Caelan Doris stars with two tries while three players earn their first caps at the Aviva Stadium
The Irish performance was founded in large part on the quality of their set pieces, although they twice failed to convert attacking lineouts after opting to kick penalties to the corner, and their battery of big carriers.
Ireland's Joe McCarthy runs into traffic during the match against Italy. Photograph: Evan Treacy/Inpho They drew first blood from the kick-off when Giacomo Nicotera and Menoncello held up Conan and Tommaso Allan knocked over the ensuing scrum penalty. That said, it was surprising that Italy didn’t show more ambition.
They might have had another but for Monty Ioane just beating O’Brien to the touchdown from Earls’s grubber after a couple of high takes in quick succession by Stockdale off box kicks by each scrumhalf – the second on the run in chasing Casey’s up-and-under was stunning. The third try of the half arrived when McCloskey’s strong tackle on Cannone was backed up by Doris pouring through on an unprotected Stephen Varney and bouncing to his feet to counter-ruck. Andy Farrell and Paul O’Connell would also have loved the way Henderson reacted sharply in ensuring the turnover by adding his oomph to the counter-ruck, with McCloskey picking up and finishing alertly.
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