Ireland began their World Cup preparation with a 33-17 win over Italy this evening in the Aviva Stadium. It wasn’t the smoothest performance from Ireland this evening, but a five try performance was enough to see off a spirited Italian second half performance.  

Ireland got off to an uncharacteristically slow start in this game, the weather conditions certainly playing a factor in the opening minutes of the game. It took Ireland a while to settle into their usual rhythm, a bi-product of the number of changes to their starting line-up, opting for a careful balance of youth and experience.

Italy opened the scoring inside just two minutes thanks to a penalty from Tommaso Allan. From the kick-off, Ireland’s Jack Conan knocked the ball on before regathering, giving Italy an early scrum. The physical Italians punished Ireland and earned themselves a shot at the posts with little over a minute on the clock. Allan, starting this game at Full-Back, slotted the kick between the posts, giving the visitors the lead.

Ireland responded well to this early pressure as they looked to get on the score-board. A frustrating opening ten minutes was forgotten when Dave Kilcoyne drove over the Italian try-line to give Ireland the lead. Scrum Half Craig Casey ordered his forwards around as Ireland marched into the Italian 22, and opted for a series of pick-and-go’s. Kilcoyne received the ball just two metres from the line and, with help from his binding teammates, powered over the line. Jack Crowley, making just his second start for Ireland, easily converted the conversion.

Ireland’s stronghold of the game was strengthened in the 28^th minute after Italian prop Danilo Fischetti was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin-bin. Ireland had been awarded a penalty for a turnover, and Casey opted for the quick tap-and-go, but was brought down by Fischetti after running just five yards. Matthieu Reynaud showed no hesitation in showing the prop yellow.

Ireland made their man advantage count inside thirty seconds, scoring an excellent maul try through Caelan Doris. Ireland were awarded a penalty following the yellow card, and Jack Crowley opted to kick for a lineout in the corner. Rob Herring would throw perfectly to skipper on the day Iain Henderson. Starting at outside flanker for this match, Doris found himself in the usual ‘Josh Van der Flier’ position at the back of the lineout maul, where he, Herring and Jack Conan broke away from the initial pod. So close to the Italian try line, there was no stopping the three and Doris powered over the try line to get Ireland’s second try of the game.

Doris was heavily involved in Ireland’s third try in the 35^th minute, as the home side looked to punish Italy during their sin-bin period. Italy were under pressure with ball-in-hand inside their own five metre line. Scrum Half Stephen Varney had hands on the ball at the ruck, and hesitated whilst picking his pass. Caelan Doris, spotting the ball was live, clattered into the scrum half, and along with Jack Crowley won Ireland the turnover. Stuart McCloskey, arriving to help his teammates, was presented with the ball at the base of the ruck, the inside-centre driving over the whitewash. Crowley converted his third kick of the night, and Ireland found themselves 21-3 up at half time.

 Italy responded well after the half time break and got the first score of the second-half in the 50^th minute. Following a high tackle from Keith Earls, Ireland were penalised and the Italians opted to kick to the corner. From the resulting lineout, Italy were initially held at bay by Ireland’s maul, instead opting to go through the hands in the backline. A series of brilliant passes from Italy saw the ball work its way out wide to Lorenzo Pani, who fended off Jacob Stockdale to power over the Ireland try line. An excellent conversion from Tommaso Allan would reduce Italy’s deficit to 11 points, marking a great start to the second half.

Ireland responded well to a much-improved Italian performance in the second half with a 65^th minute try from substitute Cian Healy after a series of pick and go drives. Ireland’s possession started with a wonderful piece of skill from debutant Tom Stewart, who, after throwing a perfect lineout, wheeled the back of the maul carefully away from the touchline with some excellent footwork. Ireland were patient in their approach to the try line, opting for power in the form of the forwards and it was veteran prop Cian Healy who would power over the line.

Italy wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as they bounced back just four minutes later after some brilliant hands from the Italian backs. After a series of drives from the forward pack, Juan Ignacio Brex ran a fierce line, breaking through the Irish defence, before producing a wonderful offload to his centre-partner Tommaso Menoncello. The inside-centre would get the better of Keith Earls to slide over the try line.

Player of the match Caelan Doris capped off a wonderful performance tonight with his second try of the game in the 72^nd minute. Ireland’s forwards did well to gain momentum close to the Italian try line, and it looked as if their hard work was undone after a scuffed pass from substitute Caolin Blade, his pass skimming across the floor. Doris was able to scoop the ball up off the ground and cross the white line, benefiting from the unpredictability of the bouncing ball. A Ciaran Frawley conversion would see the Skerries man score his first points for Ireland.

Ireland would go on to close out the game 33-17. Far from a perfect performance from Ireland, but they get the job done with a very exciting squad in their first game together. Frawley, Nash and Stewart all made their senior debuts, with impressive performances from the bench, whist there were a number of stand-out performers from Ireland.