Tommy O’Donnell’s first RBS 6 Nations start was one to remember as following his late inclusion in the team, he went on to score the clinching try in Ireland’s 26-3 victory over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.
Ireland made up for a slow start by scoring two converted tries in three second half minutes through Conor Murray and Tommy O’Donnell, all while Italian hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini was in the sin-bin.
Ian Keatley had kicked the visitors into a 12-3 lead before then, landing four successful penalties from four attempts as he enjoyed a solid RBS 6 Nations debut at out-half.
Italy came with a late attacking surge and their new number 10 Kelly Haimona had a try ruled out for a slight knock-on from captain Sergio Parisse, as Ireland managed to keep the hosts try-less in wet conditions.
There was late drama in the Irish warm-up when returning flanker Sean O’Brien twinged his left hamstring. The Tullow man was swiftly withdrawn from the starting line-up, with O’Donnell handed the openside berth and Robbie Diack added to the bench.
O’Donnell was the sixth Irish player to make his first Championship start on the day, alongside Keatley, centres Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw, prop Jack McGrath and number 8 Jordi Murphy, while Munster duo James Cronin and Felix Jones also made their Six Nations bows off the bench.
It was one of the most inexperienced sides fielded by Ireland in recent Championships, especially when you consider the absentees who started last year’s encounter with Italy – Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy, Chris Henry, Andrew Trimble, Gordon D’Arcy, Dave Kearney and the retired Brian O’Driscoll.
The Italians were first to threaten but Luca Morisi was called back for a forward and prop Matias Aguero coughed up two early penalties, the second of which was sent through the posts by Keatley for the opening score.
Although space was at a premium, Payne had a couple of noteworthy carries and Devin Toner rose well to steal an Italian lineout. Still, neither side was able to get into full flow during a scrappy first quarter and a second Keatley penalty – this time from further out (39 metres) – saw him punish a Luke McLean offside for 6-0.
Ireland needed a well-timed tackle by Simon Zebo on Michele Campagnaro to prevent the Italians exploiting an overlap out wide on the right, and Zebo’s wing colleague Tommy Bowe gathered an important high ball under pressure from Italian captain Sergio Parisse.
Individual errors thwarted both sides, particularly knock-ons, and the Irish pack were unable to take full advantage of two promising lineout positions in the hosts’ 22. The second one did at least result in an advancing maul and the net result was three more points from Keatley’s reliable right boot.
The Azzurri managed to get off the mark just before half-time, with Haimona punishing McGrath for sacking a lineout lifter after they had kicked a previous close range penalty to touch.
Leading 9-3 at the break, Ireland lifted the tempo on the restart as Henshaw intercepted a pass and Murphy, who got through a lot of work from number 8, rumbled forward in midfield.
Italy managed to absorb the pressure and centre Campagnaro went close to intercepting a Keatley pass that could have led to a breakaway try. Still, it was Ireland who remained on the front foot and Henshaw had to be hauled down near the left corner after some neat link-up play between Zebo and Payne.
The latter two combined again soon after as Zebo’s long pass released Payne for a run along the left touchline, however a Henshaw fumble at the ensuing ruck took the pressure off the Italian defence.
Peter O’Mahony followed Toner and captain Paul O’Connell in stealing an Italian lineout and with replacement prop Alberto de Marchi penalised for not scrummaging straight, Keatley’s fourth penalty goal restored the nine-point advantage.
Ireland continued to knock on the door with Murray blocking down Andrea Masi’s attempted clearance and the onrushing Bowe just failing to hold onto a flat delivery from Rob Kearney, as he tried to nip through a gap inside the Italian 22.
Into the final quarter, referee Pascal Gauzere lost his patience with the mounting Italian infringements and Ghiraldini was sin-binned for side-entry at a promising Irish maul. The defending champions repeated the penalty-lineout-maul trick and after O’Connell gathered and carriers Murphy and Sean Cronin eeked out a few more metres, man-of-the-match Murray cleverly threw a dummy and burrowed over for the opening try.
Keatley converted and barely two minutes later, a tremendous hand-off and turn of pace from O’Donnell saw the Tipperary man run in his first Six Nations score from all of 40 metres. Ian Madigan, who came on for Keatley, added the extras and suddenly the gap was out to 26-3.
A heavy rain shower coincided with Italy raising their game for a big finish, with the likes of Tommy Allan and McLean popping up regularly in attack. Henshaw did well to bring down the latter out on the right wing and, encouragingly, the fit-again Iain Henderson had a short but effective cameo up front.
Bowe showed his high-fielding skills as he honed in on kicks from replacement half-backs Isaac Boss and Madigan, but Ireland played out the final ten minutes in their own half and their defence was tested as the Azzurri hunted for an elusive try.
The closest they came was from a chip kick which the stretching Parisse just knocked on before Haimona grounded the ball in the left corner. TMO Graham Hughes ruled the try out and Ireland, workmanlike and increasingly effective during an improved second half display, ran out 23-point winners.
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