Ireland v Italy

:00:59. > :01:04.More questions than daffodils as springtime comes to Twickenham. Ah

:01:04. > :01:07.well as the saviours of the northern hemisphere? If England win,

:01:07. > :01:11.does it guarantee Stuart Lancaster the coaching job and can Wales win

:01:11. > :01:17.at Twickenham for only the second time in a quarter of a century?

:01:17. > :01:25.England against Wales, gorge yourself on the match of the six

:01:25. > :01:28.Nations so far... For Wales it has been that the game. It is a

:01:28. > :01:34.celebration of the difference between two neighbours, of who

:01:34. > :01:44.plays the game of rugby and higher. On the day that will split England,

:01:44. > :01:45.

:01:45. > :01:50.the pulse races. The game? Oh, yes. There was a time when England ruled

:01:50. > :01:57.the professional age of rugby and they heard the roar of Wales and so

:01:57. > :02:02.was fury and turned them into English advantages. Baby has done

:02:02. > :02:12.Celtic defeat and were made stronger. The end? No, just another

:02:12. > :02:13.

:02:13. > :02:18.game. The now, there is a twist. Wales have won nothing yet but have

:02:18. > :02:25.grand plans and they have the bulldozers. To beat England they

:02:25. > :02:29.must be cool-headed. For Wales, this must be more than just a game.

:02:29. > :02:36.England are scrambling to victory, they yearn for that spark and this

:02:36. > :02:46.is their homecoming. This is the one. England and Wales, the game of

:02:46. > :02:49.

:02:50. > :02:53.the six Nations. Just another game? Not ever... This is the England

:02:54. > :02:58.dressing room where Stuart Lancaster will give his first team

:02:58. > :03:04.talk to the home international at Twickenham and to a very Young and

:03:04. > :03:13.inexperienced team, especially in key positions, but they also a

:03:13. > :03:17.winning team. England have been functional and pragmatic so far but

:03:17. > :03:24.they have been lucky and good teams need that, they could have crumbled

:03:24. > :03:28.in Rome but the key thing was they did not. Owen Farrell has been

:03:28. > :03:34.reliable, nerveless when the heat is on but starting at outside-half

:03:34. > :03:40.in an international for the first time today. The Welsh back division

:03:40. > :03:46.has only one player under 6 ft tall and four players way in it at over

:03:46. > :03:50.16 stone. They are big but they are also brilliant. And they're not

:03:50. > :03:55.just playing England, but the history books with just one triumph

:03:55. > :04:05.at Twickenham since 1988 meeting this really is a fortress for the

:04:05. > :04:07.

:04:07. > :04:12.men in red. And before that, it is Ireland against Italy. Italy still

:04:12. > :04:22.smarting from that golden opportunity being met cool in Rome.

:04:22. > :04:31.-- let go. Confirmation of Ireland against Italy from Lansdowne Road.

:04:31. > :04:35.And Scotland tomorrow from Murrayfield. Jeremy Goss it has

:04:35. > :04:41.thatcher many times. There are a lot of people who are already

:04:41. > :04:45.carping about England, saying they have not been very exciting. But

:04:45. > :04:49.isn't the crucial factor that they have won both their games and that

:04:49. > :04:55.is all that matters? expectation of England is to win

:04:55. > :04:58.and in style, scoring tries. But this is a new side, together and

:04:58. > :05:02.they're getting to know each other and they will be more than happy

:05:02. > :05:08.with the fact that they have those victories. Victories breeds

:05:08. > :05:13.confidence. You are sitting in the space where Jonny Wilkinson sat for

:05:13. > :05:18.decades and if you look at the name tag above, Owen Farrell, he gets

:05:18. > :05:25.that seat, and his shirt. There are a lot of people saying that the way

:05:25. > :05:30.he has been kicking, he is a man for the role. He is very key, he

:05:30. > :05:34.has the important role. He played a lot last season, in a great game in

:05:34. > :05:37.the Premiership final at the basic we won that game for Saracens and

:05:37. > :05:47.he can do the same for England. Be steady and get the ball to the

:05:47. > :05:53.centres. He is calmness personified. And can England won this? I think

:05:53. > :05:57.they can. We are heading off to the Wales dressing room. If anybody has

:05:57. > :06:03.fantasised about seeing Jeremy dressed as one of Village People,

:06:03. > :06:09.please watch the preview! You can also watch the highlights of what

:06:09. > :06:15.was an extraordinary weekend a couple of weeks ago. It was a

:06:15. > :06:24.weekend when Russia joined the six Nations. Best to stay indoors and

:06:24. > :06:28.turn up the heat. From Tiberius it to the Mediterranean, it was cold.

:06:28. > :06:38.And the decision to call off France and Ireland at the last minute in

:06:38. > :06:47.

:06:47. > :06:50.Paris only helped make things frostier. Still in Rome, snow is as

:06:50. > :07:00.common as pasta any Yorkshire pudding. And Italy might blow

:07:00. > :07:03.

