Ireland v Italy: Match Quotes

While the Irish management and players expressed their relief at leaving Rome with two Six Nations points, most of the post-match talk surrounding the injuries to Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan:

“I’m very pleased we won the game. Credit must be given to Italy because they played very well. They dominated possession in the first half which limited our attacking opportunities.

“But we created three chances and scored from two of them which was very important because it was a difficult first half. We played for position in the second half and it took us 70 minutes to wear this Italian side down.

“The difference in the end was our back line and I thought we did a lot of damage in the outside channel. Peter Stringer’s try came at the right time because it changed the momentum of the game.

“We figured it would take us a bit to wear Italy down – it’s getting longer and longer as the years go by but we eventually got on top of them and I was pleased with our ability to control the game when the scores came.

“Both Brian (O’Driscoll) and Gordon (D’Arcy) have the same injury – both have picked up hamstrings. Gordon when he was running in full flight and Brian in a ruck when he got hit from behind.

“Gordon isn’t good and I think will be under pressure for next weekend. Brian, I don’t know yet. It doesn’t look great to be honest.

“Hamstring injuries are notoriously difficult to treat. We won’t know until they each have a scan but it looks like Gordon could be in trouble for next week.”

Ireland’s first try scorer Geordan Murphy:

“Scotland’s win over France was fortunate and the trend of the game changed with the decision to disallow a Scottish try. That’s as close at it was. If Scotland can play like that in Paris, I’m sure they’ll fancy their chances of doing even better at home. We will have to focus in on that probability and take measures to deal with it.

“We won’t make excuses but it’s always a good thing to have a game under the belt and I’m sure a really physical challenge like that will be of benefit to us.

“There were not too many holes out there but Brian (O’Driscoll), as always, managed to find them. He really is something special and Italy found it very hard to deal with his sniping runs.

Italy coach John Kirwan:

“I asked my players to play at the same level as the other teams in the tournament and I think we did that today. We played very well.

“Eddie O’Sullivan paid us a lot of compliments in the build-up to the match and today was a very good day for experience – we matched Ireland and now we must start thinking about Wales.

“I’m disappointed by the final result but not by the performance – that was a good Ireland display so we can be pleased at they way we played.

“Of the three winners this weekend I believe Ireland have made the most impressive start. I told my team afterwards that they had played well but lost to a very good Ireland side.

”They have key players in key positions and also know how to score tries when the opportunities arise.”

Italy’s try scorer Martin Castrogiovanni:

“We tried our best but it wasn’t good enough in the end. We deserved our try, which was a team score, but it’s just disappointing that we couldn’t get more than one.”

Italy captain Marco Bortolami:

“Although the try Martin (Castrogiovanni) scored in injury time didn’t matter with the Irish too far ahead, it was very important physcologically for us to get that score. It was a reward for the strong, mental attitude we showed throughout the 80 minutes.”