Kildare duo help Ireland to first Six Nations win of 2016
RUGBY
By Daire Walsh
KILDARE duo Jamie Heaslip and Fergus McFadden were on the scoresheet at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when Ireland finally secured their opening victory of this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship against Italy.
While the level of opposition provided by the Azzurri has to be taken into consideration, there were encouraging signs in the Irish performance, and although Joe Schmidt’s team selection was questioned in the days leading up to the contest, it was a comfortable afternoon at the office for last year’s winners.
Heaslip was selected in the Irish back-row for the 11th competitive game in succession, and he was joined once again by CJ Stander and the increasingly-impressive Josh van der Flier. Suncroft’s McFadden was included amongst the replacements, and had an extremely eventful day in the Ballsbridge venue.
Ireland had developed a 12-0 lead by the 15th minute with tries by Andrew Trimble and Jack McGrath, and even though Italy opened their account with a penalty from Edoardo Padovani, CJ Stander claimed his first try at international level, and Heaslip also completed a sweeping move from the final attack of the opening period.
McFadden had provided the final pass for this score after appearing as a temporary substitute for Robbie Henshaw. He had earlier stepped in for Trimble on the right-wing, but he re-entered the play after the restart to join Jared Payne, Heaslip (his second), Sean Cronin and Ian Madigan in the try-scoring stakes.
David Odiete and Leonard Sarto did cross over for the Italians, but with all of 43 points (58-15) separating the teams, Ireland were comprehensive victors in the end.
In Donnybrook on Friday evening, Nigel Carolan’s Irish U20s followed up their morale-boosting victory over England by securing a hard-earned win against Italy. It certainly wasn’t all plain sailing for the Green Army (who were missing former Newbridge College student Jimmy O’Brien through injury), and with a 30th-minute Giovanni Pettinelli try complimenting eight points from the boot of Leonard Mantelli, the visitors led 13-6 at the interval.
Yet, Ireland were a rejuvenated force when the action resumed, and in addition to a 14-poiint haul by the reliable Brett Connon, Shane Daly’s try 10 minutes into the half ensured that the home team registered a 19-13 success.
Meanwhile, the Irish women’s side made it three wins from three against Italy on Sunday afternoon at Donnybrook, where Tom Tierney’s side recorded a 14-3 triumph against their Azzurri counterparts.
After three starts to date in the competition, Cill Dara’s Aine Donnelly missed out on this occasion, and Ireland fell behind to a 13th-minute penalty from Italian centre Michela Sillari.
Ireland did find it difficult to settle into their customary rhythm of play in the opening period, but thanks to a converted try from former Dublin Ladies Football star Lindsay Peat, they brought a 7-3 cushion into the interval.
This put the hosts in an encouraging position when the action resumed, and they eventually sealed their victory with a 62nd-minute touchdown by replacement Paula Fitzpatrick – which was converted by her fellow substitute Nora Stapleton.