:07:03. > :07:13.England away... But Ben Foden and Italy were on their way. A second

:07:13. > :07:18.

:07:18. > :07:27.mistake by the full-back and Italy This was becoming a habit that

:07:27. > :07:31.Charlie Hodgson charging down and scoring the try. And so was this a

:07:31. > :07:40.habit, or one Farrell as cool as the weather, kicking England to

:07:40. > :07:47.victory. The heated Sunday debate with Scotland... Would they ever

:07:47. > :07:55.catch a pass? For 40 minutes it went this way and that. With little

:07:55. > :08:01.to show on the scoreboard for all the bloodshed. There were glimpses

:08:01. > :08:11.of Alex Cuthbert. But at half-time, all square. And then the tries

:08:11. > :08:17.

:08:17. > :08:27.began to flow in, the skyscraper winner. Scotland, ragged, tackling

:08:27. > :08:35.

:08:35. > :08:44.without the ball. And convert to One more try for Wales would do

:08:44. > :08:51.this. The old, 8, 9... 15. Leigh Halfpenny. Which left one final

:08:51. > :08:57.question - what Scotland never score a try? Stuart Hogg... No, but

:08:57. > :09:03.not gone that never was. Would we never score? Yes! At last. And a

:09:03. > :09:13.little something to warm the heart on the weekend when the Rugby was

:09:13. > :09:16.

:09:16. > :09:20.As we leave the England dressing room and walk nine short steps

:09:20. > :09:26.across the corridor or... We can see that all the kit is being laid

:09:26. > :09:31.out for all the players. And it is done my position. These were the

:09:31. > :09:37.big boys, George North. Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Alex

:09:37. > :09:42.Cuthbert. The dynamic back division. And this is the short part,

:09:42. > :09:46.Jonathan Davies will be found here. I am good. The All week, you have

:09:46. > :09:50.been talking about this team, Andy Farrell said you have done the

:09:50. > :09:56.England team talk because you said that Wales were going to smash in

:09:56. > :09:59.then? There is nothing like pre- match banter. And with that back

:09:59. > :10:04.line, before Charlie Hodgson was injured, physically we could

:10:04. > :10:08.dominate. If things go well, hopefully that will still be the

:10:08. > :10:15.case. The old cliche is that forwards win matches and the backs

:10:15. > :10:19.decide what the winning margin will be. How much does the outcome of

:10:19. > :10:23.today's match actually rest on these guys and not those? Very much

:10:23. > :10:32.so, especially coming to Twickenham, it is always difficult to win at

:10:32. > :10:37.Twickenham. And with Wales, with Alun Wyn Jones back, I suppose they

:10:37. > :10:43.will target that area. And the scrum and the tackle area, the back

:10:44. > :10:50.row, it is so significant. Yes, it is the forwards who will decide who

:10:50. > :10:58.will win this. In his writ factor at Twickenham? -- is there a

:10:58. > :11:03.Twickenham factor? We won here in 1988. 2008 since then. There is

:11:03. > :11:06.that. But this side is confident and very mature. And I think

:11:06. > :11:11.irrespective of what goes on and what has been said in the press,

:11:11. > :11:16.they welcome here focused I'm looking for that result. Kick-off

:11:16. > :11:22.is at 4pm and we're back with all the build up. There is a great

:11:23. > :11:25.atmosphere already around you. We will be back at 3:20pm. Now, off to

:11:25. > :11:33.Dublin and dawning Gabby Logan and the good news for Irish fans is

:11:33. > :11:37.this game is most definitely on... Yes, this pitch will take it. The

:11:37. > :11:47.match is on. It has been a glorious morning and Dublin and the chance

:11:47. > :11:50.

:11:50. > :11:54.for both of these sides to open Ireland unchanged after being given

:11:54. > :12:04.the cold shoulder in France, they lost their last three games at the

:12:04. > :12:09.Aviva Stadium. Home hopes could rest on the wheel of fortune that

:12:09. > :12:15.is the Irish winger, Steve and fairness. The whole of Ireland were

:12:15. > :12:18.coming down on top of me. It isn't a nice feeling. A and it clear blue

:12:18. > :12:25.and great chance at beating England and wrong. They are chasing their

:12:25. > :12:29.first victory in Dublin for 15 years. Declan Kidney says he would

:12:29. > :12:34.like his players to come out of the cage like lions, but they look

:12:34. > :12:41.pretty relaxed. And missing that weekend in France, they have gone

:12:41. > :12:45.20 days without any game. Wales -- almost that famous victory against

:12:45. > :12:50.England for Italy but they come here with great progress. They will

:12:50. > :12:57.have a real challenge for Ireland. That game nest means they said be

:12:57. > :13:07.hind Wales and England on maximum points. -- sits behind. I am joined

:13:07. > :13:39.

