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:
Six Nations LIVE: England scrape past Wales
If there was a major positive for England, though, it was an excellent defensive effort, with the hosts keeping Wales pointless in the second half. Luke Baker takes a detailed look at a system built by new assistant coach Felix Jones that could prove England’s calling card throughout this tournament.
Dangerous defence the best form of attack as England build something special
New defence coach Felix Jones has implemented an aggressive blitz defence that helped England subdue Wales in a dramatic Six Nations clash at Twickenham
Six Nations LIVE: George Ford left baffled by conversion decision in Wales win
Ford’s boot eventually struck the crucial blow but there was plenty of debate over the England fly half’s non-kick in the first half at Twickenham. Should referee James Doleman have allowed Wales to charge after Ford’s step to the left? The man himself doesn’t think so.
George Ford left baffled by conversion decision in Wales win: ‘It doesn’t make sense’
Referee James Doleman permitted Wales to charge after Ford took a step to the left as he prepared to take a conversion
Six Nations LIVE: England scrape past Wales
There was plenty to talk about at Twickenham, too, as Wales’ youngsters gave England plenty to think about to threaten a first Six Nations victory at the home of English rugby in 12 years. But in the end, it was George Ford who slayed the dragon...
George Ford slays the dragon but scrappy England win won’t go down in folklore
England 16-14 Wales: The fly-half’s late penalty snatched victory for the hosts as Wales again fell short in a valiant defeat
Six Nations LIVE: Finn Russell rues late drama but admits Scotland can’t leave it to the referee
Scotland co-captain Finn Russell also felt his side were unfortunate, but admitted that the hosts should have put the game to bed long before those final moments.
Finn Russell rues late drama but admits Scotland can’t leave it to the referee
Sam Skinner’s try beyond the end of the 80 minutes was not given despite a long TMO review.
Gregor Townsend responds to late TMO controversy as France beat Scotland in Six Nations
Gregor Townsend felt Scotland were robbed of victory over France as he expressed bewilderment that the officials failed to award them a try in the last action of a dramatic Murrayfield showdown.
Les Bleus claimed a 20-16 win in Edinburgh to get their Guinness Six Nations campaign up and running – but only after referee Nic Berry and TMO Brian MacNeice spent several minutes deliberating over whether home substitute Sam Skinner had grounded the ball on the try-line before deciding that it had been held up by the boot of French replacement Yoram Moefana.
Scotland’s supporters, players and staff – having seen pictures of the incident on the big screen – were convinced they were about to be awarded a match-winning try, and the officials were loudly booed by the home crowd when they stuck with the original call not to give the score.
Gregor Townsend responds to late TMO controversy as France beat Scotland
The Scots led for most of the match after taking a seventh-minute lead through Ben White
Six Nations LIVE: Yesterday’s action
We’ll throw ourselves into the build-up to today’s fixture in a bit, but first a look back on yesterday’s drama-filled action - and let’s start with that decision at Murrayfield as Scotland fell inches, and a conclusive camera angle, short.
Late drama denies Scotland as France emerge victorious at Murrayfield
Scotland 16-20 France: The hosts thought they had won a thriller late on, only to be denied
Good afternoon
Ireland take on Italy looking for another win as the second round of the 2024 Six Nations concludes in Dublin.
Andy Farrell’s men were outstanding in Marseille last Friday, shutting France down in what could prove a de facto championship decider and seemingly setting up another grand slam tilt. Farrell has opted to rotate his side as Ireland return home, with Caelan Doris appointed captain and set to lead his country for the first time at Test level.
Italy, meanwhile, might just be eyeing a shock, having impressed against England in their opening fixture. While Gonzalo Quesada’s side ultimately fell away to defeat, Monty Ioane’s late try earned them a losing bonus point and the will arrive at the Aviva Stadium with confidence that they can push Ireland close, having done so in both meetings between these two sides in 2023.
Follow live coverage of Ireland vs Italy in today’s live blog
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