coupled with dogged physicality made it a somewhat scrappy spectacle but it was the Irish who always looked the more threating, with a number of good showings from Munster representatives.

6 Nations debutant Ian Keatley kicked well tactically as he settled into the game and the Munster 10 also showed good composure to land his first three kicks of the competition – accounting for all of Ireland’s opening half tally.

With Kelly Haimona kicking a penalty on the stroke of half time, Ireland led 3-9 at the break.

Ireland’s superiority at set piece – including a couple of line out steals from Paul O’Connell – saw them maintain the bulk of possession, yet despite repeated phases, Italy defended manfully and often forced the Irish knock on.

The pressure would eventually tell with man of the match Conor Murray darting from the base of a ruck to score on 65 minutes – Keatley adding the extras – before Tommy O’Donnell showed serious pace and strength in broken play to run in Ireland’s second less than three minutes later. With Keatley called to shore after a job well done, Ian Madigan stepped in to add the conversion.

The usual intensity of Peter O’Mahony and the constant threat of a sprightly Simon Zebo, coupled with the introduction of James Cronin and Felix Jones to win their first 6 Nations caps, completed a fine representation for the province in today’s proceedings.

Displaying good discipline and defence, Ireland kept the Italians’ tally to 3, although the hosts might count themselves unlucky not to have been awarded a try in the dying minutes of the game – Haimona’s try called back for a previous knock on by captain Sergio Parisse.

From the subsequent scrum, Ireland maintained possession to see out a 3-26 victory.

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne (Jones 67), Robbie Henshaw, Simon ZeboIan Keatley (Madigan 65), Conor Murray (Boss 69); Jack McGrath (Cronin 67), Rory Best (Cronin 46), Mike Ross (Moore 51); Devin Toner, Paul O’Connell (capt); Peter O’Mahony (Henderson 66), Tommy O’Donnell, Jordi Murphy.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Marty Moore, Ian Madigan, Iain Henderson, Felix Jones, James Cronin, Isaac Boss.