Ireland Complete The Italian Job

Tries from Malcolm O’Kelly, Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan gave Ireland a 19-3 victory over Italy in Lansdowne Road.

Playing with the near gale-force wind in the opening half, Ireland not surprisingly enjoyed the majority of possession but had to wait until the 26th minute before they opened the scoring. It came from an Italian lineout when O’Kelly stole the throw at the front and plunged over on the right hand side.

O’Gara missed the conversion and saw a penalty effort come back of the left-hand upright before he was on target in the 32nd minute to convert a fine solo effort from Brian O’Driscoll.

Under pressure for most of the second half inside their own 22, Ireland made the most of a rare incursion into the Italian half when O’Gara slipped a pass to Shane Horgan who scored under the posts, although the the Italians will claim that O’Gara’s pass was forward.