Irish one-two knocks out Italy

Irish one-two knocks out Italy

2 Oct 2011

Ireland beat Italy 36-6 in Dunedin to set up a quarter-final showdown with Wales in Wellington.

This result means the Wallabies finish second in Pool C and will play the Springboks next Sunday, also in Wellington, with the other two quarter-finals – England vs France and New Zealand vs Argentina – taking place in Auckland.

Italy came into this match needing an upset win to progress to the play-offs, but two Irish tries in the space of five minutes early in the second half shattered that dream.

First, winger Tommy Bowe sliced through a gaping hole in the Italy defence and sent captain Brian O’Driscoll away on his inside. Then Gordon D’Arcy burst through the midfield to take play back into Italy’s 22 and the ball was sent wide to winger Keith Earls, who dived over in the left-hand corner. Ronan O’Gara, who had an outstanding night with the boot, slotted both conversions.

The Irish should have been awarded a penalty try with two minutes to go when Bowe was tackled without the ball in Italy’s in-goal area, but Earls scored his second soon after to round off an emphatic win.

Ireland had led just 9-6 at half-time, but were unlucky to have a try disallowed when referee Jonathan Kaplan incorrectly ruled that flank Sean O’Brien’s pass had gone forward to Bowe, whose first touch went backwards before he regathered the ball.

However, the big talking point of the first half came in the 22nd minute when TV replays clearly showed Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini eye-gouging Ireland loosehead Cian Healy. But none of the officials saw it and the Irish were penalised for retaliation.

Minutes before that incident, Italy had come close to scoring but their driving maul was collapsed by Paul O’Connell, who was lucky not to be yellow carded. Martin Castrogiovanni then had a crack at the line only to be tackled inches short.

The Italy tighthead was in top form and his injury late in the first half was a massive setback for his side considering how his loosehead Salvatore Perugini was struggling against Mike Ross.

By Simon Borchardt


133 Comments

Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All

  • 51.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:39 am

    I’m actually quite glad SA are “avoiding” Ireland. I reckon Ireland would have turned us over, especially our lack of any cohesion at the breakdown.

  • 52.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:40 am

    Rory Best looks hurt.

  • 53.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:41 am

    Bye bye Italy

  • 54.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:41 am

    20 points lead

  • 55.David: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    Ireland really turning it on now. D’Arcy also showing the talent that led to O’Driscol moving from 12 to 13 to accomodate him a few years ago.

  • 56.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    And it’s all over now Baby Blue

  • 57.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    Without CastrolGTX, their scrum engine just seizes up.

  • 58.Jinx2: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:43 am

    Ireland vs. Springkbok final.

  • 59.David: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:44 am

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-51:
    I feel the same, as well.

  • 60.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:44 am

    @Jinx2(Jinx2)-58: As long as they play in white.

  • 61.RL: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:45 am

    @David(David)-46: you mean Lambie, well he is so slow …… even Plod can keep up with him in a sprint.

    Taute should have been there as the starting 15.

  • 62.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:46 am

    @Robzim(Robzim)-56: think it’s more royal blue than baby.

    Bulls and Watarahs dra the baba.

  • 63.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:46 am

    @RL(RL)-61: Correct. Taute is fast and strong, makes good decisions and loves to get involved. Would have been my choice.

  • 64.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:48 am

    The Irish backs always seem so potent – they make may scintillating linebreaks whereas the Bok backs hardly make any…

  • 65.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:48 am

    Lambie is koning…

  • 66.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:49 am

    At least he pulls his socks up.

  • 67.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:50 am

    Italians are lekker vuil off the ball.

  • 68.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:51 am

    Oh well, bring on the convicts.

  • 69.cane: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:51 am

    Good Citizens of the Emerald Isle.

    That’s more like it.

  • 70.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:53 am

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-62:

    Technically you are correct (re the blue) :)

    Irish loose trio are the best in the tournament imo.
    Sean O’ Brien is absolutely colossal today with the other 2 not far behind

  • 71.David: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:53 am

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-64:
    Even O’Gara, who’s supposed to be a conservative kicking 10, makes one appreciate just how limited Morne Steyn is.

  • 72.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:55 am

    Lotsa brawling here

  • 73.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:56 am

    hahaha @ those are not Bette Davis eyes

  • 74.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:57 am

    @David(David)-71: :-)

  • 75.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 10:58 am

    Lotto call for scrum penalty.

    But Kaplan really doesn’t need count one-potato-two-potato-three-potato-four-potato between every crouch, touch pause, engage.

  • 76.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:00 am

    Tee hee,tiny fights

  • 77.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:01 am

    Low lie the fields of Athenry

  • 78.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:02 am

    Where once we watched the small free birds fly

  • 79.Getafix: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:02 am

    So happy SA has finally found a fly-halve in Johan Goosen that will be capable of taking over from Morne Steyn over the next couple of seasons…. Dont know what is going to happen to Lambie, because Taute will be a better option at fullback?

  • 80.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:05 am

    Ireland save a try

  • 81.RL: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:06 am

    @Getafix(phil72)-79: Goosen at 10, it is a must, he will be the best 10 ever to ever wear a Bok jersey … forget about the pretenders …. he is the real deal and with Taute at 15 teams will suffer.

  • 82.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:07 am

    @RL(RL)-81: A bit early to make that claim. He’s good, what I’ve seen of him. But this is his first season, and only CC. Give him a season of S15 before deciding.

  • 83.Getafix: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:08 am

    @RL(RL)-81:

    The future of SA rugby looking good, even will all of these big names retiring…

  • 84.carol: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:08 am

    @Robzim(Robzim)-70:
    Hello… :-)

    No cycling this morning?

  • 85.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:09 am

    Gaffie du Toit was once hailed as the next best 10, so was Bosman.

    Time will tell, let’s see how this chap does in the S15 before we get too excited.

  • 86.carol: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:09 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-82:
    Katman, just to let you know Britian is basking in Autumn sunshine today…

    No sign of any mud!

  • 87.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:10 am

    @carol(carol)-86: Bloody global warming. Will be the end of us.

  • 88.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:10 am

    “Sergio Perese goes home with a new scar”

  • 89.Getafix: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:10 am

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-85:

    So was Lambie…

  • 90.carol: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:11 am

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-85:
    Morning Spooner, you may need the sun screen later…. ;-)

  • 91.carol: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:12 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-87:
    Tricky on the wardrobe front thats for sure!

  • 92.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:12 am

    @carol(carol)-84:

    Hi,
    The wind is blowing and I am lazy.
    All good on your side?

  • 93.RL: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:13 am

    @carol(carol)-86: the Pom Autumn is like the Cape Winter …. miserable … and the Pom winter is like hell.

  • 94.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:13 am

    @carol(carol)-91: Layers. That’s the trick.

  • 95.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:13 am

    The piebald gelding’s display hasn’t been all that good. Joubert is btter

  • 96.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:13 am

    Tommy Bowe! He’s something else.

  • 97.Auntie Mavis: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:14 am

    penalty try?

  • 98.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:14 am

    Jeez the Irish commentator on ITV is sooooooo parochial it’s annoying!

  • 99.RL: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:15 am

    @Getafix(phil72)-89: key word there is was, until he was exposed for his lack of pace.

  • 100.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Oct 2011, 11:15 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-96:

    Sometimes i confuse him with Tommy Roe

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