:13:39. > :13:43.by Keith Wood. And one of the Giovanni's grid injury cost to that

:13:43. > :13:48.place today but we are delighted to have you here. And it does mean

:13:48. > :13:58.that whatever happens today, in the follicle Stakes, England have won

:13:58. > :14:03.

:14:03. > :14:08.this? There is a lot of injury to their hair! How are you ribs?

:14:08. > :14:11.Hopefully it will be sent. But you never know. The England game was

:14:11. > :14:19.frustrating for Italy, going in at the break up against England with

:14:19. > :14:25.two tries. And Gillette and victory slip away? We blew up. Today, it is

:14:25. > :14:29.a difficult game for Italy. And we hope we will do well. How worried

:14:29. > :14:35.are you about Ireland missing that weekend in Paris, could they be

:14:35. > :14:38.rusty and lethargic? The word is frustrated as well. When they lose,

:14:38. > :14:42.all they want to do is get on the field and they have not had that

:14:42. > :14:47.chance. Four games in quick succession, which will not be such

:14:47. > :14:52.a problem. They will need to be very careful. Try to get the most

:14:52. > :14:59.out of the squad. What a man who will be desperate to make amends is

:14:59. > :15:09.Stephen for us. Leigh Halfpenny duly converted and Wales went home

:15:09. > :15:16.

:15:16. > :15:20.What did you feel after the whistle blew? You cannot blame the referee,

:15:20. > :15:26.he has to make that decision in a split-second and he made the wrong

:15:26. > :15:31.decision. But you just have to deal with that. Stephen Ferris is going

:15:31. > :15:37.to descend en... I felt like the whole of Ireland was coming down on

:15:37. > :15:44.top of me. That isn't a nice feeling. And Wales will have the

:15:44. > :15:54.kick for the match... I was itching to get onto the pitch. And show

:15:54. > :15:59.

:15:59. > :16:09.You are known as a bit of a gym monkey. Do something I am working

:16:09. > :16:09.

:16:09. > :16:13.on. I take my waist seriously and pride myself on being strong.

:16:13. > :16:17.injuries may have broken a lesser man but they seem to have spurred

:16:17. > :16:25.yawn as a player. We injury is to look as it and say this could be it,

:16:25. > :16:32.rugby over. -- with injuries. What will I do post rugby? I used to the

:16:32. > :16:39.few months I had allowed to get bigger, stronger, fitter and faster.

:16:39. > :16:46.-- had out. You had a great chance in 2009 and it went very quickly.

:16:46. > :16:51.Do you think there is unfinished business there? Anybody that asks

:16:51. > :16:55.me the question asks me what has been the highlight of my career? I

:16:55. > :16:59.won a Grand Slam and it was a grey year being selected for the Lions

:16:59. > :17:02.tour but I have never had so much fun as pitching up at a training

:17:02. > :17:12.session and shaking hands with the lads, a few weeks later you are

:17:12. > :17:14.

:17:14. > :17:22.good mates, having a crack and I Talk me through what it is like

:17:22. > :17:31.lining up somebody. It is something we get a feel for. It is timing. At

:17:31. > :17:36.training we tend to wrap each other up a lot and not heard people. We

:17:36. > :17:46.leave that for Saturday. What about Saturday? We played against them in

:17:46. > :17:46.

:17:46. > :17:50.the World Cup. 50 minutes to break them down. Me, Sean and Jimmy

:17:50. > :17:54.played really well at the World Cup and there was a lot of talk about

:17:54. > :18:03.us and as soon as we got beaten by Wales there was no talk about us.

:18:03. > :18:08.We are good players that love It is all about fine margins. He

:18:08. > :18:12.mentioned it there, there were all the plaudits ahead of that game

:18:12. > :18:16.with that the back row and Ireland's strength being back there.

:18:16. > :18:21.I think they are three fantastic players, I just don't think the

:18:21. > :18:25.balance is right. Sean O'Brien is one of the best ball-carrying sixes,

:18:25. > :18:32.playing at No. 7 he does not seem comfortable. A back row is

:18:32. > :18:37.definitely an area of strength for Italy as well. The iconic captain...

:18:37. > :18:43.Sergio is one of the best No. 8 in the world and he has done a lot for

:18:43. > :18:51.us. He is doing a lot around the pitch as well. He is half of the

:18:51. > :18:55.team to be honest. This thing about losing games at the er the stadium,

:18:55. > :19:00.six out of nine here, a lot of those teams around the hemisphere

:19:00. > :19:03.sides, are you worried this is not feeling like home yet? I think it

:19:03. > :19:06.is home but there were just a couple of farces involved at the

:19:06. > :19:10.start with ticketing prices and people did not take to it

:19:10. > :19:14.immediately. There was negativity when they did not need to be. If

:19:14. > :19:24.they get an extra couple of wins under their belt, they need not

:19:24. > :19:25.

:19:25. > :19:31.Ireland were pushed all the way last year, but for that drop goal

:19:31. > :19:39.in the last two minutes, it would have been a great win. I remember

:19:39. > :19:44.it. Once again, we have the opportunity. So no fear? I hope not.

