IRE
No.Name
15Simon Zebo, -
14Andrew Trimble, -
T
13Jared Payne, -
T
12Robbie Henshaw, -
11Keith Earls, -
10Johnny Sexton, -
3
9Conor Murray, -
1Jack McGrath, -
T
2Rory Best, -
3Mike Ross, -
4Donnacha Ryan, -
5Devin Toner, -
6CJ Stander, -
T
7Josh van der Flier, -
8Jamie Heaslip, -
T
2
Replacements
16Sean Cronin, -
T
17Finlay Bealham, -
18Nathan White, -
19Ultan Dillane, -
20Rhys Ruddock, -
21Kieran Marmion, -
22Ian Madigan, -
T
2
23Fergus McFadden, -
T

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Aviva Stadium
8:30 AM, March 12, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say straight from the Aviva:

"Well, what a difference 80 minutes can make. Ireland have trounced Italy and any murmurs of head coach Joe Schmidt's selection have seemingly disappeared. In truth, the Azzurri were awful for the majority and made it easy for the Irish to regain some much-needed confidence on the ball. That rip-roaring attack was back in style as Ireland put nine tries away -- and probably should have had a few more. St Patrick's Day will no doubt be a delight on Thursday -- next week's opponents Scotland may well be shaking in their boots. "
81'Ireland just can't find that opening and they'll have to settle with just the nine tries today...FULL TIME
81'+158-15 End of second half
80'Cronin's looking for Ireland's 10th and nearly has it, but is just brought down just a few metres shy of the try line!
80'58-15 Conversion - Ian Madigan , Ireland
79'56-15 Try - Fergus McFadden , Ireland
78'IRELAND TRY!

Good work from Ireland -- and in particular Madigan -- but it's McFadden who splits the Italian line and runs home. Italy have played well in phases, but really can't defend.
77'Henshaw and Madigan combine well down the left, and we're at phase nine. Ireland pushing.
75'Ireland trying to repair the damage of that second Italian try straight away by looking for their own. Urgency is still a feature of their play, despite the scoreline. Earls a standout.
75'51-15 Try - Leonardo Sarto , Italy
74'ITALY TRY!

Italy have battled well during the past few moments and they've got their rewards. Great, long pass from the scrumhalf finds Sarto down the right flank who is in acres of room and has the easy job of guiding it home.
73'And that is exactly what hasn't happened. Italy have stolen the ball back off the Irish and are now looking for another pride-restoring try.
72'Italy let the scrum slip and Ireland are back to their usual. Time to escape their own half.
72'Player substituted - Andrea Lovotti , Italy
72'Substitute on - Matteo Zanusso , Italy
72'Player substituted - Jared Payne , Ireland
72'Substitute on - Fergus McFadden , Ireland
70'They battled well there, shifting it constantly from left to right and then back again. They've gone from half way to the 22, but the ref's blown for the advantage, in the away side's favour. Italy scrum.
69'Phase 17 for Italy, still try looming...
68'Italy's turn to attack as they're moving the ball with pace and making some good ground here... Try looming, perhaps?
66'Scrum now, just along half way.
66'Substitute on - Finlay Bealham , Ireland
66'Player substituted - Jack McGrath , Ireland
65'Ooo, Madigan's missed the kick.
64'IRELAND TRY!

Wave after wave of Irish attack. Madigan this time the one to add the extra points. Nice footwork from the replacement to split the Italian defence down the left flank.
64'51-10 Try - Ian Madigan , Ireland
63'Ireland eventually erupt victorious from the scrum, and are pushing again in the Italian 22. They all want a piece of the action!
62'Substitute on - Alberto Lucchese , Italy
62'Player substituted - Guglielmo Palazzani , Italy
62'Player substituted - CJ Stander , Ireland
62'Substitute on - Rhys Ruddock , Ireland
61'Nearly an Irish try!

Cronin again shows his pace and splits the Italian line, sprints 30 or so metres before offloading right. A couple more ball carries from Irish players and it's not long before Toner is putting the ball on the ground, supposedly. TMO is required and it's not been given. Scrum now.
60'Player substituted - Edoardo Padovani , Italy
60'Substitute on - Luke McLean , Italy
60'Player substituted - Conor Murray , Ireland
60'Substitute on - Kieran Marmion , Ireland
59'Ireland penalised for tackling offside and Italy have the penalised, which has been punted for the corner.
59'46-10 Conversion - Kelly Haimona , Italy
58'46-8 Try - David Odiete , Italy
57'ITALY TRY!

