Full-time wrap:
“This is my team, this is my country and I’m bloody well delighted, is that good enough for you?” says George Hook and all we can say in response is it’s about time, George.
Brilliant second-half display from Ireland and a thoroughly deserved 30-point victory. Ireland came to life after the break and put to bed any concerns about being turned over by a fired-up Italian side.
Thoughts immediately turn to Wales in the quarter-final in Wellington next week. The Welsh have been coming in ominously under the radar and will be a tough, tough test, but if Ireland were offered a path to the final that involved beating two Six Nations sides in the quarters and semis, they would have grasped it with both hands.
Ireland have momentum and seem to be coming to the boil at the right time. It’s not a 15-man game, it’s 22 men and beyond and everyone seems to be buying into Declan Kidney’s philosophy. Of course, all that talk will be for nothing if Ireland can’t do the business next weekend.
That game is on at 6am next Saturday morning and we’ll be bringing you all the action as it happens as usual. Whether you’re waiting up through the night or setting the alarm clock bright and early, make sure to tune in.
That’s all from me for now, enjoy the win and we’ll see you again next week.
FULL-TIME!
CONVERSION IRELAND (SEXTON). IRELAND 36-6 ITALY
Birthday present number two from Earls, who even indulges in a little swallow dive as he goes over the line. Andrew Trimble made the original break and held on until just the right moment to release Earls, who touched down in the corner. Excellent yet again from Ireland and Sexton lands an impossible conversion from the touchline to boot. Brilliant.
TRY IRELAND (EARLS) IRELAND 34-6 ITALY.
Bowe denied wrongly for the second time today, but it doesn’t matter…
No foul play in the goal? What’s the TMO on about?
Well, he didn’t touch the ball down, but he was impeded in his attempts to do so. What a run though. From his own 22, Bowe put in a grubber kick, hacked it on twice towards the posts and made a despairing dive to try and touch it down until he was taken out of it. Kaplan waits for the decision from the TMO… No try!
What a passage of play from Tommy Bowe. Is it a try?
Sean O’Brien has been awarded man of the match by the way, after yet another barnstorming performance.
Italy, to their credit are not giving up the ghost in their quest for a consolation try. Yet another penalty for Italy and they’ve gone for the corner. Sergio Parisse absolutely pumping blood from an eye wound, that could be his last action of the World Cup. A smashing player, it has to be said.
Raft of subs coming on for Ireland. Tom Court, Denis Leamy, Eoin Reddan and Andrew Trimble all introduced.
Penalty Italy in front of the posts. Tap and go taken quickly. Ireland under siege, but they win the scrum. Excellent defence from Ireland, Sexton at the heart of it.
On Twitter, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed himself as a closet Ireland supporter. “The irish smashing the italians! #RWC”. Cheers, Jack!
That’s good to see. No sign of jitters from Sexton, who nails the kick with an air of confidence. Ireland in the driving seat with a little under 10 minutes to go.
PENALTY IRELAND (SEXTON) IRELAND 29-6 ITALY
More off the ball antics from the Italians. Conor Murray getting involved this time. Penalty Ireland for off the ball obstruction and Sexton has a chance to improve his confidence.
There’s a collector’s item for you. Cian Healy firing a mighty spiralling kick down the Italian half. ROG or Sexton would have been proud of that effort.
Jonny Sexton on for Ronan O’Gara at out-half.
Ireland claim it and the danger is over for now, but O’Driscoll miscues an attempt at a grubber and Italy have a lineout on the opposite side on Ireland’s 22.
But it’s not over yet. Italy have a lineout in the corner and there’s still 15 minutes left.
Cina Healy seems to be the target of a lot of the Italian’s ire. Might be a good idea to get him off the pitch.
Italians losing the head at close quarters. Perugini and Cian Healy having words and you can hear some of the Irish lads roar ‘What’s the score?’ in the direction of their counterparts. No need for Ireland to get involved, it could cost us, whereas there are of course, no ramifications for the Italian lads.
O’Driscoll tries an ill-advised chip over the top and Parisse gathers with ease. Italy finally get some respite, they had been camped in their own 22 for so long.
D’Arcy was clobbered off the ball by Parisse, a blatant cheap shot from the Italian captain. Paul O’Connell gone off to protect his fragile hamstring. Donnacha Ryan on in his place.
A little bit too intricate from Ronan O’Gara in the midfield trying to put it back into the middle rather than spreading it out wide and Ireland eventually knock it on.
Gordon D’Arcy down and doesn’t look good…
Ireland beginning to turn the screw in an attempt to put this game out of sight.
Italy win the scrum against the head, but Ireland on the attack again outside the 22.
No try. Five metre scrum for Ireland.
Looks like he was held up. It’s a pity because Kearney has been excellent so far and the try would have been just rewards for his efforts.
Rob Kearney over in the corner and Kaplan has to go to the TMO. There were an awful lot of bodies in there.
