Ireland vs Italy LIVE: Six Nations rugby result as debutant Michael Lowry helps secure bonus point after Hame Faiva red card

Ireland 57-6 Italy: Azzurri finish game with 12 players after hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi injured and replacement Faiva sent off for dangerous tackle

Ireland's Michael Lowry celebrates scoring their sixth try (REUTERS)

Ireland kept the pressure on unbeaten Six Nations leaders France with a 57-6 thrashing of Italy on Sunday in a game that descended into farce after the visitors were forced to play most of it with just 13 men.

Ireland were 7-3 up when replacement hooker Hame Faiva, on for the injured Gianmarco Lucchesi, was sent off and because Italy resorted to uncontested scrums, they had to nominate another player to leave the pitch for the final 61 minutes. With gaps everywhere, the hosts followed up Joey Carbery’s early try with eight more from Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter O’Mahony, Kieran Treadwell, Ryan Baird and two each for debutant Michael Lowry and James Lowe. Ireland, who trail France by three points after taking a losing bonus point from Paris, need to beat England and Scotland to have a chance of winning the title.

“I tried to compose myself coming out to thousands of people,” Lowry said after his dream debut. All I can say is thanks to everyone who got me to this situation here today. Lining up for the anthems is everyone’s childhood dream and that chance is something I will never forget. I’ve worked hard for this. Hopefully I’ll step on from this now and get a few more caps. It was just about playing our game. fair play to Italy they kept coming after us. We had to play our game and be patient.”

(PA)

Ireland (24) 57

Tries: Carbery, Gibson-Park, Lowry 2, O’Mahony, Lowe 2, Baird,Treadwell.

Cons: Carbery 2, Sexton 4.

Italy (6) 6

Pens: Padovani, Garbisi.

Jamison Gibson-Park celebrates with teammates Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter (Getty Images)

Six Nations 2022: Ireland vs Italy

• Six Nations deliver Ukraine message ahead of Ireland vs Italy
• Joey Carbery scores early try after bright start from Irish
• Italy’s Hame Faiva sent off for ‘clear contact to the chin and high danger’
• Jamison Gibson-Park strikes to ram home Ireland advantage
• Michael Lowry grabs try on debut to stretch Ireland’s lead
• Peter O’Mahony secures bonus point for rampant Ireland

[27 February 2022 14:00 · Jack Rathborn]

Six Nations 2022: Kieran Crowley on Ireland vs Italy

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley: “We have prepared by focusing on the aspects of the game that did not satisfy us in the first two games.

“We face the next commitment with energy and the desire to improve. It will be a physically tough match against one of the strongest teams in the world.”

[27 February 2022 13:55 · Jack Rathborn]

Six Nations 2022: Andy Farrell on Ireland vs Italy

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: “There’s all sorts of things you need to bring into contention. It’s game-time, it’s opportunity, it’s trying to predict what our team will look like in two or three weeks’ time.

“I’ve never made any secret of the fact that we want to win every title where there is something to play for. That doesn’t change and I still think we’re in the race for this competition.”

[27 February 2022 13:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Six Nations 2022: Ireland vs Italy

[27 February 2022 13:50 · Jack Rathborn]

Six Nations 2022: Ireland vs Italy odds

Ireland 1/100

Draw 159/1

Italy 80/1

[27 February 2022 13:45 · Jack Rathborn]

Six Nations 2022: Ireland vs Italy confirmed teams

Ireland XV: Lowry; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Carbery, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Baird; O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Treadwell, Conan, Casey, Sexton, Hume.

Italy XV: E Padovani (Benetton); P Bruno (Zebre), J I Brex (Benetton), L Marin (Benetton), M Ioane (Benetton); P Garbisi (Montpellier), S Varney (Gloucester); D Fischetti (Zebre), G Lucchesi (Benetton), P Ceccarelli (Brive), N Cannone (Benetton), F Ruzza (Benetton), G Pettinelli (Benetton), M Lamaro (Benetton, capt), T Halafihi (Benetton).

Replacements: E Faiva (Benetton), I Nemer (Benetton), T Pasquali (Benetton), D Sisi (Zebre), M Zuliani (Benetton), B Steyn (Benetton), A Fusco (Zebre), M Zanon (Benetton).

[27 February 2022 13:43 · Jack Rathborn]

Six Nations 2022: Ireland vs Italy head-to-head record

Ireland have have dominated the last three home matches against the Azzurri, logging more than 50 points in each of the last home Six Nations contests.

They’ve won all 11 home games against Italy in the Six Nations too.

Their record is formidable in Dublin against anybody too, with just two defeats at home since 2013 in the Six Nations.

Ireland overall are ahead 29-4 and 16-1 in Ireland.

[27 February 2022 13:38 · Jack Rathborn]

Six Nations 2022: Ireland vs Italy team news

Ireland prop Tom O’Toole has already been ruled out of Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Italy due to injury. Meanwhile, lock Iain Henderson has been ruled out after testing positive for coronavirus on his birthday. Joey Carbury has been retained at No10 ahead of Johnny Sexton, while Michael Lowry will make his debut.

For Italy, Pierre Bruno and Leonardo Marin will debut in the Six Nations on the wing and in the centre respectively, while Federico Mori has been removed from the squad. Marco Fuser, Johan Meyer and Ratuva Tavuyara are among those missing through injury.