A controversial technicality in the laws left Italy playing with only 13 men for the majority of a heavy defeat against Ireland.
It was one-way traffic in Dublin as Ireland romped to a 57-6 victory over Italy. The emphatic scoreline gives little indication into the relative competitiveness of the two sides though as the hosts played with a two-man advantage for most of the match.
Ireland started the match strongly, exploiting a disjointed Italian defence to make early inroads. Joey Carberry, starting at flyhalf ahead of Johnny Sexton, scored the first try for the hosts after he profited from Josh van der Flier’s linebreak.
Italy hit back with a fantastic long range penalty from fullback Eduardo Padovani soaring between the posts. For a moment it looked as though Italy might grow into the game.
But then, disaster struck for the Azzuri. After losing starting hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi to injury, his replacement Hame Faiva saw red for a high tackle. Rugby’s laws require that in the absence of another player capable of playing hooker, Italy would need to bring on a replacement prop and drop a further player.
This technicality, intended to discourage teams from faking injuries in order to achieve uncontested scrums, had the effect of reducing Italy to 13 men, instead of the 14 usually expected after a red card. It also put an end to any chance the Championship minnows had offering credible resistance.
Ireland scored two minutes later through scrumhalf Jamieson Gibson-Park. It was a sign of things to come as the hosts waltzed in two further tries through debutant fullback Mike Lowry and captain Peter O’Mahony before the end of the first half. Italy could only muster a penalty off the boot of Paolo Garbisi in response.
The second half was as one-sided as could be expected. Ireland with overwhelming space to attack into piled on the points with tries through winger James Lowe, a second for Lowry and Ryan Baird.
A yellow card for Braam Steyn after a deliberate knockdown – symptomatic of defensive desperation – saw Italy go down to 12 men for the final five minutes. It was almost laughably easy for James Lowe to stride in for his second try from the ensuing passage of play, with Johnny Sexton converting to take the score to 50.
Kieran Treadwell scored Ireland’s final try after the hooter to bring up 57 points for Ireland and finally put an end to an absurd contest.
Despite their dominance on the scoreboard, it was far from a vintage performance by Ireland. They are still searching for a performance of the same intensity and accuracy as the one they delivered on the opening weekend against Wales.
Italy consistently frustrated the Irish attack and refused. They will feel dejected to be on the receiving end of a legal aberration but, in the circumstances, acquitted themselves in a way they can be proud of.
