2024 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 1, Orange Vélodrome, Marseille, France February 2, 2024 France vs. Ireland Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park despite mandatory credit for France’s Damien Penault scores his first try ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
photograph: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan, ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Ireland were too good for Italy on Monday with a resounding 36-0 victory at the Aviva Stadium, earning them a bonus point with a 2-2 Six Nations lead and ending their hopes of defending their Grand Slam title. I definitely got it on track.
Andy Farrell made six changes from the team that thrashed France 38-17 a week ago, and although it wasn’t perfect, Ireland managed to flex the depth of their squad, while Italy were the hosts’ could not cope with the big ball carriers and fast pace of the attack.
Dan Sheehan scored two tries and Jack Crowley, Jack Conan, James Rowe and Calvin Nash each scored one try as Ireland moved to the top of the table, two points ahead of England in the table and street.
“Our set-pieces were once again phenomenal. It’s easy when you have a platform like that… I’m happy with the result, but obviously there are some things we need to work on going forward,” Pitch said. Most Valuable Player Lowe said in an interview with Side.
Ireland’s intentions were clear from the start, looking to move the ball as quickly as possible, creating gaps with the speed of the phases and allowing fly-half Crowley to cross over in the eighth minute to score his first international try.
Crowley, looking to take the spot vacated by Johnny Sexton, did not have a perfect performance against France, although he almost gave Italy a comeback with a loose kick. , looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands early on.
Just like in their defeat to England last week, Ireland had to be patient as Italy found their own space. It was once again a superb offload from Crowley as hooker Sheehan scored his fourth and then fifth try in the last three Six Nations matches.
While they had the Italians at their disposal, the hosts were also rough at times, conceding as many penalties as the Italians in the first half. Still, No. 8 Conan’s try effectively put the game out of sight at half-time, 19-0.
Connan was one of six players given the chance to impress early on, with Leinster teammate Ryan Baird in the back row while Craig Casey had a busy game at scrum half. As he played, he did just that.
Elsewhere in the dominant group, Joe McCarthy, the player of the match in Paris, was once again brilliant in attack and defense in just his seventh cap.
While Sheehan grabbed a bonus point in the 50th minute, Ireland were never able to let go and had to settle for tries from James Rowe and Calvin Nash despite Tommaso Menoncello being sin-binned. Suddenly, the benches were empty and the game went into a lull.
At the same time, Italy did not threaten Ireland’s line in the second half.
Full-back Hugo Keenan’s cautious exit from the field in the second half is one of the few positions where Ireland lack significant depth, with Ireland set to face Wales next in two weeks. This is one thing, but it will be the biggest concern.
– Reuters