:19:44. > :19:54.The last time Ireland lost four in a row at home, Italy were one of

:19:54. > :20:27.

:20:27. > :20:34.the teams they lost 2. Look away Great stuff by the Italians.

:20:34. > :20:38.Unbelievable. The Italians are ecstatic. The roar has gone up. It

:20:38. > :20:42.does feel like home now. The atmosphere as the islands to make

:20:42. > :20:51.their way onto the pitch. In his incredible. 51,000 fans in here

:20:51. > :21:01.Italy have improved so much for so long and everybody wants to see

:21:01. > :21:03.

:21:04. > :21:10.this game. You had hair in that VT there! I was ropey them. We trained

:21:10. > :21:16.four hours every day. I remember walking around this same ground, it

:21:16. > :21:19.was a totally different level of professionalism. It was said

:21:19. > :21:29.earlier you do feel a change, something has progressed. What is

:21:29. > :21:30.

:21:30. > :21:35.it? We used to kick a lot and we do not play to match our field. -- too

:21:35. > :21:41.much in our field. We tried to attack more. What do you make of

:21:41. > :21:51.the selection today of the Botes? He missed a couple of crucial kicks

:21:51. > :21:58.against England. Surprising for you? I think Jack has tried to mix

:21:58. > :22:01.the players because if you see the last three games, he changed all

:22:01. > :22:11.the players. I think he is trying different things. There will be a

:22:11. > :22:42.

:22:42. > :22:46.The President is coming out now. We The two young guys played together

:22:47. > :22:51.on the front row. I think they seem to be a bit more expansive. They

:22:51. > :22:54.want to play more, they want to do more and they are not content in

:22:54. > :23:00.being an awkward team to play against. They want to start winning.

:23:00. > :23:10.It is a big challenge for them but also a big opportunity. Ireland

:23:10. > :23:18.As a part of those forwards, do you ever look behind the scrum and

:23:18. > :23:28.think if only? If only the backs had the same kind of com -- kind of

:23:28. > :23:33.fear? Yes, you see it when we have a scrum, we always tried to do the

:23:33. > :23:40.penalty. Now we get the ball out and tried to kick, or play. I think

:23:40. > :23:46.this is a big difference. Let's go to a man trying to play his way

:23:46. > :23:52.back into the Ireland team. Luke Fitzgerald is with us. Perfect

:23:52. > :23:56.conditions. You would love to be involved. What is the latest?

:23:56. > :24:05.hope to be back next week which is a relief because it has been a long

:24:05. > :24:09.haul. Hopefully I can push my way back in. Frustrating not to be

:24:09. > :24:13.involved, or playing. It is similar for Ireland, missing out, you have

:24:13. > :24:19.been talking to the squad, how have they dealt with the game -- dealt

:24:19. > :24:23.with missing the game against France? It was frustrating for them.

:24:23. > :24:31.It is good to get yourself mentally ready for big games like that. I

:24:31. > :24:34.think they felt they had not done that. The guys had to be

:24:34. > :24:37.professional about it and it is like a World Cup scenario at this

:24:37. > :24:46.stage where they will play week after week. They have to get on

:24:46. > :24:52.with it. A couple of changes in the Ireland line up and you were

:24:52. > :24:55.interested in the selection of the fly half. With Botes, yes, I think

:24:55. > :25:05.it was an interesting selection, I think he will be more of a running

:25:05. > :25:06.

:25:06. > :25:16.half than usual. It is interesting to see how he will get on. It will

:25:16. > :25:17.

:25:17. > :25:27.The anthems are almost upon us. Quick prediction, Keith? Worried?

:25:27. > :25:27.

:25:27. > :26:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:26:34. > :26:44.bit but I think Ireland will win. Ata gheall ag Eirinn. Buion dar

:26:44. > :26:46.

:26:46. > :26:56.Seantir ar sinsear feasta, Ni fhagfar faoin tioran na faoin

:26:56. > :27:02.

:27:02. > :27:12.Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun bais no Le gunna screach faoi lamhach na

:27:12. > :27:12.

:27:12. > :27:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:27:56. > :28:06.We have come to answer Our From the four proud provinces of

:28:06. > :28:46.

:28:46. > :28:56.Together standing tall. Shoulder to Shoulder to shoulder. We'll answer

:28:56. > :28:56.

:28:56. > :29:06.That Bell the atmosphere nicely. What a difference a couple of weeks

:29:06. > :29:11.makes. Know icy pitch here. Good to see you both. You are tougher down

:29:11. > :29:14.there. Half an Italian and the mayor, two al-Arish anthems. The

:29:14. > :29:20.Irish players had been festering for a couple of weeks since the

:29:20. > :29:24.late defeat of Wales. It is the same line-up today for Ireland that

:29:24. > :29:29.was named for the game that never was in Paris. The Irish pack does

:29:29. > :29:39.not have it -- does have a settled look. All the better because of my

:29:39. > :29:39.

