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 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.”
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.
Ireland 50-6 Italy, 78 minutes
What fight from Marco Zanon! Rob Herring bursts through the Italian defensive line after a delectable dummy and delayed give from Johnny Sexton. The hooker tries to find the slightly swifter Jack Conan and allow the number eight to stride in, but Zanon extends go-go-gadget arms to retrieve the ball and save his side as he retreats.
Ireland 50-6 Italy, 78 minutes
What fight from Marco Zanon! Rob Herring bursts through the Italian defensive line after a delectable dummy and delayed give from Johnny Sexton. The hooker tries to find the slightly swifter Jack Conan and allow the number eight to stride in, but Zanon extends go-go-gadget arms to retrieve the ball and save his side as he retreats.
TRY! IRELAND 50-6 Italy (James Lowe try, 76 minutes)
Uncontested scrum, efficient hands, and Michael Lowry eschews the chance of a hat-trick to put his back-three colleague James Lowe in to the left corner untouched. Johnny Sexton makes it a nifty fifty with a tough conversion from the touchline.
YELLOW CARD! Braam Steyn is sent to the sin bin (Ireland 43-6 Italy, 75 minutes)
Italy are down to 12. Steyn is fortunate not to concede a penalty try, with the presence of renaissance man Danilo Fischetti five metres away counting in his favour.
Yellow Card? Italy may be dropping to 12 players...
Mack Hansen releases an offload infield and Braam Steyn knocks the ball deliberately out of play five metres from his own line. This will surely be yellow, and could it be a penalty try, too? There is limited cover with Rob Herring and Garry Ringrose waiting...
Ireland 43-6 Italy, 74 minutes
This has been a performance short of the clinical edge we have come to expect from Ireland, who have been guilty of rushing things against a shortened Italian defensive line. Johnny Sexton begins to pull the strings in partnership with midfield mate Garry Ringrose and Ireland advance into the 22.
Ireland 43-6 Italy, 72 minutes
Italy nearly force an opening on the left but eventually the ball tumbles out of play. Ireland eyeing a half-century as they attack.
A kick through from Garry Ringrose takes a hop towards the touchline but then squares itself slightly, just enough for Michael Lowry to extend his left peg and try to keep it infield. The full-back doesn’t quite manage to.
TRY! IRELAND 43-6 Italy (Ryan Baird try, 70 minutes_
Charged down by Ryan Baird and the big man stoops low to score!
Hands flung like a skyscraper’s spire, Baird blocks Alessandro Fusco’s attempted box kick and races after the ball, covering 20 metres in four strides and keeping calm to scoop and score off the floor.
Ireland 36-6 Italy, 68 minutes
Braam Steyn charges into Robbie Henshaw, who will require an HIA after a hefty collision, with Garry Ringrose permitted to return, still with strapping around his bonce after suffering a cut eyebrow early on.
Ireland kick through, again, and Mack Hansen can’t quite keep the ball in field.
The last remaining member of the Italian bench is new father David Sisi - he takes the place of Federico Ruzza as Paolo Garbisi produces an outstanding clearance. The resulting lineout will be thrown by Rob Herring, on for Dan Sheehan.
Ireland 36-6 Italy, 66 minutes
Italy are really battling well here. Ireland have been guilty of forcing offloads when half-a-chance appears rather than wait for less opaque opportunities and a disrupted exchange will give Italy scrum ball.
Marco Zanon replaces Leonardo Marin, who has had extremely few chances to display his play-making skills but has defended strongly. There will be more enjoyable afternoons for the young ten-cum-twelve.
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