Ireland recorded a big win at home to Italy this morning, scoring six tries in a 36-0 thrashing to put the defending champions on track for an unprecedented back-to-back Grand Slam wins in the Six Nations.
Hooker Dan Sheehan hit two overs, fly-half Jack Crowley, number eight Jack Connan and wingers James Rowe and Calvin Nash scored tries for the first time at Lansdowne Road before last year’s Rugby World Cup. It was a happy return for the Irishman, who had not played in the United States. .
The win, the 19th of 20 home Test matches against the Azzurri, came a week after a 38-17 victory over France and immediately put Ireland on course for another clean sweep in the northern hemisphere tournament.
Ireland have scored at least 50 points against Italy in the last four Six Nations meetings in Dublin and led 19-0 by half-time this morning, with Crowley scoring well on the right in the seventh minute. He scored the first goal.
Sheehan fired into the left corner in the 24th minute after a feed from center Stuart McCloskey, and Connan ducked home from close range in the 37th minute to put Ireland within reach of a bonus point. Ta.
This came after 50 lineouts by Sheehan, who also scored a try against France.
Lowe fended off two challengers to score his fifth try in the 62nd, while fellow winger Nash scored in the 78th.
Ireland manager Andy Farrell said: “I’m fully satisfied and we got what we wanted from this game, a bonus point win.”
“I’m very happy that we were able to keep it to zero, there were some great tries and some great individual performances.
“I thought we tried to be too neat and tidy at times and were just playing around with the shapes when we subdivided them by adding a little bit of individual sparkle.” is needed.”
Italy opened the season with a 27-24 loss to England at home.