Seven-Try Ireland Get Back To Winning Ways

Ireland ensured a fitting Aviva Stadium farewell for Brian O’Driscoll as they ran seven tries past Italy for a resounding 46-7 RBS 6 Nations victory.

RBS 6 NATIONS MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: IRELAND 46 ITALY 7

RBS 6 NATIONS VIDEO: BRIAN O’DRISCOLL BRILLIANCE

IRISH RUGBY TV: POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

IRISH RUGBY TV: BRIAN O’DRISCOLL PRESS CONFERENCE

Tries in each half from Jonathan Sexton were added to by efforts from Andrew Trimble, Cian Healy and replacements Sean Cronin, Fergus McFadden and Jack McGrath.

As the Italians tired, Ireland took full advantage to boost their Championship points difference to +81 and tries for tally to 13 which could prove vital in next week’s final round.

In his last Test appearance at Lansdowne Road and on a day when he replaced George Gregan as world rugby’s most-capped player, Brian O’Driscoll’s fingerprints were all over Ireland’s most incisive plays.

He provided the assists for Sexton and Trimble’s first half tries, with Leonardo Sarto sandwiching in an opportunist 25th-minute score for Italy.

Sexton converted both and kicked a penalty for a 17-7 half-time lead. With 53 minutes gone, prop Healy had support from captain Paul O’Connell as he bulldozed through for his third Test try.

A tremendous pass out of contact from O’Driscoll then released the Kearney brothers who sent Sexton over in the left corner in the 60th minute.

The ever-influential centre departed the scene soon after, receiving a rapturous ovation from the crowd as Joe Schmidt unloaded his eager bench.

Those fresh legs certainly made their presence felt in the final quarter as a Rhys Ruddock poach led to hooker Cronin charging through for his maiden international score.

Sexton’s replacement Paddy Jackson landed the tricky conversion and then added the extras to McFadden’s 78th minute surge in beside the posts.

There was still time for young prop McGrath to muscle over in injury-time, his first Test try bringing the curtain down on Ireland’s biggest home win since the old Lansdowne Road was redeveloped.

Ireland gave an early indication of their ambition by running the ball from deep and working a couple of lineout mauls, with O’Connell, Iain Henderson and Devin Toner heavily involved.

An advancing scrum gave the platform for a neat wraparound move outside the visitors’ 22, and O’Driscoll’s lovely return ball sent Sexton past Gonzalo Garcia and darting away to score to the left of the posts.

Sexton converted his seventh minute try and Italy, although they lost key prop Martin Castrogiovanni to injury, recovered well with Michele Campagnaro and Luke McLean posing threats.

Trimble and Rob Kearney both raided into the Italian 22 as Ireland continued to dominate possession in the opening quarter, maintaining a high tempo as they attempted to wear down the Azzurri defence.

Eoin Reddan replaced scrum half Conor Murray, who took a knock to his ribs, and carries from O’Connell and Cian Healy brought Ireland to within metres of the Italian line before Jacques Brunel’s side stung the men in green.

Trimble’s big hit on Paul Derbyshire dislodged the ball but winger Sarto picked up the loose ball near halfway, avoided O’Driscoll’s tap tackle near the left touchline and took advantage of Rob Kearney’s missed tackle and a slip by Dave Kearney to run in behind the posts.

Orquera’s conversion squared things up at 7 points apiece and Ireland were thwarted in their attempts to respond as Jamie Heaslip was held up after Reddan broke from the back of another solid scrum.

They settled for three points from the boot of Sexton before striking a big psychological blow on the cusp of half-time with Trimble stretching the lead out to 10 points.

Chris Henry won the turnover which launched Ireland back downfield and Rob Kearney exploited space having been invited forward from a quick tap penalty.

Ireland’s patient build-up play was rewarded when O’Driscoll – playing in his 140th international game – passed brilliantly under pressure for Trimble to step inside Tito Tebaldi and score his 14th Test try.

Sexton’s successful conversion from the left gave Ireland a further boost, and full-back Kearney increased his influence by wrestling a high ball back on the Irish side early in the second half.

Soon it was O’Driscoll’s turn to show another glimpse of his repertoire, this time staying on his feet to win a ruck penalty.

Italy defended doggedly as they disrupted a couple of Irish mauls, but Reddan’s quick tap saw them lacking numbers and from the ensuing ruck Healy touched down for a 22-7 scoreline.

Cronin, Ruddock and McGrath were immediately introduced and Martin Moore also followed them, with Italy having to absorb further pressure as O’Driscoll got a chance to stretch his legs in the visitors’ half.

The 35-year-old’s final act was a superb one-handed flick pass. Rob Kearney was the grateful recipient and he combined with his younger brother to put Sexton through for his second try of the afternoon.

The crowd were in raptures as they rose to acclaim O’Driscoll as he was replaced by McFadden, the former captain affording himself a smile as he made his way off the pitch.

Jackson also came on for Sexton and with the match slipping beyond Italy’s reach, Ireland seized the opportunity to put further points on the board.

After Gordon D’Arcy and Henry – two players who put in a huge amount of work – were stopped short of the Italian whitewash, a quick turnover from Ruddock set up Cronin for an angled run towards the left corner where he evaded two covering players.

Jackson tagged on a neatly-taken conversion and a fired-up McFadden slipped through for try number six with the extras swiftly added by Jackson.

McFadden was involved again as Ireland, keeping up a searing pace, went in search of a seventh try and it arrived in injury-time thanks to McGrath’s pick and go effort.

It was Ireland’s biggest winning margin at the Dublin 4 ground since the Pacific Islanders visited eight years ago, and marked their best result against Italy since a 2003 Rugby World Cup warm-up game in Limerick (61-6).

More importantly in the context of this year’s Six Nations, Schmidt’s men have strengthened their position at the top of the table as thoughts turn to next Saturday’s final showdown with France in Paris.