Donnybrook Romp for Ireland A.

22/03/02.The Ireland A side, after a slow start, came good in the second half to record a 59-5 victory over their Italian counterparts at a well attended Donnybrook.

Anyone who turned up expecting a rout were initially disappointed as the Italians gave very much as good as they got.

At the end of a fairly uninspiring first half noteworthy more for handling errors than flowing rugby, Ireland led 12-0 and although they just about deserved that it should really have been closer. Italian out-half Francesco Mazzariol missed two relatively easy penalties unlike his counterpart Paul Burke who landed four from four.

However the Irish were that bit slicker in the second half and had put the result beyond doubt at an early stage with tries from Mike Mullins, Paddy Wallace and Anthony Horgan. After that it wa simply a question of how much the home side would win by and the tries continued to flow.

Victor Costello capped a fine performance with a try as did his Leinster colleagues Bob Casey and Keith Gleeson with Jason Holland completing the try fest.

Just before referee Alan Ireland sounded the final whistle there was a consolation try for the visitors from right wing Fabrizio Casagrande.

Ireland. P Wallace; G D’Arcy, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan (J Bishop); P Burke (J Staunton), N Doak (B O’Meara); R Corrigan, G hickie (J Blaney), S Best (M Horan); L Cullen, B Casey; A Quinlan (A Ward), K Gleeson, V Costello.

Referee. A Ireland (Sco).