DAN SHEEHAN’S three tries gave the Irish army something to cheer – but little else in a bonus point win that never felt like one.
There was a record breaking traveling support in Rome with around 30,000 Ireland fans making the trip hoping to see a win and miracle Championship victory.
Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick of tries for Ireland against ItalySeb Daly/Sportsfile
Luke Pearce showed yellow cards to THREE Italy players, two of which were upgraded to redSeb Daly/Sportsfile
James Lowe had a try controversially disallowedSeb Daly/Sportsfile
But that the Stadio Olimpico reverberated to the sound of ‘Italia’ in the final five minutes, and then jeers when Sam Prendergast ended the game, told its own story.
The visiting fans left happy with a win, but hardly entertained as Ireland were second best for long periods.
Sure, they could question English referee Luke Pearce for a few decisions.
He correctly disallowed two Ireland tries, but also failed to award one when he did not check the TMO to show James Lowe did not step into touch before passing to Hugo Keenan.
And Ireland had Italy indiscipline to thank for giving them them upper hand as the Azzurri had two yellow cards and one red card.
That final yellow in the final minute to Giancomo Nicotera when he caught Peter O’Mahony on the head in a clearout virtually sealed the Ireland win.
At the time, the visitors were under the cosh and hanging on as the Azzurri chased a try that could have won the game.
Had Italy scored, it would have ended Ireland’s slim Championship hopes in an instant.
As it happens, they should end soon anyway. Either an England win over Wales, or a France win over Scotland, will put everyone out of their misery.
But it could have been worse. Were it not for try scoring machine Sheehan, it would have been. Italy could have won but Ireland held firm in an error strewn performance.
Head coach Simon Easterby could not disguise his annoyance at what he was seeing whenever he appeared on the big screen, though all the Irish fans could empathise.
It was a game where Ireland started slowly, got on top, and then failed to make their domination count.
Italy deservedly went in front with a brilliant move on 12 minutes that allowed Lyon winger Monty Ioane to score.
It was one that annoyed Easterby as centre Menoncello beat Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose and passed to the supporting Paolo Garbisi.
The Italy No. 10 assessed his options and played a perfect grubber kick forward that left wing Ioane was always going to get to before the covering Hugo Keenan.
That got the home crowd going with chants of ‘Italia’ ringing around the Olimpico, and they could have more to cheer as Memoncello created a few more chances with big linebreaks.
But with Jamison Gibson-Park, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan in particular putting their stamp on the game, Ireland began to do more than just survive in the game.
It did lead to a try on 20 minutes off a lineout and five phases as the forwards rumbled forward before Finlay Bealham went over the line.
Referee Pearce, standing a metre away, awarded it until he was correctly informed by the TMO that it was a double move.
TRY AGAIN
Instead, Ireland’s forwards had another chance and went through nine phases before winning a penalty for an Italian offside.
And having given the pack their chance, Ireland’s backs took just one phase to score when Jack Crowley slipped in Hugo Keenan on a set-piece move off the back of the scrum.
Crowley’s conversion levelled up the game and when Italy lost two back rows, having earlier lost second row Dino Lamb, momentum looked to be moving towards Ireland.
Yet, still handling errors and indiscipline cost the visitors.
And then Italy were gifted the chance to go back in front on 33 minutes when Ringrose picked up the ball when in an offside position on the wrong side of a ruck.
Allen made no mistake with a mammoth 50 metre kick and the Stadio Olimpico soon shook to the chants of ‘Italia’ again.
But Ireland held their nerve and it was soon Italy’s turn to make the schoolboy errors.
Peter O’Mahony and Federico Ruzza contest a line-out during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and IrelandRamsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Michele Lamaro inexplicably stuck a hand in to stop Ireland getting quick ball out of a ruck and got one of the dumber yellow cards you will see this season.
Ireland kicked the penalty to touch, won the line-out and then ploughed over for the try through Dan Sheehan.
But the lead was just two points as Crowley made a mess of his conversion attempt right on the stroke of half time.
Still, Ireland had the lead and came out for the second half with a man advantage and all the momentum.
Mack Hansen and Keenan combined well with one good move, before James Ryan and James Lowe both went close in a madcap move that Italy somehow kept out.
But Ireland were not to be denied for long as Sheehan got his second try of the afternoon moments later off yet another set-piece move.
BAD DISCIPLINE
Again, Crowley was off target with the conversion though, with Lamaro about to return from the sinbin, Italy may have taken a seven-point deficit at that stage.
But, they were instantly reduced to 14 men again off the restart when Ross Vintcent caught Keenan with a high tackle, with his yellow later upgraded to a red card.
Peter O’Mahony’s introduction soon after also lifted spirits for the Irish crowd and they then thought the bonus point was wrapped up through Hugo Keenan on 54 minutes.
Yet, even after Crowley had kicked the conversion, the referee went to the TMO to check the build-up and disallow it for a knock-on by Doris.
Still, Ireland were not to be denied a fourth try for a long as – Sheehan – again went over for his third of the afternoon.
Again, it was a pre-planned move. But this time, the hooker joined the backs for a clever move that was not dismissal of Jamie Osborne’s try in Cardiff.
This time, it was Jack Crowley kicking high to the corner where Mack Hansen rose and – basketball style – palmed the ball back inside where Sheehan arrived to run over the line.
Robbie Henshaw, second from left, during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and IrelandSeb Daly/Sportsfile
But if Ireland thought that their work was done, Italy had other ideas and narrowed the gap to five points again on 63 minutes with a flying backline move.
Capuozzo was the architect bursting down the right wing and chasing his own kick forward with the bounce beating both the Italian wing and Hansen.
But it did not beat Stephen Varney racing up in support and he grounded the ball before Allen nailed his conversion to put Italy within touching distance again.
Still, Ireland run the changes as Sam Prendergast and Jack Boyle came on, and they were soon joined by Conor Murray for what was his final Ireland appearance.
Keenan though he had scored a fifth try off Lowe’s pass but the touch judge ruled he had stepped out when he had not. Even with the big screen confirming it, there was no TMO look.
But while that would have won the game for Ireland, the TMO’s intervention in the last minute did settle it as he halted Italy’s drive forward for Nicotera’s careless tackle on O’Mahony.
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