Rampant Ireland in a league of their own after Six Nations rout of Italy

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Ireland’s bid for a second successive grand slam continued in emphatic fashion with a six-try demolition of Italy that underscored their status as Six Nations favourites.
After England laboured to victory over the Azzurri in Rome in round one, there were hopes that Gonzalo Quesada’s improving team might pose Ireland a few questions here in Dublin.
But the visitors were completely outclassed as Andy Farrell’s men, fresh from their stunning victory over France in Marseille, showed England how to despatch inferior opposition.
They did not even need to be at their best. Three tries in each half – a brace from hooker Dan Sheehan and one each from Jack Crowley, Jack Conan, man-of-the-match James Lowe and Calvin Nash – put the visitors to the sword, with the Italians barely venturing into Ireland’s 22m.
England’s new-look blitz defence has been much in the spotlight in the opening two rounds. It is sure to be tested to the absolute max at Twickenham on March 9.
First England have to get past Scotland at Murrayfield. Ireland, meanwhile, will fancy their chances against Wales here in Dublin in a couple of weeks.
More to follow…
Scoring: 5-0 Crowley try; 10-0 Sheehan try; 12-0 Crowley con; 17-0 Conan try; 19-0 Crowley con; 24-0 Sheehan try; 29-0 Lowe try; 34-0 Nash try; 36-0 Byrne con
Ireland: H Keenan (H Byrne 56), C Nash, R Henshaw (J Larmour 64), S McCloskey, J Lowe, J Crowley, C Casey (J Gibson-Park 73); A Porter (J Loughman 56), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 56), F Bealham (T O’Toole 56), J McCarthy, J Ryan (I Henderson 61), R Baird (J van der Flier 66), C Doris, J Conan
Italy: A Capuozzo, L Pani (F Mori 58), J I Brex, T Menoncello, M Ioane, P Garbisi, S Varney (M Page-Relo 58); D Fischetti (M Spagnolo 56), G Lucchesi (G Nicotera 56), P Ceccarelli (G Zilocchi 40), N Cannone, F Ruzza, A Izekor, M Zuliani (R Vintcent 70), M Lamaro
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
That went largely as expected, but Italy – after such attacking positivity last weekend – will be gutted to be leaving Dublin with nul points.
Tom Cary’s report from Dublin is above and we’ll be bringing you more coverage throughout the week, reacting to events in round two. All the action will be dissected in the Telegraph Rugby Podcast on Monday, too.
A reminder that there are no fixtures next weekend, but the following week, for round three, we’ll see:
Will both England and Ireland end round three unbeaten?
Just Ireland and England unbeaten after two rounds.
We’re happy enough. We got what we wanted, a bonus-point win, and keeping them to zero is very pleasing. Some nice tries and performances out there. It got a bit clunky in parts. They’re tricky to play against and they’ve changed the way they play.
I thought we were too tidy at times, playing shape when we brought them down with a bit of individual brilliance. We need to back ourselves.
Craig [Casey, scrum-half] always does well. He’s been around the squad for some time now and it was good to get him 70 minutes after he’s spent a lot of time on the bench. 
James Lowe played very well but I think our scrum was man of the match, to be fair. A lovely weapon; and we backed up our line-out performance from last week, too.
61 per cent to Ireland; 39 per cent to Italy.
But the Azzurri managed just two entries to the Ireland 22. Conversely, the hosts were unbelievably clinical on their visits to the Italian 22.
It’s nice to be back and we’re pleased with the result. But a few things to work on going forward. Looking forward to the week off.
[With the number of changes to the team] It shows how well the provinces are doing. There was no chunky play. The set piece was phenomenal. It was easy when the platform is like that.
We put ourselves under pressure with mistakes and compounding errors. It’s not ok but going forward it’s what we have to work on. We can’t give teams that easy access.
I’m doing a good job in the maul [jokes] and Sheehan has been able to pick up the pies.
That is the first nil in the championship since 1987.
Ireland are not easing up ☘️Calvin Nash caps off another beautiful Irish move 😍#ITVRugby pic.twitter.com/ZC60Tz9lon
Zombie by the Cranberries kicks in at the Aviva and Ireland are two from two.
The back-to-back Grand Slams are looking good.
It is ruled out, correctly. There was a small knock-on from the scrum-half.
Not quite from the maul, but Gibson-Park darts over.
Hang on, it looks as though he’s knocked that on. We’re checking upstairs…
Another penalty to Ireland and the hosts will go back to the corner.
What price for a maul score to finish?
That’s a glorious strike from Crowley, from the touchline on his wrong side.
Ireland want another! Izekor catches McCloskey high from the restart and, with the clock in the red, Ireland will throw in inside the Italian half.
