Going forward: Ireland
Ireland created a mouth-watering quarter-final date with Wales next week after overcoming Italy 36-6 at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday.
There was little to separate the two nations at the break with three Ronan O'Gara penalties edging Mirco Bergamasco's two. But after their rest, the Irish stepped up through the gears in Dunedin.
Scores from Brian O'Driscoll and Keith Earls sealed the victory and with it, Italy's tournament in New Zealand came to a premature conclusion.
What will be a concern Ireland though will be the injury to hooker Rory Best, who apparently went straight to hospital with a collar bone injury. With Jerry Flannery also recently ruled out of action, Sean Cronin is now first-choice number two.
Italy had made their presence felt in the first minute via their defensive line as Best found himself in the midst of a blue wave of Azzurri tacklers. And it seemed to send a message to Ireland as O'Gara, who kept his spot ahead of Jonathan Sexton, soon began to take territory.
We knew going in there was going to be spice in the fixture and it came as no surprise that was what brought about the first points of the evening, Gonzalo Canale deemed the guilty party after some shenanigans with Gordon D'Arcy. O'Gara stepped up to make it 3-0.
Back to the nitty gritty Italy went, this time demolishing the opposition scrum on the Irish 22 to allow Bergamasco a sweet levelling effort. Parity did not look like lasting long though when hands at ruck-time from Italy allowed O'Gara to push what seemed like the 'home' side back in front. He missed from the right but soon followed it up with a successful effort.
Despite the 62 per cent territory at this stage, Ireland were certainly not having things all their own way under the roof in Dunedin and Italy in fact almost opened the try account when a sudden wealth of possession saw them pitch up camp five metres from the green line. Three points was their consolation.
The teams remained deadlocked going past the half-hour mark. However, that could have been very different for Ireland had referee Jonathan Kaplan not spotted a forward pass from Sean O'Brien to an untouched Tommy Bowe. The right wing celebrated the try under the posts along with the rest of the fans, yet it was short-lived as the South African had already blown his whistle. Italy had survived despite being under the cosh. However, it didn't last.
Ireland kept on knocking at the door and finally got reward for their efforts in two fold. While key prop Martin Castrogiovanni was hobbling from the action - and the 2011 Rugby World Cup - O'Gara cooly pushed Ireland back in front by nine points to six as the first-half clock counted down. Bergamasco should have made it 9-all before the break but struck the post from 40 metres and then, for reasons unknown, Italy had a penalty reversed by Kaplan.
Declan Kidney must have been quietly satisfied during the break at how the game was progressing while knowing they would need a couple more scores to create a comfortable finish. And he soon got his wish from two of his old stagers when first O'Gara knocked over another three before O'Driscoll finished a superb initial break of the line from right wing Bowe. It looked like the Italians' hopes had been firmly tucked away for another four years.
But the Irish weren't done there and soon went about extending their 19-6 advantage with a free-flowing move across the backs that had Italy clutching desperately for a foothold. This time it was young Keith Earls who joined the party, a party that filtered into in the stands.
Replacement fly-half Sexton rubbed further salt into Azzurri wounds on 70 minutes with a penalty as the scoreline became 29-6 before Earls grabbed a brace of scores following good work from Andrew Trimble. The 'Octagon' town centre of Dunedin was set have its eyes well-and-truly opened by the masses of jubilant Irish fans decked out in green.
Man of the match: He just continues to get better and better in a green jersey. Sean O'Brien was again immense for Ireland in what is shaping up to be a lethal weapon of a back-row.
Moment of the match: Just when Ireland wanted their old stagers to step up and be counted, Tommy Bowe picked the Italian lock to send over captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Villain of the match: The streaker in the North Stand, who was wearing only a green cape.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: O'Driscoll, Earls 2
Con: O'Gara 2, Sexton
Pen: O'Gara 4, Sexton
For Italy:
Pen: Bergamasco 2
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Andrew Trimble.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera , 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius van Zyl, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea lo Cicero, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Edoardo Gori, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Luke McLean.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
By Adam Kyriacou at Forsyth Barr Stadium
Comments
crunchfit says...
@Carpelone
Yes, what they did was shameful but they didn't have any significant effect on the game.
