Ringrose leads a ‘top-class’ Irish rally
AFTER a shaky start to this Six Nations campaign, Ireland got back on track with a six-try rout of Italy in Rome.
Tries from Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors had Ireland in the driving seat with a 27-10 lead at the break, and the visitors completed a dominant display with further efforts from CJ Stander, Connors again and Keith Earls.
The hosts were dealt an early blow when Stephen Varney injured his hand during the pre-match warm-up. The 19-year-old Welshborn scrum-half has been a revelation and his absence was a blow. English-born Callum Braley came into the starting line-up.
There is much excitement about Ronan Kelleher, the 23-year-old Leinster hooker and he made a bright start. Robbie Henshaw raced on to his long line-out throw before he showed up for a big carry a few phases later as Ireland laid siege to the Italian line.
However, it was Ringrose who opened the scoring by weaving his way through the Italian defence a few minutes later. Sexton’s conversion edged Ireland into a 10-3 lead.
Ringrose then produced the deftest of passes out of a tackle to send Keenan away for his fourth international try.
The next was just as slick. Iain Henderson, Tadhg Furlong and Dave Kilcoyne made the hard yards before Kelleher’s switch allowed Sexton to free up Jordan Larmour on the edge, and the Leinster wing offloaded to Connors who raced away for a fine score.
It was looking ominous for Italy heading towards half-time, but South African-born Johan Meyer barged over for a try.
Normal service resumed after the break as Stander muscled his way over the line after Furlong had made big inroads in a tiring Italian defence. Connors then touched down from a rolling maul, and Earls finalised the rout by crossing in the corner.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell hailed the attitude of his side, saying: ‘I’m really proud of the players. They’ve shown real character.
‘It’s not nice coming off two losses and waiting a couple of weeks to try and put that right. Our attitude was top class.’
IRELAND: Keenan; Larmour (Earls 40min), Ringrose, Henshaw (Burns 71), Lowe; Sexton, Gibson-Park (Casey 63); Kilcoyne (Healy 46), Kelleher (Herring 62), Furlong (Porter 46); Henderson (Baird 63), Ryan; Beirne, Connors, Stander (Conan 63). ITALY: Trulla; Sperandio (Bellini 41), Brex (Mori 67), Canna, Ioane (Lucchesi 69); Garbisi, Braley; Lovotti (Traore 44), Bigi, Riccioni (Zilocchi 44); Lazzaraoni (Cannone 44), Sisi; Negri (Mbanda 75), Meyer, Lamaro. Sin-Bin: Zilocchi, Bigi. Referee: M Raynal (France).