Ireland v Italy LIVE: Six Nations 2024 score and result as hosts secure comfortable second win
Ireland 36-0 Italy: Ireland’s bid for back-to-back grand slams continues with a one-sided victory over the Azzurri
Ireland continued their pursuit of back-to-back Six Nations grand slams as they swept aside Italy in Dublin.
A much-changed home side retained plenty of its usual fluency, with Jack Crowley again pulling the strings impressively from fly half in a 36-0 win, crossing for his first try in senior rugby to lead the hosts to a 17th straight Aviva Stadium victory.
Consecutive bonus points victories leave Andy Farrell’s men top of the table after two rounds, two points clear of England, while an outstanding defensive display meant Ireland kept an opponent scoreless in this competition for the first time since 1987.
For Italy, it was a disappointing follow-up to an encouraging start against England, a flat performance leaving Gonzalo Quesada to lament his side’s set-piece struggles and lack of intensity in defence as the Azzurri failed to trouble the scores.
Re-live all the action from Ireland vs Italy below, and get the latest Six Nations odds and tips here:
TRY! IRELAND 36-0 Italy (Calvin Nash try, 78 minutes)
A sixth score for Ireland!
Two in two weeks for Calvin Nash, the beneficiary of more fluid phase play from Ireland. This is a bit more helter-skelter than their usual stylings: Stuart McCloskey hurls a brilliant offload out of a double tackle and then the transfers are good from Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley. Nash races towards the corner and cuts in at the right time to pierce the covering defensive pair.
Ireland 29-0 Italy, 75 minutes
A strong shunt from Mirco Spagnolo but Jamison Gibson-Park extracts the ball before the replacement Italy loosehead is rewarded with a penalty. Gibson-Park sweeps around the back of the Irish midfield and scurries into space, but a forward pass a phase later ends the movement.
James Lowe is named player of the match by the host broadcaster, though this really has been a complete team performance from the men in Irish green.
Ireland 29-0 Italy, 72 minutes
James Lowe scythes up the centre on the inside of Harry Byrne after the forwards do their job. Lowe gets down into the Italian 22 after his fourth line break of the day, but retreating Italian bodies block Caelan Doris’ vision - the Ireland captain’s fumble of Craig Casey’s pass really is the rarest of errors.
Ireland 29-0 Italy, 71 minutes
A spinning top of a scrum means neither Michele Lamaro, still at number eight even with Vintcent on, nor replacement scrum half Martin Page-Relo wish to retrieve the ball from the base, allowing Ireland to almost latch on. Page-Relo’s knock on ensures that the scrum feed will be theirs anyway.
Ireland 29-0 Italy, 70 minutes
A debut for Ross Vintcent of Exeter in the Italy back row. The number eight has plenty of gas, but won’t get the chance to show it immediately, Giacomo Nicotera’s lineout toss stolen at the front by Joe McCarthy.
McCarthy’s been quietly impressive again this afternoon. Italy are back to a full complement with Tommaso Menoncello having returned.
Ireland 29-0 Italy, 67 minutes
It looks like Jordan Larmour may be operating at outside centre, up in the line as Ireland tap a scrum free kick quickly. They ease into the Italy half but Larmour’s attempts to clear a ruck are illegal - another neck roll with Larmour a little late arriving.
Giacomo Nicotera was the man wrenched. He’s another handy breakdown operator - might Italy consider starting him henceforth after a bit of a tough outing for Gianmarco Lucchesi?
Here’s that brilliant James Lowe finish in full sound and vision:
Ireland 29-0 Italy, 65 minutes
Jordan Larmour replaces Robbie Henshaw, who has been really effective in that 13 channel again. A decision to make in midfield for Andy Farrell if Garry Ringrose is back fit for round threei n a fortnight - Bundee Aki, you’d imagine, is a certain starter, but Henshaw’s made a real case to partner him.
Bosh! Jack Conan positively pulverizes Ange Capuozzo as the full-back tries to spark something from nothing, forcing a knock on.
TRY! IRELAND 29-0 Italy (James Lowe try, 62 minutes)
A piston-pumping finish from James Lowe!
Pure power from the Ireland wing, good all day again and now with a score to celebrate. The build-up play was excellent to open up an alleyway through which Lowe could sprint, but there are still four cover defenders coming across at him with seven metres still to run. Lowe angles in, using his sharp edges to rid himself of Ange Capuozzo and Paolo Garbisi while still having the strength to hold off Monty Ioane and Giacomo Nicotera to the line.
Ireland 24-0 Italy, 61 minutes
Oh dear. Ange Capuozzo throws a speedy lineout even with Italy down to 14 men, but there’s not much on for Paolo Garbisi on the left as his teammates spread it to him. Garbisi thus kicks for touch, not, perhaps, realising that the mark for the quick lineout was outside the 22 - carried back, out on the full, Ireland’s ball in advanced territory.
Iain Henderson is on in the Irish second row.
Ireland 24-0 Italy, 59 minutes
Harry Byrne has gone in at ten, with Jack Crowley now at full-back after Hugo Keenan’s withdrawal. Byrne fluffs his line in the latest Irish attacking production, a pull-back pass at his throat knocked on after Crowley had cut a dummy angle in front of him.
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