Sport

Ireland draw Italian blood in Six Nations

February 07, 2010 Edition 1

DUBLIN - Ireland eased to a 29-11 win over Italy yesterday, in spite of a below-par performance in the opening game of their Six Nations title defence.

Ireland never looked like being beaten at Croke Park, but showed only flashes of their best, mostly from captain Brian O'Driscoll.

Jamie Heaslip and Tomas O'Leary touched down to take the home side to a 23-8 halftime lead, with Italy's only try coming from an uncharacteristic error by Ireland fullback Rob Kearney.

"Italy never gave up, and their defence was really ferocious and stalled us at time," Ireland flanker David Wallace said. "Of course we wanted to score more tries, but that would be a disservice to Italy."

Ronan O'Gara kicked 16 points, but was forced off because of injury, leaving replacement Paddy Wallace to kick the remaining three.

With O'Gara spending the last few minutes with his thigh strapped on the bench, and Jonathan Sexton already out injured, Wallace may stay in the side at tournament favourite France next weekend.

Former Australia rugby league international Craig Gower kicked Italy's other points with two long-range penalties, although the margin of defeat could have been even narrower had the Italians managed to round off a last-minute move engineered by brothers Mauro and Mirco Bergamasco.

Italy could not breach the home defence and the move petered out with no one able to get on the end of Gower's grubber kick.

O'Gara became the first ever player to score 500 championship points with a 10th-minute penalty before Heaslip touched down following a slick move involving Andrew Trimble, Paul O'Connell and Kearney.

Gower responded with his first penalty, but Gonzalo Garcia was yellow carded for a spear tackle on O'Driscoll and O'Leary made use of the extra space to touch down.

Ireland look set to rack up a convincing score, but their momentum was checked when Kaine Robertson charged down Kearney's attempted clearance to touch down at the end of the first half. - Sapa-AP