:29:39. > :29:48.cross. There are three destructive ball carriers in the front line. In

:29:48. > :29:57.the back, one change, trying to fill up the whole by O'Driscoll. --

:29:57. > :30:03.the hole left by O'Driscoll. Two in experienced props a day. Parisse

:30:04. > :30:12.captaincy aside for a record 38 time. In the never-ending quest to

:30:12. > :30:19.find a dry laugh, they are trying out Botes. Merck Al-Faw O'Gara

:30:20. > :30:29.Muntz the replacements. -- watch out for O'Gara. -- watch out for

:30:30. > :30:34.

:30:34. > :30:39.just about ready to go at the of be the stadium, and it is a great

:30:39. > :30:45.pitch and a wonderful game in prospect. You can sense Philip

:30:45. > :30:49.Matthews alongside, champing at the bit for Ireland? Absolutely.

:30:49. > :30:52.Ireland need to make sure they are aggressive and controlled in that

:30:52. > :30:59.aggression. They do not want to make this easy for Italy by giving

:30:59. > :31:06.away penalties. Controlled aggression. So much pressure on

:31:06. > :31:15.Tobias Botes. Going for length and too long. Ireland a restart.

:31:15. > :31:25.Jonathan Sexton. Not an old man by any standards but far more

:31:25. > :31:36.

:31:36. > :31:41.experienced than Tobias Botes. The very talented Tomasso Benvenuti.

:31:41. > :31:51.Andrea Masi. The full-back today, he has filled most positions in the

:31:51. > :31:56.

:31:56. > :32:01.over but infringing, the penalty. Just inside the Ireland half.

:32:01. > :32:07.would expect Italy to try to take the shot at goal here and get those

:32:07. > :32:11.early three points. They will want to stay patient and conversely, to

:32:11. > :32:16.make Ireland frustrated. They won't know that they are champing at the

:32:16. > :32:20.bit. This defensive line is starting to meet Italy on the gain

:32:20. > :32:25.line, moving into those tackles. They were criticised against Wales

:32:25. > :32:35.for being too passive. They are keen to put that right and the

:32:35. > :32:51.

:32:51. > :33:01.repetition. -- and their reputation. penalties against England. Burton

:33:01. > :33:11.

:33:11. > :33:18.has struggled with kicking. This is gives Ireland back in the 22 and

:33:18. > :33:23.that is what it label want as much as possible. The great Italian

:33:23. > :33:28.start met with a roar from the Lansdowne Road crowd. As they tried

:33:28. > :33:38.to get the home side going. Jonathan Sexton hanging over the

:33:38. > :33:38.

:33:38. > :33:45.forwards. He comes back in. The big hands of Paul O'Connell. And came

:33:45. > :33:55.here lead takes a tackle around his neck from Marco Bortolami. Deep.

:33:55. > :34:08.

:34:08. > :34:17.Ireland have that. There free pass away eventually. Keith Earls.

:34:17. > :34:27.Shuffles his way through the middle. O'Brien. His strength gets them a

:34:27. > :34:33.

:34:33. > :34:40.few more yards. Paul O'Connell. Beckett goes to Jonathan Sexton. He

:34:40. > :34:50.should have easily been taking on the wing. And that a long kick from

:34:50. > :34:51.

:34:51. > :35:01.Andrea Masi. Into the arms of Jonathan Sexton. Eventually came to

:35:01. > :35:16.

:35:16. > :35:20.Just went forward. Ireland will have the scrum. Against a better

:35:20. > :35:25.side, Ireland may not have got that. Ireland choosing to move the ball

:35:25. > :35:31.through their hands and that shows some impatience. There is a lot of

:35:31. > :35:35.space behind. Which Jonathan Sexton is choosing to ignore. Just play

:35:35. > :35:40.more territory. But you can understand what they are trying to

:35:40. > :35:45.do, particularly getting the Irish forwards into the game. They were

:35:45. > :35:54.guilty of kicking the ball away too much. And the bus will have voiced

:35:54. > :35:59.that opinion. Keeping the ball in hand is definite. And it is a free

:35:59. > :36:09.kick, knocked 10 metres. The referee was playing advantage for

:36:09. > :36:14.

:36:14. > :36:18.that. Ireland perhaps still bringing it on. Andrew Trimble.

:36:18. > :36:27.They are in a hurry to score the tries, aren't they? To force this

:36:27. > :36:32.fairly early. That was a good decision. He managed to shut down a

:36:32. > :36:38.pass as well, which he had to do. The Italian hooker, Leonardo

:36:38. > :36:41.Ghiraldini, banned for 15 weeks for gouging Cian Healy in a bad-

:36:41. > :36:51.tempered World Cup match between these two, which Ireland won

:36:51. > :36:52.

:36:52. > :37:02.handsomely. Well taken by Trimble. And Ireland have some space to

:37:02. > :37:02.