Fields of Athenry blasting out from the stands. Italy losing the head slightly and Ireland looking to take advantage…
Sean Cronin on for Rory Best in the front row. Best limped off so hopefully he’ll be OK.
CONVERSION IRELAND (O’GARA). IRELAND 26-6 ITALY
Gordon D’Arcy made the initial break, handing off Italians left right and centre. Ireland went right first and came acropper, then came left and through O’Driscoll and Ferris, Earls touches down in the corner. And on his birthday! Let’s see it home now lads.
TRY IRELAND (EARLS) IRELAND 24-6 ITALY
Ireland flying now…
CONVERSION IRELAND (O’GARA) IRELAND 19-6 ITALY
Brilliant stuff from Ireland. O’Driscoll finished it off, but Tommy Bowe was the arhictect, running a lovely diagonal line, beating men in midfield and giving a lovely inside pass to O’Driscoll who had about 15 metres to run before touching it down just to the left of the posts. Daylight for Ireland, who go 13 points in front after O’Gara’s conversion.
TRY IRELAND (O’DRISCOLL) IRELAND 17-6 ITALY.
Ireland moving it through the forwards and doing it effectively. Ball goes back to O’Gara for the drop-goal attempt, but he slices it wide on the left hand side. It’s a pity because Ireland had options either side just outside the 22.
Four from five for O’Gara, the only one he’s missed so far was against the post. Typical efficiency from the veteran.
PENALTY IRELAND (O’GARA) IRELAND 12-6 ITALY.
Penalty Ireland, around 35 metres out in front of the posts. Lo Cicero didn’t release Paul O’Connell in the tackle and O’Gara has the chance to increase Ireland’s lead.
The second half is underway…
Plenty of issues up for debate in the RTE studio. Gouging on Cian Healy? No, it was accidental according to Conor O’Shea and looking at the replays, he’s probably right. There was certainly no intentional thrust of a finger into his eye.
Tommy Bowe try? Definitely. Bad call from Jonathan Kaplan, who incidentally pulled O’Driscoll and Parisse aside in the tunnel at half-time to tell them to instruct their teams to cut out the messing as the game is being played with a definite edge.
HALF-TIME
Brilliant maul by Italy pulled down by O’Callaghan. Penalty Italy. Cian Healy not happy with Mauro Bergamasco and goes in for some afters. Bergamasco caught him with a couple of belts and as a result, the penalty is reversed. Ireland clear to touch and the whistle blows for half-time.
Off the post…again!
Penalty Italy. Tommy Bowe loses the ball in the tackle this time, Ghiraldini breaks away, Ireland have a hand in the ruck and Bergamasco gets a chance to level it up once again. Errors costing Ireland again. How many times have we said that this season?
Not to worry, Ireland dominate the scrum and get one of their own. Sean O’Brien gets to know Mauro Bergamasco a little better in the aftermath.
Ireland once again make a mess of the Italian restart and they have themselves a scrum on the Irish 22. Ireland dominant in terms of territory and possession, but not on the scoreboard.
PENALTY IRELAND (O’GARA) IRELAND 9-6 ITALY.
Castrogiovanni has had to go off for Italy. Andrea Lo Cicero on in his place. Big blow for Italy.
Penalty Ireland, lovely burst by Rob Kearney in the middle and Italy don’t roll away from the tackle. It’s in front of the posts and should be easy for O’Gara.
Free-kick to Ireland just outside the 22 and once again they fail to make the most of it, Gordon D’Arcy losing this one in the tackle. Ireland have recovered, however, and are on the attack in the Italian 22 once again.
Tommy Bowe has touched down under the posts, but there was a knock on in the build up. Looking at it again, I don’t think so. The ball went back off O’Brien to Bowe, who had to juggle it a couple of times but never dropped the ball. There was no forward movement in that passage and Ireland are unlucky to have been denied the five-pointer.
Opportunity wasted as Murray throws a forward pass to O’Driscoll off the back of the scrum. Half an hour gone and although Ireland have been OK, they’ve only been OK so far. Should be ahead at this stage and the longer it goes on, the more apprehensive Ireland are bound to get.
Ireland’s plan to spread it wide is obvious and maybe even a little telegraphed. Scrum for Ireland in the Italian 22 after a knock-on, but possibly a little more variety is needed in the Irish attack.
It’s been a bit helter skelter so far and we haven’t had time to reflect on some of the comments from the Twittersphere. A lot of tweeters seem to be using O’Gara’s successful kicks as justification for his selection ahead of Sexton, while there’s plenty of unprintable stuff about the dirty eye-gouging methods of the Italians.
Thanks to Paul O’Connell, Ireland force the turnover, O’Gara boots it down the field and Bergamamsco puts it into touch. Good platform for Ireland.
