RUGBY
Ireland less than assured against Azzurri
By Daire Walsh
IRELAND will head into their final Pool D encounter this Sunday in the Millennium Stadium against France as table-toppers, but following a tougher than expected game against Italy on Sunday, big improvements will be required from Joe Schmidt’s side.
Thanks to their third consecutive victory of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Ireland have reached the quarter-final stages, but their 16-9 success over the Azzurri at the Olympic Stadium was a far from vintage display by Paul O’Connell and his team-mates.
However, it is always important to accentuate the positives from each situation, and when you consider that host nation England have been eliminated from the competition (courtesy of a comprehensive 33-13 reversal at the hands of Australia on Saturday evening), they will be glad that they have ensured their progression beyond the pool stages.
Having achieved greater winning margins against Canada and Romania than the French, Ireland were hoping to surpass Les Bleus’ 32-10 triumph over Italy on 19 September. They certainly made a bright enough start to the proceedings with an early Jonathan Sexton three-pointer, but with Sergio Parisse’s return from injury elevating the level of their performance, Italy gradually grew into the contest.
Out-half Tommaso Allan cancelled out Sexton’s earlier effort, but when Keith Earls crossed over for an 18th-minute converted try (which made the Limerick man Ireland’s highest-ever try-scorer in World Cup history), it looked like they were building some form of momentum.
However, Italy largely held firm for the remainder of the half, and courtesy of Allan’s second score from the kicking tee, Ireland’s interval advantage was reduced to four points (10-6). Indeed, there were some nervy moments for the Irish upon the resumption, and a last-ditch tackle was required by Peter O’Mahony as lock Josh Furno made a break for the left-corner.
Yet, another Allan penalty reduced the Irish lead to the bare minimum, and successful place-kicks were needed from Sexton, in the 58th and 61st minutes respectively, just to keep a safe distance over the Italians.
The 71st minute sin-binning of O’Mahony meant that Ireland finished with a numerical disadvantage, however, and even though Sexton was off-target from a late penalty, the Six Nations Champions were more than happy to hear the final whistle sounding.
Elsewhere, Leinster’s win in the Guinness Pro12 on Saturday was a lot more emphatic, as they had all of 24 points to spare (37-13) against Newport Gwent Dragons. Suncroft’s Fergus McFadden produced an excellent display, and as the Blues’ primary place-kicker in the RDS, he contributed a personal tally of 15 points.
James Tracy, a graduate of Newbridge College, made an appearance from the replacements bench, and with Isa Nacewa (two), Garry Ringrose and Cathal Marsh all crossing the whitewash, Leo Cullen secured his second consecutive home league victory.
In domestic rugby, Naas suffered a 20-11 away defeat at the hands of Cashel in Division 2A of the Ulster Bank League on Saturday, but in Parsonstown at the same time, MU Barnhall enjoyed a second successive league win by overcoming Bective Rangers in a tight contest (21-16).