:37:02. > :37:07.exploit. Jonathan Sexton. And a penalty to Italy. Ireland hanging

:37:07. > :37:12.on. This one stout be closer than the last one. And a better

:37:13. > :37:17.opportunity for Tobias Botes to grab those three points. I'm not

:37:17. > :37:20.saying it was not on but it was very crowded and so far, they

:37:20. > :37:25.really have not played the territory game and the touchline

:37:25. > :37:29.and they have passed over opportunities to put the ball deep.

:37:29. > :37:33.That is a good Italian defence. They are playing into the Italian

:37:33. > :37:39.hands at the moment, really pushing for that breakthrough. And I

:37:39. > :37:43.suppose that is a sign of frustration and a little impatient.

:37:43. > :37:49.Although the last one was a very difficult kick for Tobias Botes,

:37:49. > :37:53.this has been made slightly easier but it is still a big kick. Missing

:37:53. > :38:03.the first one, you can excuse that. But two in a row, that would start

:38:03. > :38:22.

:38:22. > :38:28.one is selling through. Italy have three points, they have the lead at

:38:28. > :38:31.Lansdowne Road. Well deserve it. As much as anything for Ireland,

:38:31. > :38:37.tactically, but they shot Ireland down and they stopped them from

:38:37. > :38:42.attacking deep within their own half. Now, Ireland will want to

:38:42. > :38:50.respond quickly. And get a real group on to this match. So far,

:38:50. > :38:55.they have been unable to do that. That was well placed. And a bit of

:38:55. > :39:04.a mess. Back it comes to Conor Murphy. Jonathan Sexton. Tries to

:39:04. > :39:12.get the ball. Italy have it now. Tomasso Benvenuti with the kick. He

:39:12. > :39:21.tries to accelerated. Trimble took the ball just as he did the tackle.

:39:21. > :39:31.Sexton, poking that through. Into the sunlight. Not quite into touch.

:39:31. > :39:38.

:39:38. > :39:41.Jamie Heaslip. Tobias Botes. Into the big wing. Running interference.

:39:41. > :39:51.As Giovanbattista Venditti tried to make his way. We will get another

:39:51. > :39:53.

:39:53. > :39:56.look at this. That will have hurt his ego. That was advised that will

:39:56. > :40:01.break by Jonathan Sexton. Again, really eager to put the ball

:40:01. > :40:04.through the hands and a little bit of that frustration and pent-up

:40:04. > :40:08.aggression is coming through in the way that Ireland are playing at the

:40:08. > :40:17.moment. But three points and even scorer might just settle things

:40:17. > :40:22.down. We will have to wait. There might be some blood, here. And

:40:22. > :40:32.there we are. The man is getting ready, Ronan O'Gara. Will he come

:40:32. > :40:32.

:40:32. > :40:35.on, American football-style, to take that? You can be sure that

:40:35. > :40:42.Jonathan Sexton will not be going off if he has anything to do with

:40:42. > :40:46.it. If Ronan O'Gara does come on, you can be sure that he has spotted

:40:46. > :40:52.a lot of the space from his position on the sidelines. He will

:40:52. > :40:59.be inclined to play the territory. So it would be interesting. We can

:40:59. > :41:05.see blood so if they cannot patch this up on the field... So, Ronan

:41:05. > :41:12.O'Gara, will he sit down? No, on Com's Ronan O'Gara. And we have to

:41:12. > :41:22.wait for his record-breaking appearance. He smiles, he will be

:41:22. > :41:25.

:41:25. > :41:30.back! Jonathan Sexton, just sit back down! Even in the autumn of

:41:30. > :41:35.his career, Ronan O'Gara is playing very good rugby. He is very

:41:35. > :41:39.confident and in his own game. He recognises that Jonathan Sexton is

:41:39. > :41:44.the man of the future. But he is more than happy to come on and play

:41:45. > :41:49.his part if he can at all. You have to respect him for that. He sticks

:41:49. > :41:59.to what he is world class at. Jonathan Sexton to try to draw

:41:59. > :42:17.

:42:17. > :42:23.Jonathan Sexton rises from the ground to draw Ireland level.

:42:23. > :42:33.Nothing between these two sides. That will be a great confidence

:42:33. > :42:37.

:42:37. > :42:47.booster. This Irish side had been playing with a little trepidation.

:42:47. > :42:47.

:42:47. > :42:56.Slapped back by Sergio Parisse. Italy have it. Tobias Botes again.

:42:56. > :43:06.The player of the tournament in last year's Six Nations. Carried by

:43:06. > :43:09.

:43:09. > :43:14.Lorenzo Cittadini. And Ireland have the scrum. They did well to get

:43:14. > :43:18.Lorenzo Cittadini off. He was the hold of specialist. Donnacha

:43:18. > :43:28.O'Callaghan getting his group on to him and that is as good as a

:43:28. > :43:30.

