Earls is on top as Irish deliver a knockout

RELIEF for Ireland. Respect to Italy. It was not one of the great games, but the Irish went into the knockout stage at a partisan Olympic Stadium festooned in green. There was just one try, from Keith Earls, his record eighth in World Cups. Other than that there was mostly ennui. It was an even contest throughout the first half. Italy were no slouches and no wonder. Among their five changes was Sergio Parisse, their totemic No 8. It was a massive fillip after he had missed the start of the tournament with a haematoma on a calf. He was impressive and, despite losing Gonzalo Garcia to injury in the early moments, unfancied Italy were a real threat. Yet it was Ireland who made their pressure count first, with fly-half Johnny Sexton opening the scoring with an easy penalty kick from 10 metres. Italy levelled with a nearly equally comfortable three points from the boot of Tommaso Allan. Where was Ireland’s supposed superiority? Nowhere, yet it was the Irish who crossed the line halfway through the first half, having disturbed the Italian line-out. The pack set up the platform and Robbie Henshaw, showing almost telepathic understanding, popped the recycled ball into the path of his centre-partner Earls, who charged through. He is now Ireland’s outright leading try scorer in World Cups, having equalled Brian O’Driscoll’s record of seven against Romania in their previous match. But Italy, their pack resolute, drew back to 10-6 and were now full of confidence. They nearly scored a try when Josh Furno was released wide on the left, but he was brilliantly tackled by Peter O’Mahony. If Furno had been a wing, not a forward, he would have scorched over the line. Instead, his foot was on the white stuff. Ireland had to imprint themselves on the game and they belatedly did so. First, a period of pressure resulted in a Sexton penalty. Then came a second Sexton penalty for 16-9. It was job done, just, despite O’Mahony being shown a yellow card for a shoulder barge. Italy have still never progressed to the knockout stages at a World Cup, but they left with their self-respect, ruing what might have been. It was important for Ireland to win without breaking bones or denting their mental resolve with mercurial France awaiting them in Cardiff on Sunday. There were no injuries to report afterwards. The winner of Ireland-France should have an All Blacks-free route into the final.

JONATHAN McEVOY