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:
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 37 minutes
Here come Ireland, the maul getting a move on and then both Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy going close. Surely a third score is imminent...
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 35 minutes
And that fumble, of course, means another Irish scrum to feed. It’s the same story, sadly - Danilo Fischetti’s under pressure and Luke Pearce’s arm is extended the home side’s way once more.
The Ireland forwards follow Jack Crowley’s kick to the corner.
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 34 minutes
A superb defensive read from Lorenzo Pani, recognising the double pull-back play from Ireland and getting up to Calvin Nash looping around the corner. Italy counter-ruck strongly to back up Pani’s work, but Michele Lamaro just knocks on as he tries to gather the loose ball forced. The Italy captain slaps his hands together in frustration.
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 33 minutes
More scrum-time joy for Ireland, Pietro Ceccarelli this time pinged but the pressure on Danilo Fischetti on the other side equally causing the collapse. Italy are missing Marco Riccioni, who might normally be filling Cecarelli’s number three shirt.
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 31 minutes
A sign of Ange Capuozzo’s talent, ducking and dancing between a couple of tacklers and almost away. Craig Casey just about grasps onto an ankle to prevent further progress, but that’s what Capuozzo can do.
An Italy knock on ends the attack. Good work from Casey as the sweeping cover defender - the Munster nine has been bright so far.
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 29 minutes
Jack Crowley appears to have lost his gumshield, which is a bit of a worry. Of course, you don’t have to wear one at professional level, but with so many players now rightly wearing the smart mouthguards that may help identify potential concussions, you would hope that Crowley will soon have a replacement run out to him.
Italy can’t make much of a lineout on halfway, and Stephen Varney is again in a bit of bother as he box-kicks. Joe McCarthy looms over the diminutive scrum half like Charles Byrne, and Varney’s slightly fortunate that the ricochet does not fall particularly nicely for Ireland.
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 28 minutes
A vital turnover from Danilo Fischetti. The loosehead prop is excellent over the ball, and gets his hands in at just the right time as Ireland build another of those multiphase machinations. Ireland may argue that the tackler didn’t quite vacate the space the clearout men needed to move Fischetti, but the prop’s jackal was picture perfect.
Ireland 12-0 Italy, 27 minutes
Italy have just been a little bit too loose in the middle third in this first half hour, knocking on just inside Ireland half and allowing Craig Casey to flip the field off his left peg. A kind bounce means Ange Capuozzo can collect, but his punt ends up in Jack Crowley’s hands, and back Ireland come.
TRY! IRELAND 12-0 Italy (Dan Sheehan try, 24 minutes)
A sweeping Irish move and Dan Sheehan goes over in the left corner!
Another exhibition of attacking rugby from Ireland. It’s a delicious, deceptive dish from Jack Crowley to open Italy up, doing the defence with a flick of his eyes as a blind ball sends Hugo Keenan into space. Calvin Nash runs over Stephen Varney two phases later as momentum builds, and Crowley’s offload gives Stuart McCloskey the space he needs to put hooker Sheehan away.
Crowley adds the extra two.
Ireland 5-0 Italy, 23 minutes
A knock on in the tackle brings a scrum on the Italy ten-metre line, with Luke Pearce free kicking the visitors for failing to take the hit. He makes sure to remind Ireland not to put too much weight on too soon as the home front row opt to pack down again.
Stable this time? Yes, and Ireland get a nudge on. Strong work from Finlay Bealham and Ireland can play with penalty advantage.
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