:43:30. > :43:40.turnover. It is. And then in comes Donnacha O'Callaghan. He is a huge

:43:40. > :43:47.

:43:47. > :43:57.man, Lorenzo Cittadini. He is. That scrum yet. And the figures will

:43:57. > :43:59.

:43:59. > :44:05.have a chat. Make sure the timing is only when I call engage.

:44:05. > :44:11.Leonardo Ghiraldini and Rory Best. They have their orders. Very quiet

:44:11. > :44:21.around the stadium at the moment. That reflects the way the game is

:44:21. > :44:22.

:44:22. > :44:27.going. The crowd are desperate to get behind them. This certainly

:44:27. > :44:37.have that scrum. The LUAS pass. Gordon D'Arcy sees space. And he is

:44:37. > :44:40.

:44:40. > :44:50.through! Keith Earls, he has done well. O'Brien. Keith Earls again.

:44:50. > :44:53.

:44:53. > :45:02.O'Brien. He tries to crush through. O'Connell. Cian Healy and Jamie

:45:02. > :45:10.Heaslip. Battling on. Certainly the best passage of play for Ireland.

:45:10. > :45:20.Jonathan Sexton, Stephen Ferris. He does his demolition. 12, 15 metres

:45:20. > :45:23.

:45:23. > :45:28.or so. Not too much out there for Ireland. Penalty. To Ireland. Again,

:45:28. > :45:33.nearly more than that. Ireland looking dangerous when they get

:45:33. > :45:37.that quick ball. That is what they need, to get that quick ruck and

:45:37. > :45:44.make the most of any space that might be there. And don't allow

:45:44. > :45:49.Italy to reform. Interesting decision. This isn't a great angle.

:45:49. > :45:54.From the other side of the pitch. He did not fancy that as much as

:45:55. > :45:58.the line-out. Ireland really want to get on top of the

:45:58. > :46:08.psychologically. And the best way is to get that early try. It is

:46:08. > :46:30.

:46:30. > :46:40.worth more than seven points, it is teasing it free. A pocket of

:46:40. > :46:50.

:46:50. > :46:54.took it on. Murray tries to go himself, bounces off. Up to within

:46:54. > :47:04.six metres, Heaslip. Ireland getting closer with every passage

:47:04. > :47:14.

:47:14. > :47:24.of play. Held at the back by Ferris. thought from Murray. The on permit

:47:24. > :47:52.

:47:52. > :47:58.goes to Heaslip. Taken down by its consultation. A try for Ireland,

:47:58. > :48:06.but try for Keith Earls. Little doubt about that one. It was

:48:06. > :48:10.Ireland just getting those quick phases of quick ball. Not much of a

:48:10. > :48:14.chance to realign their defence. John Sexton effectively taking two

:48:14. > :48:24.players out there but the fact that the ball was recycled quickly

:48:24. > :48:26.

:48:26. > :48:32.allowed Keith Earls to make the young daughter was on well,

:48:32. > :48:36.thankfully well again now, back on the side. It is a big ask to ask

:48:36. > :48:41.anybody to fill in for O'Driscoll. But a very talented midfielder.

:48:41. > :48:51.it is a real chance, for me, he is the only real option at number 13

:48:51. > :48:52.

:48:52. > :48:57.at the moment. The developing new partnership with D'Arcy and Earls,

:48:57. > :49:01.D'Arcy looking to use his distribution and footwork to put it

:49:01. > :49:11.into space. It will be interesting to see how they develop this

:49:11. > :49:30.

:49:30. > :49:40.couple of weeks productively. Bode really -- Botes really not physical

:49:40. > :49:40.

:49:40. > :50:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:50:31. > :50:41.there. Italy seem to get to it quicker, it is a blue scrum. Nice

:50:41. > :50:48.

:50:48. > :50:58.because they have gone behind by a converted try earlier. They cannot

:50:58. > :51:11.

:51:11. > :51:18.Italians. They are looking perhaps come there. Under pressure there, a

:51:18. > :51:28.rarity for Rory Best. Normally one of the best scrummaging number two

:51:28. > :51:39.

:51:39. > :51:43.can see Best releasing his pint there. I'm sure Keith will have

:51:43. > :51:48.something to say about that in the studio. Botes goes for touch, does

:51:48. > :51:58.not find it. Big mistake as he tried to bite off a big chunk of

:51:58. > :52:11.

:52:11. > :52:21.The game might stop. He is lifting his head up at least, but it does

:52:21. > :52:40.

:52:40. > :52:48.he has made a good tackle but caught a hip. -- Kian Healey. He

:52:48. > :52:51.came in the wrong side there. He caught a me there. He needed to be

:52:51. > :53:01.getting his right shoulder in contact there, not his left

:53:01. > :53:25.

:53:25. > :53:35.least he is back on his hunches. -- while then... Now missing a few

:53:35. > :53:41.

