Ireland are on track to win the 2020 Six Nations if they win next weekend after they eased to a 50-17 bonus-point triumph against Italy in Dublin.
The men in green now know if they get a bonus-point win in Paris next week they’ll win the Six Nations.
Man of the match Hugo Keenan scored a debut brace in the first half after CJ Stander darted over in reply to Paolo Garbisi’s early penalty.
Edoardo Padovani intercepted Johnny Sexton’s pass to thretena second-half comeback from Italy, but further tries from Connors, Sexton, Bundee Aki and Dave Heffernan put the icing on the cake for the hosts.
Read on to see out Ireland vs Italy player ratings.
More to follow.
STATS ZONE
- Most tackles: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) -16
- Most missed tackles: Edoardo Padovani (Italy) – 6
- Most carries: CJ Stander (Ireland) – 21
- Most metres: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland) – 106
- Most defenders beaten: Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 3
- Most offloads: Carlo Canna (Italy) – 2
- Turnovers conceded: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland) – 3
RUCK’s Man of the Match: Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
Making hard yards all afternoon, it looked like there was no stopping the speedster as the 24-year-old scored a brace on his international debut. Making 100 metres from his 10 carries, Keenan was very unlucky not to get the hat-trick.
STAR PLAYERS:
Bundee Aki (Ireland) – An absolute monster who got the try his performance displayed. I’d rather have the Covid nasal test every 15 minutes, for a month than tackle, or be tackled, by the powerhouse.
UNDERPERFORMERS:
Carlo Canna (Italy) – The chief Italian playmaker was very sloppy, costing his team three turnovers and missing four tackles.
Ireland vs Italy player ratings
Ireland: Jacob Stockdale 7, Andrew Conway 6, Garry Ringrose 6, Bundee Aki 8, Hugo Keenan 8, Jonathan Sexton (C) 7, Conor Murray 7; Cian Healy 6, Rob Herring 6, Andrew Porter 6.5, Tadhg Beirne 8, James Ryan 7.5, Caelan Doris 7, Will Connors 7, CJ Stander 8
Italy: Jayden Hayward 7, Edoardo Padovani 6, Luca Morisi 6, Carlo Canna 5, Mattia Bellini 5, Paolo Garbisi 7, Marcello Violi 5; Danilo Fischetti 5, Luca Bigi (C) 6, Giosuè Zilocchi 6, Marco Lazzaroni 6, Niccolò Cannone 6, Sebastian Negri 7, Braam Steyn 6, Jake Polledri 7
LIST | 5 retired rugby players who are in the shape of their life
1. Jonathan Davies – 58
Less Guinness and more hard work has seen the former Wales star transform himself during lockdown. He looks incredible!