And they've hit back with one of their own. Italy are awarded the penalty, Padovani takes it quickly, bashes his way to the tryline but Odiete's required to slot the ball down. Ireland's concentration slipped for a second and they've been punished.
56'And we've got another scrum now. Italy's turn.
55'Player substituted - Devin Toner , Ireland
55'Substitute on - Ultan Dillane , Ireland
55'Player substituted - Mike Ross , Ireland
55'Substitute on - Nathan White , Ireland
55'Substitute on - Kelly Haimona , Italy
55'Substitute on - Oliviero Fabiani , Italy
55'Player substituted - Gonzalo Garcia , Italy
55'Player substituted - Davide Giazzon , Italy
55'Substitute on - Pietro Ceccarelli , Italy
55'Player substituted - Dario Chistolini , Italy
55'46-3 Conversion - Ian Madigan , Ireland
54'44-3 Try - Sean Cronin , Ireland
53'IRELAND TRY!

Just as I was about to type that the scrum's settled proceedings, Sean Cronin -- who has only just come -- has great pace for a hooker and has split the Italian line and joined the try-scoring club. Italy just falling apart now.
50'Murray tries the dummy pass, and he's almost through, but the ref brings it back eventually for the penalty. Scrum Ireland.
50'Substitute on - Sean Cronin , Ireland
50'Player substituted - Rory Best , Ireland
50'Substitute on - Ian Madigan , Ireland
50'Player substituted - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
50'39-3 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
49'37-3 Try - Jamie Heaslip , Ireland
48'IRELAND TRY!

Ireland forced the lineout from 5m, worked it well inside and Heaslip was the scorer, just under the posts!
47'Ireland with it now, and they're pushing well...
45'Odiete finally penetrates down the left flank, but he's quickly brought back. Italy still with it, though.
44'Italy are straight back at it though, grafting away. Much like the first half, they've got the ball in hand, but they just can not find that opening. Bash and barge...
44'32-3 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
43'30-3 Try - Jared Payne , Ireland
42'IRELAND TRY!

Easy. Payne intercepts the second Italian pass off the scrum is away with it. So poor from the Azzurri.
42'ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say straight from Dublin...

"On a beautifully sunny day in Dublin, there could well be cause for a party. Ireland have stunned Italy with some fluent, slick passing after almost being shellshocked in the opening two minutes. If only the Azzurri had been quicker with their passing, Gonzalo Garcia may have crashed over in time. Instead, Ireland have run riot with Andrew Trimble, Jack McGrath, CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip -- the last possibly the try of the tournament from their own 20m line -- all dotting down to lift the spirits around the Aviva Stadium. Joe Schmidt's team selection heavily verified from Ireland's best half of the Six Nations so far - not even wayward kicking from Sexton has dampened the atmosphere. "
41'We're already into the first scrum of the half... Italy to feed.
41'HALF TIME
41'Player substituted - Fergus McFadden , Ireland
41'Substitute on - Robbie Henshaw , Ireland
41'+125-3 End of first half
40'We're back underway here in Dublin.
40'Some superb rugby down the right flank from Ireland, their passing in that move was timed to perfection. Zebo's nifty offload to Keith Earls was a highlight but the entire team interchanged tremendously well. Italian tacklers repelled off the bombarding Irish bodies very easily - arguably too easy - and Heaslip nailed it home in the left corner. Fantastic move.
40'25-3 Start of second half
40'25-3 Try - Jamie Heaslip , Ireland
39'IRELAND TRY!

WHAT A TRY. Let me just catch my breathe and I'll somehow try to explain how good that was...
38'Another carry from CJ Stander as Ireland look to push the Italian's back.
37'Italy on the attack again, and once again really struggling to get past the Irish 22 mark. Left, to right, and then back again. No matter what wing they try, they're still struggling to find that gap.
37'Player substituted - Robbie Henshaw , Ireland
37'Substitute on - Fergus McFadden , Ireland
36'Ref blows his whistle, Italy surrender the advantage as Ireland have the scrum. Sloppy lineout.
36'Player substituted - George Biagi , Italy
36'Substitute on - Braam Steyn , Italy
35'Understandably, they've opted for the corner.
34'That being said, Ireland are penalised for hands in the ruck and they have the chance for points from this penalty kick, that's if they decide to go for the sticks rather than the corner...
33'Scrum for Ireland just on their 22 mark. In fairness to Italy, they've stood their ground for most of this game, they're just lacking that creative streak to pave wave for scoring opportunities.
31'Sexton has a 37m kick to add the extra points...
30'IRELAND TRY