Penalty Ireland. Allegation of eye-gouging by Salvatore Perugini on Cian Healy and replays showed that it was blatant. Jonathan Kaplan tells O’Driscoll of the incident and warns him not to over-react but why not? Absoutely despicable from the Italian front row and to make it worse, it is Italy who get the penalty.
Ireland would have taken the concession of three points from the position they were in. Italy looked really dangerous close-in.
PENALTY ITALY (BERGAMASCO) IRELAND 6-6 ITALY.
Penalty Italy, collapsing the maul. Donncha O’Callaghan the guilty party.
Lovely grubber kick by Canale down the touchline and Conor Murray has no option but to kick it into touch. From the resultant lineout and maul, they are very close to going over…
Another silly Italian penalty conceded close to their own line and no better man than Ronan O’Gara to pile on the points. Italian indiscipline costing them dearly so far.
PENALTY IRELAND (O’GARA) IRELAND 6-3 ITALY.
Ireland so close in the corner. Ball won off the lineout, spread wide to O’Driscoll, but he had too much to do against three Italian bodies and was eventually forced over the touchline right at the flag via Keith Earls. Good rugby again from Ireland though.
Italy claim the rebound under the posts and break clear. On reflection, the kick wasn’t as easy as I had originally suggested.
Off the post!
Penalty Ireland, they’re coming thick and fast so far. This one is just to the right of the posts and just outside the 22 and should be meat and drink to the Munster man.
Equally as confident a kick as O’Gara’s one earlier on and we’re level pegging once again.
PENALTY ITALY (BERGAMASCO) IRELAND 3-3 ITALY.
Two very good scrums from Italy and they get a penalty of their own on the Irish 22. It’s a far easier kick than O’Gara’s and Italy have the chance to draw level immediately.
A very rare error from Sean O’Brien from the restart, knocking forward and giving Italy a scrum on the Irish 22.
Absoutely no problem to the Irish out half, he could have kicked that in his sleep. Good start for Ireland.
PENALTY IRELAND (O’GARA) IRELAND 3-0
Good from Ireland. Tommy Bowe and O’Gara making little half breaks, but the move eventually comes acropper when Bowe’s no-look pass is intercepted and knocked forward by Bergamasco. D’Arcy and Canale were having a little cut off each other on the sideline and the Italian centre is punished for taking D’Arcy out of it off the ball. Penalty Ireland just in from the touchline on O’Gara’s good side.
Ireland come through their first put-in with flying colours and O’Gara instantly goes for territory, but his rather telegraphed kick in intercepted. O’Driscoll on the ball a couple of plays later and he too puts boot to ball with a lovely grubber to the corner. Italian lineout deep in their own 22.
Scrum Italy early on after committing huge numbers to the breakdown. Rory Best bottled up by a sea of blue jerseys and Kaplan blows the whistle. First test in an area where there has been plenty of focus on all week. Ireland do very well in the exchange, but Italy claim possession in the end.
We’re underway…
And now for the somewhat less inspirational Ireland’s Call…
Not the best time to say it perhaps, but the Italian national anthem is fantastic!
Dunedin is a sea of green yet again. In a smaller stadium than Auckland and with a roof over their heads, they could create a cauldron even better than the one experienced against the Wallabies.
Pictures flash of a fired up Ireland side in a huddle in the dressing room. They look up for this one, but concerns remain over Paul O’Connell, who didn’t seem to be over exerting himself in the warm-up. Teams are in the tunnel…
In the studio, Conor O’Shea is putting forward the reasons why O’Gara has been given the nod over O’Gara. Consistency in goal-kicking, consistent game management and experience, of course. Because there’s a roof on the Otago Stadium, conditions won’t be an issue for the first time for Ireland in the competition, let’s hope we make the most of it.
For those of you that didn’t hear the massive news from New Zealand last night, All-Black talisman Dan Carter has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup with a groin injury. As disappointed as we are for Carter, that development has the potential to turn this tournament on its head.
0800:
Good morning folks. Less than half an hour until Ireland’s crunch meeting with Italy in the famous Carisbrook Stadium in Dunedin. Even though Declan Kidney’s men are unbeaten so far, a loss against a fired-up Italian side will mean World Cup disaster yet again.
There are a few worrying portents for Ireland. Italy gave us an almighty fright in the Six Nations and the Azzurri will be riled up for what is potentially the last game in charge for coach Nick Mallett. Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray have been given the nod at half-back, while Paul O’Connell has been deemed fit to start in the second row. Will he come through unscathed?
A reminder of the teams for you. We’ll be back shortly.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Keith Earls; Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Stephen Ferris, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble
Italy: Andrea Masi; Tommaso Benvenuti, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco; Luciano Orquera, Fabio Semenzato; Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini , Martin Castrogiovanni; Quintin Geldenhuys, Cornelius van Zyl; Alessandro Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse (captain).
Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Andrea lo Cicero, Marco Bortolami, Paul Derbyshire, Edoardo Gori, Riccardo Bocchino, Luke McLean.
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