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 15:31 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 20 minutes

In law, Italy will have to bring on a front-rower even with the scrum contested, and lose a player. It’s cruel, but that is the law, and that is the punishment for the sending off.

Michele Lamaro is not happy at all as Nika Amashukeli explains the situation to him. Ivan Nemer will step into the middle of the front row. Pierre Bruno is the unfortunate sacrifice for Nemer; Toa Halafihi removed to shear Italy further.

[27 February 2022 15:28 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 20 minutes

Nearly magnificent from Caelan Doris! Jamison Gibson-Park whips a directionless pass out towards the touchline and Doris somehow scoops it without breaking stride, bursting away from a tackler and then releasing the deftest of offloads infield to Andrew Porter.

It is so deft, in fact, that Porter’s hands aren’t quite ready - he knocks on five metres out and that will be the first scrum since the sending off. That means another chat for the officials to determine if Italy have anyone else qualified to play hooker.

[27 February 2022 15:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

RED CARD! Hame Faiva is sent off! Ireland 7-3 Italy, 19 minutes

It is red. “Clear contact to the chin and high danger,” explains Amashukeli as Faiva shakes his head.

Italy lose a second hooker. I think that means that scrums will be uncontested from now on. Gianmarco Lucchesi presumably won’t be re-emerging.

[27 February 2022 15:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 19 minutes

NIka Amashukeli works through the high-tackle process with TMO Eric Gauzins. It is an upright tackle from Faiva - Sheehan is dipping slightly but probably not enough to mitigate against a stiff sanction. This could be red...

[27 February 2022 15:23 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 19 minutes

Halafihi takes a measure of revenge by introducing Garry Ringrose’s back to the Aviva Stadium surface.

Soon after play is halted. Halafihi’s tackle was legal, but Hame Faiva’s shoulder into the neck of Dan Sheehan shortly beforehand might not have been...

[27 February 2022 15:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 18 minutes

A crisp double tackle from Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris ends Toa Halafihi’s charge before the number eight can get going. Italy kick long, with Lowe’s aerial manoeuvres secure again.

[27 February 2022 15:21 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 16 minutes

Hame Faiva throws swiftly to the back of the lineout and Italy can attack just inside the Ireland 22. Good line speed from the Irish defensive line force them backwards, and Paolo Garbisi sends an up-and-under for the heavens...

James Lowe claims an outstanding mark, taps quickly and then unfurls a booming punt off his left boot to switch the field. Faiva will throw another dart from inside his own half.

[27 February 2022 15:19 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Joey Carbery opened the scoring for Ireland with a well-taken try

(AFP via Getty Images)

[27 February 2022 15:18 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 7-3 Italy, 15 minutes

Italy are beginning to grow into this game. Their wide defence has tightened up and they are isolating carriers further in-field, this time Toa Halafihi over the top in perfect position to force Josh van der Flier to concede another holding on penalty.

[27 February 2022 15:17 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! Ireland 7-3 ITALY (Edoardo Padovani penalty, 14 minutes)

A perfect strike from Padovani and Italy are on the board.