Sexton's magical hands paves the way for Ireland to nail home another try. Trimble and Earls heavily involved down the right flank, but it's CJ Stander who polishes off Sexton's work down the right.
30'20-3 Try - CJ Stander , Ireland
29'Throw, catch, pass, pass again, kick up field and out. Ireland turn for lineout now.
29'Player substituted - Fergus McFadden , Ireland
29'Substitute on - Andrew Trimble , Ireland
28'Sexton kicks into the corner for Earls to chase, but he can't make it. Lineout.
27'The second row duo of Toner and Ryan carry the ball hard and fast into the Italian line, and Ireland have built it phase nine. They're pushing again, just outside the Italy 2..
27'Substitute on - Quintin Geldenhuys , Italy
27'Player substituted - Marco Fuser , Italy
27'15-3 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
26'Nails it. 12 point advantage again!
25'Ref's blown his whistle and Ireland have the penalty. Right in front of the sticks, about 35m out. Sexton wants this one, but looked for a moment that he was lining up the corner for a lineout opportunity...
24'Ireland are pushing well, firmly in the Italian half and attacking with pace. Zebo the man with the ball here, can they make something of it...
24'12-3 Penalty goal - Edoardo Padovani , Italy
22'Italy have the penalty and the chance for few points now after Ireland are penalised for hands in the ruck!
21'And now we're into the scrums again. Italy to feed.
21'Substitute on - Fergus McFadden , Ireland
21'Player substituted - Andrew Trimble , Ireland
20'Italy still pushing, ball remains inside the Irish 22, just...
19'
18'They've kicked it long now though, Ireland have the lineout from 5m in their own half.
17'Italy try their own version, and it's paid off so far, they've gone from their 22 to just outside the Irish 22 in about 30 seconds. Nice passing.
16'Ireland have been pinned back in their own half, but some superb swift passing opens up the right flank for Earls to make a good 10 metre gain. Italy aren't playing very well at the minute.
15'Sexton makes it 1 out of 2 for his kicks.
15'12-0 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
15'10-0 Try - Jack McGrath , Ireland
14'IRELAND TRY!

Scrum works well for the Irish and after a couple of simple ball carries from the pack, McGrath is the man to guide the ball over the line. TMO is required, but nothing changes, Ireland have the extra five points.
13'Not yet. Gaps are opening for Italy as Henshaw tries another kick, but Palazzani again is there to save the day.
12'Ireland bringing ball into battle, CJ Stander currently the standout performer from the pack. The home side have the ball in hand just out the Italy 22. Can they break it down?
10'Ireland turned defence into attack very quickly there, and just when Earls looks to be the favourite to slot home Ireland's second try, Palazzani just manages to get there first ahead of the centre!
9'Earls vs. Palazzani sprinting race, chasing down Henshaw's long kick...!
7'IRELAND TRY!

First opportunity, first try. Sarto tries a cheeky basketball-style pass back to his teammate but fluffs it into Irish hands. Easy couple of passes and Ireland have the first five points.
7'5-0 Try - Andrew Trimble , Ireland
6'Schmidt's side have forced themselves into the Italian half now, chance to pounce...

5'Scrum doesn't offer too much for the Italian's despite being inside the Irish 22. Sexton latches on to the loose ball and kicks up field to release pressure. Lineout Italy.
4'Italy had a shout for a try there but ball carrier Mattia Bellini is deemed to have been in touch when he planted the ball down. Italy looking the more threatening so far and the Irish are currently on the back foot.
3'The lineout hasn't resulted in much apart from forcing a further lineout just a few metres further up, can they make something this one then...
2'First couples of minute = very little.

First line-out goes Italy's way along half way.
1'And we're underway here at the Aviva stadium!

1' You can follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who'll be providing us with his insights straight from Dublin. His preview can be read HERE.

STARTING XV's

Ireland: Zebo, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, Earls, Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best, Ford, Ryan, Toner, Stander, van der Flier, Heaslip.

Replacements: Cronin, Bealham, White, Dillane, Ruddock, Marmion, Madigan, McFadden.


Italy: Odiete, L. Sarto, Campagnaro, Garcia, Bellini, Padovani, Palazzini; Lovotti, Giazzon, Chistolini, Biagi, Fuser, Minto, Zanni, Parisse (captain).

Replacements: Fabiani, Zanusso, Ceccarelli, Geldenhuys, Steyn, Lucchese, Haimona, McLean.


Ireland and Italy go into the fourth round of the 2016 RBS 6 Nations as the only two teams without a win while Italy, look destined for the wooden spoon once again. For both nations, the face-off at the Aviva Stadium is all about regaining some pride.

Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Six Nations clash between Ireland and Italy!
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations 2016 News