Inevitable. Ireland, with Van der Flier and Gibson-Park instrumental – along with a tidy McCloskey offload – ends with the scrum-half giving the scoring pass to the wing.
Nash still has a bit of work to do and steps off his right foot to leave the covering Italian defence for dead in the corner.
Italy have lost quite a bit of direction here. Their attack loses bite, and Garbisi throws a speculative, looping pass to Menoncello on halfway which ends with a knock-on/forward pass of sorts as the centre tries to bat in-field.
The Azzurri have been well beaten today.
Gibson-Park and Byrne combine dangerously in midfield but Larmour throws a forward pass. Italy, whose scrum has improved this half, will put in just inside their own half.
Congratulations to flanker Ross Vintcent, of Exeter Chiefs, who comes on for his Italy debut.
His first job is try and track back and prevent a Lowe line-break. Italy just about get back to prevent the try and win the penalty.
That was delightful from Byrne to Lowe.
… has been abysmal.
Back to the game.
Ireland do have their fifth this time! Great power shown by James Lowe to get over the line 💪#ITVRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/qCBfodX5Ae
Another neck-roll from Ireland, Larmour this time, as the hosts are penalised at the ruck.
Garbisi kicks down to the Irish 22 and Italy will be restored to a full complement.
But it’s another ropey Italian line-out and Ireland clear.
Italy just don’t have the firepower to compete with 15, so they’re struggling even more with 14.
Capuozzo thinks he’s spotted a half-gap but he forces the offload and Mori cannot scoop up off the deck.
Scrum Ireland and they earn a free-kick for an early Italian engagement.
What a finish. Lowe had no right to get in from there, with a McCloskey pass putting him a pocket of space down the left.
He rides the challenge of Capuozzo, then of Ioane and Nicotera to finish with an outstretched arm.
Italy really are not helping themselves. First of all, there’s a line-out loss; secondly, Garbisi kicks out on the full after it was taken back into the 22 by Italy.
Ireland throw in inside the Italy 22…
There was a trip from Menoncello on Lowe after that interception and the Italy centre will spend 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Ireland go to the corner, but it’s an uncharacteristic error from Henshaw, whose pass to Harry Byrne – on for Keenan, with Crowley shifting to 15 – is over his shoulder.
Scrum to Italy… and it’s a penalty to the Azzurri, with all the props changed.
That’s a silky first-phase move from Italy, sending Garbisi away in the 13 channel.
But just as the Azzurri were building, Lowe intercepts a Garbisi pass.
Italy get back well to win the holding-on penalty, however, but Pearce is going back upstairs…
Yep, Henshaw is adjudged to have wriggled on his knees before placing but it was the right call from the officials in the end.
The centre, still in the same move, after sundry phases, Henshaw dummies a wrap-around and finishes off.
It looked like a double movement to me, though.
Hang on, Pearce is going upstairs…
Ireland are having some fun now. Sheehan sniffs a hat-trick but a stunning Varney tackle brings him down just short.
But what a read and hit that is from Brex on Casey. Ireland do superbly to recycle but Italy have repelled the hosts considerably.
Ireland still fancy it, though…
A second miss of the day for Crowley, from the wrong side. It won’t matter.
It’s a second for Sheehan and it’s a routine maul score. Almost identical to his try in Marseille last week.
A very poor first-phase move from Italy ends with the back three having to retrieve a Lowe kick inside their own 22. Thankfully, the Italian clearance was touched in flight so they throw into the line-out.
But that’s a shocking throw from Lucchesi and Ireland get the scrum. Zilocchi is penalised and Ireland go to the corner.
Italy must be close to a yellow.
A dodgy couple of minutes for Baird here: firstly, he was offside from the scrum and secondly he gives away a neck-roll penalty at the breakdown.
Garbisi gives Italy a line-out on the Irish 10-metre line.
Zuliani with awesome feet in midfield and Italy sense an opportunity. Brex puts boot to ball, however, and Lowe absolutely pings the ball back downfield. Italy lose the inevitable kick-tennis bout and Ireland will throw in close to halfway.
A bit wasteful from Ireland, for the first time in the game. Nash chips into the Italy 22 but Capuozzo gathers with ease.
We’re back under way in Dublin. No changes to either side except for Zilocchi coming on for Ceccarelli at tighthead.
Did Sheehan think the five-metre line was the tryline here?
The Italy defence did all they could, but Ireland have their third try of the half! 🏉🏉🏉Ireland are cruising 😮‍💨#ITVRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/KuvNUML4gQ
Absolutely brilliant! 👏Stevie Mulrooney, the star of the Toy Show, sings Ireland’s Call in front of a sold out Aviva Stadium.Fantastic. 💚#IREvITA | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/y8ftVi7MzJ
Italy secure possession and put the ball out for half time.
Ireland with three tries, Italy without a point. One more for a bonus point for the hosts.
