Italy make Ireland fight all the way

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Ireland…………………………. 33pts

Tries: Kilcoyne 13, Doris 28, 72; McCloskey 38, Healy 66

Conversions: Crowley 14, 29, 39; Frawley 73

Italy………………………………. 17pts

Tries: Pani 51, Menoncello 68

Conversions: Allan 52, 69

Penalty: Allen 2

IRELAND started and finished strongly but were made to work hard in between times by an Italy side that refused to give this game up as a lost cause.

It came at a massive cost though with Marco Riccioni and Tomasso Menoncello picking up injuries that put their World Cup in doubt.

Meanwhile for Ireland there was the satisfaction of seeing Jack Crowley complete a composed night at the helm at fly-half which, as ever, could be a problem position if Johnny Sexton encounters injury problems at the World Cup.

Italy suffered early dislocationwithNo.8ToaHalafihi injured in the warm-up and then Saracens prop Riccioni was helped off after 10 minutes with a serious looking knee injury. A big blow as Riccioni is the rock around which Italy's scrum is built. An anxious wait beckons ahead of the World Cup.

Despite that they drew first blood with a penalty from Tomasso Allen – playing full-back after a run out at his preferred fly-half position against Scotland last week – but Ireland soon hit their groove and laid siege to the Italy line.

The Italians resisted stoutly but eventually Dave Kilcoyne forced his way over although Ireland might argue that Jack Conan was offside as he paved the way ahead of his prop. No matter referee Mathieu Reynal was convinced, and Crowley added the conversion.

It was all hands to the pumps thereafter for Italy. Former Wasps man Paolo Odogwu making his Italy debut, may have had few attacking chances but he put his body on the line defensively with a couple of vital tackles before departing with a nasty head wound which also saw him fail an HIA. Meanwhile the extremely swift Menoncello just won the race back to his line to beat Jimmy O'Brien to touch down after Keith Earls clever chip ahead.

Power game: Cian Prendergast on the attack

It was one way traffic though and after Danilo Fischetti had been yellow carded for tackling Craig Casey illegally as the Ireland scrum-half attempted to take a quick tap, Italy's reduced pack coughed up a second try when Caelan Doris, playing openside rather than No.8, was sent rumbling over at the next lineout.

And there was more pain before the break. Still down to 14 men, Italy unwisely chose to run from their line, the powerful Stuart McCloskey turned Stephen Varney over and then picked the ball up to force his way over under the posts. Crowley converted to complete a pretty much stress free opening 40 for Ireland. Italy meanwhile looked ragged and stressed and flanker Manuel Zuliani was forced off injured and the squad's captain Michele Lamaro was forced to come on earlier than had been hoped.

Italy looked much sharper after the break and scored a well deserved try from Lorennzo Pani who was on for Ogodwu. The young utility back is a fine prospect, overshadowed perhaps by Ange Capuozzo, but he could feature prominently this Autumn. Anyway he scored in the corner and with Allen converting from the touchline it was game on.

The veteran Cian Healy restored order with a short range try but Italy had the bit between their teeth by this stage and Menoncello capped an excellent personal performance by forcing his way over for a well taken try.

That narrowed the score to 26-17 and kick started a strong Ireland reply which soon resulted in a second try for Doris after good continuity work and recycling under the posts

The game ended on another downbeat note for Italy though with Menoncello a distraught figure when he was helped off just before the final whistle. Comfortably their best back, his emotional exit suggests he knows it's an injury that might yet cost him a world cup. With Capuozzo still not confirmed as fit that's seriously bad news for the Italians and such was the physical damage last night they had no replacements left to bring on for their young centre.