Heart-breaker: Ronan O'Gara
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Ireland survived a massive scare on Saturday as a Ronan O'Gara drop-goal sealed a 13-11 win that broke Italian hearts at the Stadio Flaminio.
Played under glorious sunshine, this was always going to be a banana skin that needed avoiding for Ireland. And boy was it difficult to negate.
With just two minutes separating the Azzurri from an historic first win over their visitors, replacement fly-half O'Gara save travelling Irish blushes.
Italy had frustrated the Emerald Isle for much of the contest and actually went in 6-3 up at the interval thanks to two Mirco Bergamasco shots. However much like in 2007 and 2009, it was an early storm that needed weathering for the Irish.
Brian O'Driscoll it was who turned things around for Ireland with a try on 44 minutes, but even he endured a difficult day as a couple of try-scoring passes went astray.
It was that sort of game for Ireland. Frustrating and stuttered. But the job was done ahead of a home clash with France next week, as a possible Grand Slam decider moves a step closer when England arrive on Saturday, March 19.
Our preview had sighted the battle at number eight at being one to watch and that was an early eye-catcher when Sean O'Brien showed power and pace to elude a couple of Italian chasers. But he was to outdone soon after by Sergio Parisse who, back in the Six Nations after a year's break, showed his worth by winning his side a penalty on seven minutes.
Ireland looked a tad rattled and were throwing many wayward passes while struggling to penetrate the blue defensive wall. The Azzurri were showing a lot of hunger and even with the departure of injured number nine and organiser Edoardo Gori, they were streetwise.
On 20 minutes, the change in momentum finally came for Declan Kidney's side as Luke Fitzgerald's break down the left from halfway saw him step inside and feed Jonathan Sexton. However, the latter Leinsterman couldn't keep hold, leading to a lesson being handed to the Irish front-row by Martin Castrogiovanni and company.
Ireland eventually levelled matter eight minutes later as Kris Burton started to miss his touch-finders but that did not stop Italy going in at the break in front thanks to Bergamasco.
If truth be told, the first 40 was hardly memorable. The second was. Ireland had obviously been given a rollicking by their coaching staff and promptly took it on board as Denis Leamy ran hard to set up a score just three minutes after half-time.
Back and forth Ireland went on the Azzurri ten-metre line before the ball came out to O'Driscoll, who spotted a mismatch against Castrogiovanni. There was only one winner and it looked as though the procession of last year was about to be repeated.
A successful conversion from Sexton made the scores 10-6 but the game proved far from done when a lovely flowing move from Italy saw Luke McLean go over right in the corner. Unfortunately for the Rome faithful, Bergamasco's extras went painfully left of the upright and that proved costly as substitute O'Gara sat back when it mattered to break home hearts.
Man-of-the-match: An extremely tough decision as no one really stepped up for Ireland but for his solidity under the high ball and decent running, it goes to Luke Fitzgerald.
The scorers:
For Italy:
Try: McLean
Pen: Bergamasco 2
For Ireland:
Try: O'Driscoll
Con: Sexton
Pen: Sexton
Drop: O'Gara
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Kris Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt), 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Santiago Dellape, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Carlo Del Fava, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Gonzalo Garcia.
Ireland: 15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Sean O'Brien, 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 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 Leo Cullen, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Paddy Wallace.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), David Changleng (Scotland)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
DaveJ says...
@ adamk says... - I agree, that's the correct interpretation of what is being said and Kidney was only responding to that. Obviously if a journals was asking those kind of questions it was quite obvious from watching that game that something was very wrong with the referee.
Posted 15:22 07th February 2011
adamk says...
@Trader
They're not 'considering' it, that's just how the press (i.e this site) are wording it. Kidney was asked a question, and answered it by saying it's an avenue they'll look at if they're advised to after reviewing the match. At this point, Kidney is basically saying 'We haven't looked into it yet, no complaint from us'.
The majority of Irish players I find very respectful in post-match interviews, with the exception of ROG who tends to speak his mind, and some of the back rows you mentioned ;)
But lets be fair, the ref was a joke....
Posted 13:12 07th February 2011
adamk says...
Italy's work rate was outstanding. Really impressed to see a full 6 nations now, and not just for name sake.
However, thinking about it, Ireland had one of their worst games, terrible handling of the ball, mismatched combo's all over the team (so'brien + leamy and wallace? ugh, get jennings out there with o'brien), unsettled in the backrow... and yet they won over an impressive Italian side that lasted the full 80 minutes?
A good sign of experience. And hopefully a good kick up the perverbial rear to sort things out for a home game infront of an electric crowd next week.
The Irish team always need an embarrassing moment to sort things out, but at the end of the day, the first game was always going to be the roughest with so many injuries.