Ireland have dominated territory and  they have been ruthless. There have been errors but whenever they’ve got into the Italian 22 they have come away with a try. Italy have played some nice rugby a times but it has been all on halfway. Except one penalty miss by Garbisi, the Azzurri have not come close to scoring.
Meanwhile, on an ITV advert, Lawrence Dallaglio is topless for some reason.
A peach of a line is picked by Baird and his athleticism is quite something. Ireland recycle and kick long, forcing Italy to throw in on their own five-metre line.
 
Another sweet strike from Crowley and Ireland have a 19-point lead.
On the back of a maul, Sheehan takes Ireland to within four metres. McCarthy gets up to the line. Bealham has a go from close range before Conan punches his way over.
In general play – scrum aside – there has not been too much in this first half. But Ireland are just absolutely lethal when they get into the opposition 22.
Another scrum penalty to Ireland, with Bealham getting really stuck into Fischetti. Referee Pearce is going to have to have a chat with Italy at some stage, as Ireland go to the corner.
Another Ireland scrum pen and they kick to the corner.
But Italy’s defence is aggressive once again. A ferocious counter-ruck results in Lamaro coming up with the ball but the Italian skipper knocks it on in the process.
Ireland scrum, centrefield, between the Italian 22 and 10m lines.
Ireland are really getting into Varney’s box-kicking but Lowe is penalised for going off his feet at the breakdown and Italy kick to touch – but they have lost the line-out.
Capuozzo has an attacking burst from deep after Ireland clear but there’s a knock-on as the offload is attempted. 
Scrum Ireland.
Liquid rugby 😍The offloads. The movement. Beautiful from Ireland ☘️#ITVRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/UEQyZ6Kh79
Great rugby all round.
It ends with a holding-on penalty won by loosehead Fischetti, formerly of London Irish.
Until then, there was some gorgeous handline from Ireland, with McCloskey and Lowe combining elegantly down the right.
But that was decent defensive work from Italy because Ireland were purring.
A lovely strike from wide on the left.
Strange try! Ireland go through the phases with penalty advantage from the scrum, with Crowley putting Keenan through a hole with a sumptuous no-look pass.
Eventually, it’s just a case of numbers, with Ireland using an overlap. Sheehan has a walk-in down the left but delays putting the ball down and risks being held up by Capuozzo. Thankfully for Ireland, there was a size mismatch.
Cannone and Fischetti showing excellent defensive endeavour after Varney is charged down by Sheehan, but the Italian loosehead is too quick for his own good, getting off the line to hit Doris but also knocking the ball on in the process.
Ireland will put in just inside the Italy half.
Italy work through the phases but Baird gets off the line to fluster Garbisi, and Varney decides to chip down into the corner. Keenan, under pressure, clears impressively, but Italy sniff a counter. Capuozzo goes for the kick-pass, however, but he over-cooks it to Pani and the ball sails out on the full.
Early Irish pressure pays off 👏Jack Crowley goes over inside the first ten minutes #ITVRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/mPQ3wTvNll
Turnover Italy! The visitors sense a smidgen of space down the left but they cannot quite make the most of it. Garbisi flashes Italy back right, to the openside, but Ioane’s pass is a poor one and allows Lowe to make a turnover on the ground – and Ireland clear.
Italy come back through Ioane and Garbisi, however, and Porter does not release while attempting to play the ball.
The Azzurri go to the corner!
Lowe runs a hard line but the wing is so tight and the Italian defence reads it well, forcing a knock-on.
The Azzurri put into the scrum, earn a free-kick, and clear into Ireland’s half.
Lowe fancies a counter, though!
Huge defence from McCarthy and he sends Garbisi back from whence it came, forcing the breakdown penalty.
Ireland kick to the corner, and there’s a deliberate knock-on from Lucchesi as Casey was looking to play, so it’s another penalty to the hosts.
Back to the corner they go…
Crowley’s attempt is similar to Garbisi’s, keeping low, and it’s unsuccessful in the Dublin wind.
Ominous. But it is dashing attacking play from Ireland, who go virtually the length of the field to score.
After Keenan’s counter, Henshaw was influential, busting through gaps. Bealham thrusts, before Ireland work the short side, under direction from Crowley, and it’s the fly-half himself who crosses for his first international try – in fact, his first senior try. He’s never scored for Munster, either.
It’s incredibly windy in Dublin and Garbisi keeps it low – or, at least, it stays low whether the fly-half intended it to or not. The trajectory is ugly but it almost limps off. Alas…
And Keenan is off on the counter!
Some tidy phase play from the Italians ends with Henshaw competing for the ball off his feet at the ruck.
Garbisi and Lamaro  -the latter at eight rather than his usual seven today – point to the sticks and Italy have a chance for an early lead.
