Ireland hold off gutsy Azzurri
The defeat ends Italy's hopes of making the quarterfinals, while Ireland are through and remain unbeaten ahead of their crunch clash with France.
I overheard two Irishmen discussing the World Cup at a funeral on Friday and one expressed the hope that Ireland would win.
"No you don't." the other said." If that happens there will be great interest in rugby in Ireland and the youth will want to play rugby, and then where will our Gaelic games be?"
After this display it would seem that Ireland's Gaelic games are safe, for on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium, Ireland did not look like potential winners of the World Cup, scrambling as they were for a victory over Italy.
That said, it was Italy with Sergio Parisse back and Italy with Sergio Parisse back are an entirely different proposition. They play with guts and determination, and more and more the Azzurri, like the Pumas, have gained skills and enthusiasm outside of their pack.
Ireland won 16-9, and but for a brave tackle by Peter O'Mahony and the eagle eye of the TMO, they might not have done even that.
With the score at 10-6 early in the second half, Italy attacked hither and thither through many phases as the Irish defences became ragged. Italy raced down the left of the field with lock Josh Furno on an overlap and not far to go. Furno summoned every bit of speed and ran straight for the left corner, ball in his right arm. O'Mahony came hurtling across seeking to grab Furno at the chest. Both crashed to ground, Furno over the goal-line. The referee consulted the TMO who was able to detect that Furno's right toe had touched the touchline a nanosecond before he grounded the ball – and so a line-out to Ireland instead of a try to Italy.
The only other scoring in the one-try match was from penalty goals. The match was close and it was tough and the harsh upshot was the Italy will play another match and disperse while Ireland will play another match and then head for the quarterfinals. As Paul O'Connell said afterwards: "This was a knock-out match." Italy and England are in the same mournful boat.
It was certainly an intense game in which seemingly small incidents could have big repercussions, most obviously a line-out towards the end of the first quarter.
Connor Murray, the Irish scrumhalf, rolled a kick down into Italian territory. It was Italy's line-out. Usually that would be a throw-in to Leonardo Ghiraldini, one of the best hookers in the world. But he was out, injured. In stead it was the tattooed arms of Andrea Manici that threw in the ball. But the Irish competed. Up went O'Mahony and won the ball in a contest with Parisse and knocked the ball into Murray's arms. Ireland rushed onto the attack. Sexton ran sideways and switched with Robbie Henshaw on a short break and Henshaw gave a short pass to Keith Earls who crashed over for the try.
The Fields of Athenry rung out in London's Olympic Stadium from many Irish throats in enjoyment of this moment.
The game seemed to be running as expected up till then. Italy were full of physical endeavour, Sexton went on a long break and, as the Irish attack slowed down, Italy were penalised. Sexton goaled a penalty but then the Italians went through phases and Jamie Heaslip was penalised. Tommaso Allan, a flyhalf whose Uncle John hooked for Scotland and South Africa, goaled. 3-3 after 14 minutes.
It was expected that Italy would start with zest and then gradually fade away. The fading seemed to be happening with the Irish try and a 10-3 lead after 19 minutes. But the fade did not happen and the battle was still zestful 61 minutes later.
Italy attacked, O'Connell was penalised and Allan goaled. 10-6 after 24 minutes.
Ireland were penalised and Allan kicked out for a five-metre line-out but the throw-in went over the line-out and Ireland burst well out of trouble. In all Italy lost four of their line-outs.
Ireland then went through phases – 13 of them – and when Italy were penalised they kicked out for a five-metre line-out but Italy repelled the maul. Murray knocked on and was then penalised for manhandling Eduardo Gori at the subsequent scrum – and so half-time broke at 10-6.
Early in the second half Furno came close to scoring but Italy did not appear terminally dispirited. They drove a maul downfield, Rory Best infringed and Allan made the score 10-9 after 51 minutes. It was anybody's game.
Ireland went on a long attack while the referee played several instances of advantage and eventually when the penalty was the last resort. Sexton goaled. 13-9 after 57 minutes. Four minutes later Sexton repeated the dose and after 61 minutes the score was 16-9, as it remained to the final whistle.Tthe most notable thing in the remaining time was a yellow card for O'Mahony for charging shoulder-first into defenceless Furno.
The match ended with Irish relief and Italian disappointed.
Man of the Match: The best players in the match had their flaws – Jonny Sexton, Sergio Parisse, Connor Murray, Eduardo Gori. Peter O'Mahony and Tommy Allan, but our choice is a match who had a great match throughout, the energetic 23-year-old lock Iain Henderson.
Moment of the Match: Peter O'Mahony's tackle on Josh Furno.
Villain of the Match: Nobody, not even an accidental one.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Try: Earls
Con: Sexton
Pens: Sexton 3
For Italy:
Pens: Allen 3
Yellow card: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland, 72 – Foul play, dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Nathan White, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Michele Capagnaro, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Angus Gardner (Australia)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
