Here is Gerry Thornley’s match report:
[ Ireland dig deep to see off considerable Italy challenge in Six NationsOpens in new window ]
That’s all folks, have a nice evening!
Johnny Watterson’s player ratings are in - there are a sprinkling of fives and sevens, so a decidedly mixed bag of a day for Andy Farrell’s charges.
[ Irish player ratings as Stuart McCloskey shinesOpens in new window ]
Gerry Thornley’s match report will be along soon, with lots more reaction to the game.
Andy Farrell: “It was a hell of a test match. From our side of things, there are obviously things we need to address as far as errors and getting better, but the story of the match for me is that we showed unbelievable character to come through against a very good Italian side. They don’t go away like they used to do, that’s for sure.”
“The Italians were on top at half-time, and rightly so, but we showed great character to have the fight to get back in to the game, to get control of it. And it shone through again when the Italians came back, when we were defending our own line, the scrum under the posts was immense.”
“It’s unbelievable pride from myself and coaching staff, proud of the fighting spirit. Italy were knocking the door down constantly in those last 10 minutes, but we stood strong.”
Has Jack Crowley played his way in to the team for the game against England?
Peter O’Mahoney on Virgin Media: “He did himself no harm. He made a real impact when he came on, he had his decisions made almost before he had the ball, you could see him get the ball in his hands early and get it to the guys he wanted to get it to. I thought he did himself no harm.”
Conor Murray: “He came in and fitted in to the system, and Andy asks that of his bench players, not to come on and try and pull a rabbit out of a hat, especially at 10. Jack came on and just did his job really efficiently.”
Rob Kearney: “Sam looks like a player who is lacking a little bit in confidence. Jack came on and looked like a player who had so much confidence - he made all the really good decisions, kicked two from two, Sam missed two relatively straightforward kicks, and that often gives you an idea of where a player’s confidence is at. Andy Farrell always says he loves having multiple players going for the jersey, we’re still none the wiser.”
Rob Kearney on Virgin Media: “They would have been nervy taking to the field today because of the nature of last week, the nature of the beating. It’s unusual for this team to have the media, the public a little bit on their backs and not behind them. So it is harder going in to these types of games.”
“I think the story of the match is the bench and the impact they had, particularly around numbers 9 and 10 - I thought when Gibson-Park and Crowley came on, the whole game shifted, the whole tempo of the game changed.”
Captain Caelan Doris: “That was a proper battle the whole way through. That last 10 minute period, we defended quite a bit in our own 22, so I’m happy with some of the character we showed.”
“Italy played some very good stuff and tested us throughout. I feel there’s some stuff we left out there, we weren’t clinical enough, some of our discipline was a little bit off, but it’s definitely pleasing to be on the right side of the result, it’s a good springboard to build on for next week.”
“Intent was definitely the word of the week, and I think we showed more of that in the second half. There was a pretty good feeling in the first half, but there was another step up in the second. Some pleasing stuff in there, but some lessons to be learned as well ahead of going to Twickenham next week.”
Man of the match Robert Baloucoune: “Even to get a chance to get in to the Six Nations camp was unbelievable, but to get to play and score on my Six Nations debut has been unreal. Faz [Andy Farrell] told me to go out there and express myself, and I feel like I’ve done that.”
Full-time: Ireland 20, Italy 13.
They’ve made it. Italy’s unrelenting pressure looked like it might pay off at the death, but a James Lowe interception brought an almighty sigh of relief. All over - but what a slog.
Rob Kearney: “Ireland were lucky, Italy played the better rugby but left a few tries out there.”
79 mins
The crowd has woken up, they’re urging Ireland on - and they need all the urging they can muster. They’re under enormous pressure from a wave of Italian attacks.
Ireland 20, Italy 13
77 mins
Cripes, Tommaso Menoncello was one bounce of a ball away from scoring a try under the posts. It’s all Italy. Stomach-churning.