Provocation happens every game and part of being a good player is keeping your head. Only one side resorted to dirty moves like gouging, punching in the face, etc.
Posted 23:28 03rd October 2011
Rukrym says...
@ praetorian
Unfortunately players are held to the laws of the IRB, not the law of Moses. I'm glad to see Ghiraldini has been cited
Posted 21:00 03rd October 2011
Carpelone says...
Italy had a very poor game. Not bad in the first half (they had few opportunities to score through their rolling maul), very, very poor in the second half. I suspect that they used up their forwards against USA and that five days were not enough for them to recover (Italy have always had the problem to be able to put together two consecutive games). Their attitude on defense was incredibly passive, especially if you have the likes of Ferris and O'Brien running at you.
The next coach of Italy should try to develop backlime game. After all, Italian backline against Russia were 23 smt years old average, so some potential is there to work on.
Posted 14:12 03rd October 2011
Carpelone says...
@ Crunchfit
I cannot agree more with your post. Bergamasco, Perugini and Ghiraldini were shameful in their retaliation attempts and they jeopardised any chance Italy possibly had.
A penalty try should have been awarded on Benvenuti tackling Bowe off the ball.
A good match marred by nasty and unpleasant episodes in which, from a neutral point of view, both sides were involved (the first of which was the one between Canale and D'Arcy). I do not know why this happened because it was unnecessary, but, in the end, who minds?
Bring on the QF, now.
Posted 14:04 03rd October 2011
crunchfit says...
Why are you still referring to irrelevant incidents from years ago? Get over it. We could all do the same but most are smart enough not to dig up that kind of thing. And Ghiraldini's gouge wasn't an accident. He hooked his fingers into the eyeball / eye socket area.
Good captains talk to referees every chance they can. John Smit does it, Richie McCaw does it, O'Driscoll does it, get over it.
Why would the Irish be angry? They won easily. Besides, we already acknowledged that Italy are a threat. Nobody denies that.
Posted 12:40 03rd October 2011
blametheref says...
Haha, Leinster_Goy...I was beginning to think you'd lost the plot and probably smoked too much skunk or was on the Tequila...Good to know that it wasn't actually you commenting...
Posted 11:45 03rd October 2011
island says...
"The TMO must not be requested to provide information on players prior to the ball going into in-goal (except touch in the act of grounding the ball)."
The TMO therefore *was* entitled to award a penalty try, because the *ball* was in in-goal when the act of foul play occurred.
Posted 11:15 03rd October 2011
leinster_goy says...
goys, just so you all know - I'm the real leinster_goy. "leinstergoy" is an imposter, most likely norm, the clue is in the lack of an underscore and also in the complete and utter absence of informed and objective orgument. norm seems to be a disaffected northerner from the "Sax Caintays" who has so much time on his hands that he can imporsonate people on the web. it's sad, really. most of you will already be familiar with me so you'll know not to take "leinstergoy/norm" seriously.
Posted 10:11 03rd October 2011
praetorian says...
@Rukrim
If "the issue here is eye gouging", you keep being idiocitly mad at an unintentional blow by Ghiraldini.
FYI I am Italian. I could answer that "the issue here" is BOD nearly sawing off Paul Griffen's head with a neck tackle in the 6N, and the ref graciously allowing him to remain on the field. So what?
It must be too difficult for you to understand that players with a decade of top level international rugby, 100+ caps (many in our team) do not react to nothing.
What Carpelone pointed out is exemplified by Kaplan talking to BOD. The guy over-talks the referee so insistently that he has to eye BOD badly to let him finish. Compare that to Kaplan talking Parisse.
Your argument is miserably weak in ignoring constant provokation by Irish players to focus on the single reaction by an Italian.
Enough of that. Irish angriness means they considered Italy a threat, that must be a compliment.
Compared to the latest world cup, we beat lesser teams more easily, and leveled play with the stronger ones, at least until half time (Ireland is way stronger than Scotland). Our backs showed some attacking, ball was played at hand frequently. Still need to improve speed, maybe giving up some raw power: Brunel will surely do.
The investment in international franchises and the rugby academy is paying out. Hopefully it will allow Gori, Semenzato etc to become high-level medians, and to find out a much-needed kicker.
