Italy 3-26 Ireland
Date:
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Attendance: 57,700
Italy v Ireland Match Reports
Ireland began the defence of their Six Nations title with a 26-3 victory over Italy at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. A stubborn Italian defence kept the Irish attack at bay for 64 minutes, until Conor Murray and Tommy O'Donnell scored two quick tries to take the match away from Italy. Italy pushed hard for a consolation try in the closing minutes, but Haimona's touchdown was disallowed by the TMO. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- BBC: Champions Ireland ease to opening win
- Guardian: Joe Schmidt admits need to improve after Ireland’s winning start in Italy
- Telegraph: Reigning champions get off to a flier in Rome
- Daily Mail: Ian Keatley kicks Joe Schmidt's side to opening Six Nations victory over Azzurri at the Stadio Olimpico
- Sky Sports: Ireland ease to win over Italy in opening fixture of Championship defence
- ESPN: Ireland relieved by second-half try burst
- RTE: Ireland off to winning Six Nations start in Italy after late flourish
- Irish Independent: Italian job complete as sloppy Ireland start with Rome victory
- Irish Times: Ireland labour to opening Six Nations win over Italy
- RBS 6 Nations: Murray and O'Donnell break Italian resolve
Italy v Ireland Match Highlights
Italy v Ireland Match Statistics
Italy 3 (3)
Penalties: Haimona
Ireland 26 (9)
Tries: Murray, O'Donnell
Conversions: Keatley, Madigan
Penalties: Keatley (4)
Man of the Match: Conor Murray (Ireland)
Italy v Ireland - Team Line-ups
Italy Team Line-up
Forwards
- 1 Matias Aguero
- 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
- 3 Martin Castrogiovanni
- 4 Joshua Furno
- 5 George Fabio Biagi
- 6 Alessandro Zanni
- 7 Francesco Minto
- 8 Sergio Parisse (Captain)
Backs
- 9 Edoardo Gori
- 10 Kelly Haimona
- 11 Luke Mclean
- 12 Luca Morisi
- 13 Michele Campagnaro
- 14 Leonardo Sarto
- 15 Andrea Masi
Replacements
- 16 Andrea Manici
- 17 Alberto De Marchi
- 18 Dario Chistolini
- 19 Marco Fuser
- 20 Marco Barbini
- 21 Guglielmo Palazzani
- 22 Tommaso Allan
- 23 Giovambattista Venditti
Ireland Team Line-up
Forwards
- 1 Jack McGrath
- 2 Rory Best
- 3 Mike Ross
- 4 Devin Toner
- 5 Paul O'Connell (Captain)
- 6 Peter O'Mahony
- 7 Sean O'Brien
- 8 Jordi Murphy
Backs
- 9 Conor Murray
- 10 Ian Keatley
- 11 Simon Zebo
- 12 Robbie Henshaw
- 13 Jared Payne
- 14 Tommy Bowe
- 15 Rob Kearney
Replacements
- 16 Sean Cronin
- 17 James Cronin
- 18 Martin Moore
- 19 Iain Henderson
- 20 Tommy O'Donnell
- 21 Isaac Boss
- 22 Ian Madigan
- 23 Felix Jones