If I had to pick a starting 15 for next friday it would look something like this:
15: T. Bowe
14. S. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. Darcy or Earls**
11. Fitzgerald
10. Sexton
9. Reddan or Stringer
8. O'Brien
7. Jennings
6. Wallace
5. O'Connell
4. Cullen
3. Ross
2. Cronin
1. Court
* Darcy? Dunno, I know he had a terrible game yesterday, but he has the potential to outclass the oposition, and avoid the first tackle, and be seriously dangerous as he proved in later november. Earls also had a good game, and has potential to play any back position, so tough call.
9 is a tough one. The combo between Reddan and O'Brien is impressive, as shown in ERC games, but Stringer's control of the ball and how the game is played is nothing to be scoffed at. France obviously have some serious defensive holes, so the ball being delivered to the backs is going to be hugely important for Ireland next week.
My two cents. Obviously a very heavy Leinster based squad - maybe I'm biased, but they're the combo's that work. Kidney needs to stop being the polition and start using winning combo's.
Posted 14:43 06th February 2011
scrumdog says...
Trader, I'd guess is from the antipodes......Ireland is the only team on the planet that doesnt whine or make excuses when they lose and are gracious winners...and were to Italy yesterday.Unlike the other whinging and annoying coaches blather from the likes of Gatland (who'll be fired soon) and the arrogance of England and France.....Ireland is a popular side worldwide.
Posted 12:45 06th February 2011
davej says...
completely agree bluelion
Posted 12:03 06th February 2011
Lucasrg says...
For once I've see a better organized Italian side, few penalties given, less silly mistakes, yet not exactly there. It is also bad news Italy lost Gori for the rest of the tournament, really sad for that as I saw some good stuff. Canavosio is good but it should have pick and go quicker. Burton not that impressive.
What was rally the problem is the lack of confidence in open the ball wide, the only one time we tried, it was a nice try! So why not trying it a bit more?
Still a bit too predictable, but confident that in about 5 - 10 years we should attempt for the title. This year at least is only between France and England.
Posted 12:03 06th February 2011
piotr says...
great intensity from the Azzurri, quite a repetitive game plan from them but still a game plan. Good tackling (how many tackles by Castro!? the man of the match). But then again at this level every mistake is paid in the end, Ireland has been suffering throughout the game but in the end won. Azzurri lost and that is it.
Posted 08:51 06th February 2011
celticden says...
yeah we deserved to lose that, looks like another french hammering next week or we will be doing well and mess up no doubt
Posted 01:01 06th February 2011
mlbp says...
Poor performance by Ireland. Great work by the azzurri. Unfortunate end for a great match by the Italians, great intensity and little achievement at times.
I cannot see Ireland beating England or France if they play like this. What has happened to the otherwise safe hands of D'Arcy? Where is the ruggedness of the front five? Where is the class of the back row?
Unfortunate loss for the Italians. Had Bergamasco kicked well they would have won this match (but we cannot dwell on impossibles). Of course if Ireland had been leading by 5 points at the end O'Gara wouldn't have gone for the drop goal.
Posted 23:56 05th February 2011
scrumdog says...
Ireland had many untested new combinations on the field that did well and would have closed Italy out early had their finishing clicked.Too many dropped and missed passes but Ireland deserved the win just by the brilliantly engineered finish! Ireland will be up for France and the Heaslip-Ferris backrow will return with likely Jennings at 7. Stringer will also return to give quick ball to Sexton and move the ball wide. Cullen should start in place of O'Connell. Different game altogether next week.
Posted 22:55 05th February 2011
bcrugby913 says...
Embarrassing, at best. I'm a huge Ireland supporter, but it's getting harder and harder to stay loyal to this team after they did so much in 2009, and they disappointed for much of last year. Still hopeful for at least 3rd place in the 6N...still going to be a shaky road ahead of the RWC.
Posted 22:27 05th February 2011
Carpelone says...
Professional and cynical play paid off today. How can you possibly award Fitzgerald with a man-of-the-match performance?
Lost chance for Italy, against an ordinary (or less) Irish side. Dominated at scrum, ineffective with ball in hand, not impressive at contact.
Italy failed to win the game, and they have only to blame themselves.
13 penalties conceded and a yellow card only with 7 minutes to go?
France by 15 next week.
Posted 21:01 05th February 2011
munster1981 says...
I wouldn't have given the man of the match to an Irishman, terrible performance. Can't understand why D'arcy wasn't taken off and MacFadden put into the centre early in the second half. D'arcy messed up at least 3 tries!
Posted 20:58 05th February 2011
giomamo says...
It's a painful, painful defeat for Italy...i can't honestly say Ireland doesn't deserve victory: they could close the match when McFadden missed BOD's assist, few inches to the goal...but we were just 4 minutes from an historical victory...so painful!!!
Posted 20:19 05th February 2011