First blood Italy!
There’s a nifty little attack from the Azzurri with Garbisi on the wrap-around but after two Ireland clearance kicks, Casey puts one out on the full.
Italy win the line-out and off they go again ball in hand.
Paolo Garbisi will get us under way.
Luke Pearce is the referee – his 50th international.
A lot of chat pre-match about the (sometimes) disappointing atmosphere here at the Aviva Stadium. Too many prawn sandwich-munching corporates etc. It doesn’t feel as if today’s game is going to be one to disprove that notion. These handshakes are going on forever and the vibe is fairly flat. There’s a definite feeling that this game is a bit of a foregone conclusion, with complacency the main threat to Ireland. In some respects Farrell’s men can’t really win today. Trounce Italy with a bonus point and everyone will question whether Italy should still be playing in the Six Nations. Fail to do so, and Ireland will be criticised for taking their foot off the gas. 
Customary Italian tears followed by the Irish double.
For my money, Amhrán na bhFiann is far superior to Ireland’s Call, too.
But there is what can only be described as a small child singing the latter and he’s absolutely belting it! Good on him!
And the anthems are next.
If you haven’t seen much Irish or Italian rugby of late, then it will be worth you keeping an eye on lock Joe McCarthy and centre Tommaso Menoncello (I won’t patronise by telling you which plays for which team!)
If you have watched plenty of rugby in the last 18 months, then you’ll be well aware of their talents. McCarthy is a dynamic, rampaging lock who likes to hit hard; Menoncello is a punchy inside centre who Italy hugely missed at the World Cup.
Ireland head coach, Andy Farrell:
It’s been a thorough week and one where everyone has been honest. A tough week, actually, because everyone is desperate to keep improving
[On the six changes] It’s about being the best version of themselves for the team, backing themselves when they put the green shirt on.
Italy head coach, Gonzalo Quesada:
I don’t know a game that is harder than Ireland away – at least in the northern hemisphere. But it’s an amazing opportunity. We’ve had some important injuries. There are plenty of things that aren’t ideal but I’m super excited to be here and I think we’ll be better than last week. We have to be more consistent, our discipline will be key, we can’t give easy points to Ireland and go to the hose moments where they get confident and go into their plan.
Were you there yesterday? Did it feel more vibrant and intoxicating?
Joshua Hughes went as a fan – and this is what he saw.
We have quite a bit for you to catch up on.
Firstly, France got their championship back on track (sort of) with a four-point win over Scotland at Murrayfield. You can read all about the late controversy there by clicking here.
Then, at Twickenham, England recorded a two-point victory over Wales, ensuring they are two from two in this year’s championship. The defence at times was excellent but at times struggled; here is Will Greenwood’s assessment on why we need to be patient with it.
England favourites for the title, then?
But no team has ever managed consecutive Grand Slams in the Six Nations era. Ireland could move a step closer toward doing that today, with victory over Italy at the Aviva.
The last time it occurred in the championship was France in 1997 and 1998.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan.Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne, Jordan Larmour.
Italy: Ange Capuozzo; Lorenzo Pani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Izekor, Manuel Zuliani, Michele Lamaro.Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Ross Vintcent, Martin Page-Relo, Tommaso Allan, Federico Mori.
Referee: Luke Pearce
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s coverage of this weekend’s third and final Six Nations match, between Ireland Italy in Dublin.
Is there anyone predicting anything other than a comfortable win for the Irish, now favourites for the title and one of only two teams – alongside England – who could theoretically achieve the Grand Slam? If so, let’s hear from you! Certainly, anything other than a commanding win for Andy Farrell’s side would be a turn up for the books. Italy showed bright patches with the ball against England in Rome last weekend but without it they were squeezed by Steve Borthwick’s side. The Azzurri, too, have never won in Dublin in the Six Nations era.But Farrell has made some changes, selecting 24-year-old Munster half-backs Jack Crowley and Craig Casey to start together for just the second time in an Irish jersey. Crowley, the heir apparent to Jonathan Sexton, started in Ireland’s victory over France in Marseille in round one but this will be his first test with an inexperienced half-back partner. Ireland have changed a few for this visit of the Azzurri, which will give the visitors hope.Caelan Doris was touted as a potential successor to Sexton as Ireland captain and a calf injury for new skipper Peter O’Mahony means the 25-year-old has the chance to lead his country for the first time just two games into the post-Sexton era. Doris made his debut in the opening Test of Farrell’s reign in 2020 and has since developed into a genuine world-class talent. He switches from No 8 to openside flanker today, a position from which he scored two tries during Italy’s last visit to Dublin in August.All the team news is next, with Ange Capuozzo back from illness to strengthen the visitors, Italy are missing influential back-row forwards Sebastian Negri and Lorenzo Cannone due to injury.