Ireland 20, Italy 13
74 mins
Rory Best on ITV: “The bench has had a big impact, it’s the speed and certainty Jack Crowley is playing with that allows Ireland to look more dangerous. The scrum is still their Achilles heel and they need to sort that out.”
Italy are piling on the pressure, these final six minutes will, you’d suspect, be excruciating.
Ireland 20, Italy 13
70 mins
What a special moment for Edwin Edogbo, he comes on to make his international debut, replacing James Ryan.
Ireland 20, Italy 13
66 mins
Italy pull three points back through a Alessandro Garbisi penalty. Tom O’Toole comes on for Jeremy Loughman.
Ireland 20, Italy 13
Robert Baloucoune won’t forget this moment in a hurry - neither will we.
62 mins
Jack Crowley knocks over a penalty to give Ireland a 10-point lead. This is much, much better, Ireland have come to life.
Ireland 20, Italy 10
57 mins
Try for Ireland!
Robert Baloucoune on his Six Nations debut! Jack Crowley, who replaced Sam Prendergast, converts to make it 17-10. This is more like it.
Ireland 17, Italy 10
53 mins
Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Beirne and Jamison Gibson-Park are on for Ireland, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy and Craig Casey the men to make way.
Ireland 10, Italy 10
49 mins
Phew - an Italian try is disallowed. It was a great break from Tommaso Menoncello who flung it wide to Louis Lynagh, but the pass was forward.
Ireland 10, Italy 10
43 mins
Try for Ireland!
Jack Conan gives them the perfect start to the second half by driving over after great work from the forwards. That was some half-time team talk from Andy Farrell.
Prendergast misses another very kickable conversion.
Ireland 10, Italy 10
40 mins
Tadhg Furlong is on for Thomas Clarkson, the only change for Ireland at the break. The second half is under way.
Ireland 5, Italy 10.
Half-time: Ireland 5, Italy 10
Italy’s Monty Ioane might just be in trouble after replays showed him throwing a punch at James Ryan as the whistle went for half-time. Hmm, we’ll see if there are any consequences.
Half-time: Ireland 5, Italy 10
Ireland lucky to be only 10-5 down. They had a bright enough start, but Italy were largely on top for those last 15 or 20 minutes. Thus far they’re looking good for their first ever Six Nations win in Dublin.
The one bit of good news is that Craig Casey’s yellow card will stay a yellow after a review, there’ll be no upgrading, mercifully, to a red.
Half-time: Ireland 5, Italy 10
Brilliant from Stuart McCloskey, he turns the ball over and saves Ireland’s skin just as Italy were closing in for another try seconds before the break.
An exhausting first half.
42 mins
Penalty to Italy after they demolish Ireland’s scrum. They kick to the corner.
Ireland 5, Italy 10
37 mins
The Aviva Stadium is eerily quiet, save for some celebratory Italian chanting. Tempers fraying a touch between the sides after Italy win a penalty from a scrum.
Ireland 5, Italy 10
32 mins
Try for Italy.
A yellow card for a bloodied Craig Casey after head contact with Lorenzo Cannone in an upright tackle, and Italy take immediate advantage of their extra man. Ireland can’t hold back their maul and Giacomo Nicotera breaks away to score. Garbisi converts and Italy lead by five. Not good.
Ireland 5, Italy 10
25 mins
A big missed opportunity for Italy, Lorenzo Pani chips over the Irish defence and skips past Sam Prendergast, he collects his own kick but Michele Lamaro knocks on when trying to gather the offload.
Ireland 5, Italy 3
Here’s that Jamie Osborne try.
21 mins
Cormac Izuchukwu is penalised at the lineout and Paolo Garbisi converts the resulting penalty. Scruffy from Ireland.
Ireland 5, Italy 3
16 mins
Try for Ireland! Italy were superbly managing the clock before Lynagh’s return from his yellow card, but Jamie Osborne goes over after great work from Stuart McCloskey. Prendergast misses the conversion.
