Three Takeaways From Ireland's Sloppy Bonus-Point Win Over Italy
Three Takeaways From Ireland's Sloppy Bonus-Point Win Over Italy
Ireland edged Italy 24-17 in a scrappy Six Nations clash. Handling errors, defensive lapses and Crowley’s kicking struggles stood out in a nervy victory.
Ireland edged past Italy 24-17 in a scrappy Six Nations contest at the Stadio Olimpico, securing a crucial bonus-point win, but leaving plenty of questions unanswered.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Super Rugby Pacific In 2024-25
- Super Rugby Pacific Round 1 | Three Key Takeaways | Strong Aussie Start
- 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List
- The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On March 13 | FloRugby Rankings
Despite flashes of brilliance, particularly from Jack Crowley and Dan Sheehan, Ireland’s performance was riddled with handling errors and defensive lapses.
Meanwhile, Italy will be left frustrated by its ill-discipline, which ultimately cost the Italians a real shot at victory.
Here are the three takeaways from the match:
Ireland Looked Low On Confidence And Inaccurate
Despite securing the win, Ireland’s performance lacked the clinical edge expected from a team chasing the Six Nations title.
Handling mistakes and a lack of cohesion in attack stunted the team's ability to put Italy away convincingly.
While Ireland's forward pack delivered in key moments, particularly in the maul, the overall execution left much to be desired.
Simon Easterby's side will need to improve significantly if they are to get back to their previous heights as the No. 1 team in the world.
Jack Crowley Was Superb In Open Play But Struggled From The Tee
Jack Crowley produced an impressive display at fly-half, dictating play with sharp passing and intelligent game management. His assist for Hugo Keenan’s first-half try was a standout moment, showcasing his ability to break down defenses.
However, his goal kicking proved inconsistent, with several missed conversions keeping Italy within touching distance.
For the Munster pivot, if he is to snatch back the No. 10 shirt from Sam Prendergast, he will need to dial in his consistency in this department.
Italy’s Ill Discipline Cost The Italians A Historic Upset
Italy will be left wondering what might have been after another promising, but ultimately frustrating, performance.
Three yellow cards, including a costly sin-bin for captain Michele Lamaro before halftime, gifted Ireland key opportunities to seize control.
Despite moments of attacking brilliance, particularly from Ange Capuozzo, Italy’s failure to maintain discipline under pressure proved to be the undoing.
If they can clean up their game, they have the potential to challenge the Six Nations’ top teams.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.