Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park, Michael Lowry (two), Peter O’Mahony, James Lowe (two), Ryan Baird, Kieran Treadwell score for Ireland; Italy’s Hame Faiva sent off for high tackle on Dan Sheehan, before visitors reduced to 13 after uncontested scrums forced by red card
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 27/02/22 5:07pm
Michael Lowry notched a brace of tries on his Test debut for Ireland as Andy Farrell’s charges registered a 57-6 Six Nations victory over an Italy side reduced to 13 players for nearly an hour at the Aviva Stadium.
Nine tries were scored in total by the hosts through fly-half Joey Carbery, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, full-back Lowry (two), flanker and skipper Peter O’Mahony, wing James Lowe (two), lock Ryan Baird and replacement Kieran Treadwell, with Italy hooker Hame Faiva sent-off for a high tackle on Dan Sheehan in the 19th minute.
The necessity for uncontested scrums as a result of the red card and, an earlier injury to Italy’s starting No 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, then left Italy down to 13 men until the Test’s conclusion, giving the contest a distinctly bizarre feel for much of proceedings in Dublin.
Uncontested scrums and 13 players, Italy were better suited to a rugby league encounter. Instead, they faced an afternoon of toil in the Irish capital, succumbing to an inevitable 35th Six Nations defeat in succession dating back to 2015.
More to follow…