Ireland 5, Italy 0
15 mins
Ah, Ireland lose possession when they’re just a handful of yards from the line, brilliant counter-rucking from Italy.
Ireland 0, Italy 0
11 mins
Italy’s Louis Lynagh picks up a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on after he tried to get a hand to a looping Sam Prendergast pass.
Ireland 0, Italy 0
10 mins
Safe to say, it’s end to end stuff so far. No end of intent from Ireland, as Andy Farrell demanded, but Italy seeing plenty of the ball too.
Ireland 0, Italy 0
7 mins
A solid start for Ireland’s scrum, Sam Prendergast kicks to the 22 after Danilo Fischetti gives away a penalty by collapsing it. James Lowe is almost in for a try, but Italy hold out.
Ireland 0, Italy 0
Ireland 0, Italy 0
Anthems done and dusted, we’re up and running. Light a candle.
Matt Williams has a message for Irish supporters in the Aviva Stadium today: “Stop constantly getting up to buy pints during play, keep your entitled arses on the seats and help create an atmosphere that will empower the team to display the energy, positive body language and physicality that were non-existent in Paris.”
That’s them told.
[ Moaning suggests Ireland is a nation deluded about its rugby realityOpens in new window ]
Okay, the teams are out.
We have no end of reading for you before the game - and some of it will do nothing for your nerves. Like Gerry reminiscing about Ireland’s 2013 defeat by Italy.
[ Rome revisited: A look back at Ireland’s infamous 2013 defeat to ItalyOpens in new window ]
And John O’Sullivan telling us how the Italians can cause us no little pain today. Thanks John.
[ Key areas where Italy can target Ireland in Saturday’s Aviva Stadium clashOpens in new window ]
If you want to read regular words of wisdom from our rugby crew, sign up to the Irish Times’ weekly rugby digest - The Counter Ruck is delivered every Friday.
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Peter O’Mahony is making his Virgin Media punditry debut today. He’s not convinced he’ll enjoy it, so he might well return to his gardening if today proves to be a grind.
Hollie Davidson will make history at the Aviva Stadium today when she becomes the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations game. Donald McRae spoke to her earlier in the week about her journey through the sport.
Unsurprisingly, after their 18-15 win over Scotland in round one, Italian coach Gonzalo Quesada has stuck with his winning formula, making just one enforced change to his team. Juan Ignacio Brex asked to be excused from the trip to Dublin for family reasons, which have not been disclosed, so Lorenzo Pani comes in at fullback to allow Leonardo Marin switch to centre.
Italy: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolo Cannone, Andrea Zambonin; Michele Lamaro (capt), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo Odogwu.
[ Italy stay with winning formula for Six Nations clash with IrelandOpens in new window ]
Good afternoon, how are the nerves?
Later today, at 4.40 to be exact, Scotland and England square up in Murrayfield, but there’s a fair chance your focus will on the Aviva Stadium at 2.10 when Ireland take on Italy.
After that less than pleasant trip to Paris for the Six Nations’ opener, Andy Farrell made six changes to his side with Ulster pair Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu all set for their Six Nations debuts and Munster lock Edwin Edogbo, named among the replacements, likely to make his international debut.
Farrell wasn’t shy about making some big decisions, among them leaving Josh van der Flier out of his match-day 23 and dropping Tadhg Beirne and Jamison Gibson-Park to the bench.
Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Caelan Doris (captain), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Tadhg Furlong, Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley.
Gerry Thornley takes you through the team…..
… and he heard from Farrell on his selection, the coach confident that “this is the right time” for the likes of Baloucoune, Izuchukwu and Edogbo to get their chance.
Teams:
IRELAND: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Caelan Doris (capt), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Tadhg Furlong, Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley.
ITALY: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Tommaso Menoncello, Leonardo Marin; Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolo Cannone, Andrea Zambonin; Michele Lamaro (capt), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo Odogwu.