Posted 09:36 03rd October 2011
blametheref says...
Looking at the highlights again, I feel Ferris should have got man of the match...His mini dummy for the Earls try was what made it ON, very clever play as most players of his size would have gone into contact or the line. His hits and work rate around the field was world class. Wales may have the classy Warburton but this Ireland team have 3 back rows of his class on the pitch at the same time.
All these comments about Italian dirty play should be dropped, we should learn to win with a bit of decorum as fans. I think it was smart that Ireland never mentioned this aspect. Italy's only real hope was to get Healy off the pitch and no doubt he was singled out for special attention...I just feel some Italians got carried away and over did it with the occasion...As regards the eye gougeing, I agree there should be a citing by the officials as this practice should be cut out of the game for good.
Looking at Wales their backline has classy players. Two new kids on the block George North and Williams at 13,who is similar in style to a young O' Driscoll, have the abilty to take teams apart. Priestland, who looks like a Welsh version of O' Gara's younger brother, is a cool headed fly half who has what it takes at this level. With the barnstorming and in form Roberts at 12 I feel if ROG is picked Wales will target his channel and depending on the outcome could be difference between winning or losing this match....I think with D'Arcy hitting form it's time to restore the faith in Sexton and let this Irish backline take on Wales with tempo and intensity and test Priestland at this level...Sexton will not let Ireland down and has the tools to exploit the less experienced Priestland which he will do one on one. Sexton's defensive ability will also be crucial. ROG then should be invaluable to come on and check mate Wales.
Posted 08:32 03rd October 2011
giomamo says...
I'm surprised about all those complainings by Irish fans: it was a dirty played game by both sides. Ireland clearly dominate and fully deserved the win. What would it happen if it was a closer match? The only thing i can agree is about the technical try didnt conceded by Kaplan and TMO. Anyway, good luck to the Greens for the Wales clash. See you again in the next 6N.
Posted 08:08 03rd October 2011
giomamo says...
.
Posted 08:01 03rd October 2011
Ramage says...
@ daatchi don't get too carried away lets see what happens with Wales first and South Africa second before we predict the final.Go the Blacks.
Posted 05:43 03rd October 2011
5Lock4ward says...
Ireland were never going to lose this match. As I said after Italy beat the Eagles, Ireland had too much to prove after the last RWC and weren't going to be denied a QF spot for consecutive events.
Posted 03:14 03rd October 2011
Rugbyjarhead says...
moment of the match...ferrris' smash on Castrogiovani....WHAMMO!!!! Who ate all the pies?
Posted 02:01 03rd October 2011
alextron says...
V well done to Ireland ,today they were master class. Italy with a better discipline could of made more of a game today and as an Azzurri fan im ashamed and disappointed to say that the behaviour i witnessed to day was unacceptable. Perugini and Mauro Bergomasco (the usual hotheads) just cant help themselves. Not exactly a departure Nick Mallet deserved, the guy has been immense for the Italian game , why hes been replaced is beyond me.
Posted 00:03 03rd October 2011
Rukrym says...
@ eltonioh
My understanding (and I could be wrong) is that since Bowe was taken out off the ball outside the in goal area, the TMO couldn't award a penalty try or even offer Jonathan Kaplan any information regarding the foul. I'd guess that after the controversy over George Clancy disallowing that NZ try against SA in the tri nations, the referees and TMOs were given very specific instructions on what the TMO can and can't do before the tournament began.
@ praetorian
Ridiculous attitude! Based on your comments I can only assume players from your country, wherever you're from, never infringe? Grow up. The issue here is eye gouging, I wouldn't tolerate it from an Irish player any more than I would an Italian or anyone else.
Posted 22:19 02nd October 2011
GCP_JONES says...
@pogmahon ....
Tip My Hat To Ya Man...You were spot on,Great Result. I'm Beaming
Posted 22:07 02nd October 2011
JohnCrotty says...
Folks, just so you know, Leinstergoy is a spoof (like Ross O'Carroll Kelly?). The proof is in the"goy" part. Read it with a foxrock accent and relax... Enjoy the RWC
Posted 22:04 02nd October 2011
pog_mahone says...
Helloo glenina - up Galwegians!!
Posted 21:15 02nd October 2011