:53:41. > :53:46.vertebra. Shake it off. He looks Tom will have to wait. Straight

:53:46. > :53:50.into the scrum. He will have to watch himself for the next bit

:53:50. > :53:54.because if he has any kind of blurred vision he will be putting

:53:54. > :53:58.himself in a dangerous situation going into tackles. He needs to

:53:58. > :54:03.know where he is, where he is lining his head up and so on, and

:54:03. > :54:13.any kind of blurred vision will really compromise him so he will

:54:13. > :54:13.

:54:13. > :54:20.need to keep our eye on things. -- an eye on things. It seems

:54:20. > :54:30.unfortunate he has to go straight into a scrum. Ireland creaking a

:54:30. > :55:02.

:55:02. > :55:06.bit but then starting to hold firm Trimble, but good defence by Italy.

:55:06. > :55:16.Ireland persisting with the expansive game, they really want to

:55:16. > :55:23.

:55:23. > :55:33.break the Italian side down, and do bit as we head into in the second

:55:33. > :55:33.

:55:33. > :56:47.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:56:47. > :56:54.for that Italian scrum. Apart from that try, a bit messy from both

:56:54. > :56:58.sides. Italy have been pretty good at shutting Ireland down, Ireland

:56:58. > :57:07.have virtually 60% of possession. And in terms of territory, roughly

:57:07. > :57:11.the same, just over 60%, but it must be said that the territory is

:57:11. > :57:14.probably just inside the Italian half. Where the scrum is is where a

:57:14. > :57:18.lot of this game has been played and Ireland are looking to move the

:57:18. > :57:23.ball wide so quickly, the Italian defence is not tired, it has not

:57:23. > :57:30.been broken, so is defending well. They probably need to tire them out

:57:30. > :57:40.a bit more. There will be space but I think they are looking to go too

:57:40. > :58:03.

:58:04. > :58:13.will be interesting to hear at half-time what Keith Wood makes of

:58:14. > :58:26.

:58:26. > :58:36.already sparked into life. Gerald beanie trying to make sure of the

:58:36. > :58:36.

:58:36. > :59:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:59:45. > :59:49.call. -- Gerald beanie. -- Sexton probably has to hold his

:59:49. > :59:54.hand up for that, it was a bit loose that deep in your own heart.

:59:54. > :59:57.They might have created an overlap there but that long loop did not

:59:57. > :00:02.come off, it has turned the pressure back on Ireland. They are

:00:03. > :00:12.playing too much rugby deep in their own half. A let's get sorts

:00:13. > :00:17.

:00:17. > :00:21.early from Luke Fitzgerald... ball, and break them down, it is

:00:21. > :00:27.just a matter of getting into the Italian half and maintaining

:00:27. > :00:32.position. We have seen that when they do that, they seemed to come

:00:32. > :00:42.about fairly simply with that try. Tobias Botes. His third shot at

:00:42. > :01:07.

:01:07. > :01:14.Ireland will have to be awake now. Thankfully, Rob Kearney was there.

:01:14. > :01:24.Suddenly, there is a swell of noise inside the ground. And the scrum to

:01:24. > :01:24.

:01:24. > :01:29.Italy. It has worked not too badly for them. That was a really awkward

:01:29. > :01:36.bounce to deal with. Rob Kearney has dealt with that very well. The

:01:36. > :01:42.reaction immediately. He gets himself into the air. He is upset

:01:42. > :01:47.that they did not get that. The way Italy have been scrummaging, they

:01:47. > :01:54.will want to turn this into something. Listen to the noise.

:01:54. > :02:04.Look at that attacking position that Italy have. 10 metres out with

:02:04. > :02:05.

:02:05. > :02:11.options and space either side. Sergio Parisse, look how low he is.

:02:11. > :02:16.Nobody there but the referee. And the chance is lost. Sergio Parisse

:02:16. > :02:26.slapping his thighs and flapping his arms and Jonathan Sexton clears

:02:26. > :02:30.

:02:30. > :02:36.that for Ireland. Italy still with the ball but much deeper now. The

:02:36. > :02:46.giant tight-head prop. Lorenzo Cittadini. That really was a golden

:02:46. > :02:50.

:02:50. > :02:59.chance. Back into the outskirts of the 22 line. Marco Bortolami. That

:02:59. > :03:04.little chip through. It was knocked off the foot of Keith Earls. The

:03:04. > :03:10.drop goal attempt from the South African, Tobias Botes. Sliced very

:03:10. > :03:14.wide. Touched down by Rob Terry. Ireland, when it that interesting

:03:14. > :03:19.passage of play and Italy did really have that opportunity that

:03:19. > :03:28.was squandered. That might well be one of the big differences between

:03:29. > :03:38.the sides. Having a genuine international class out have. Italy

:03:39. > :03:39.

:03:39. > :03:49.need to have that. They have not developed that since Rodriguez.

:03:49. > :03:50.

:03:50. > :03:59.little fumble and it goes back. Sergio Parisse. Always being asked

:03:59. > :04:05.to do so much. Tobias Botes. And he buys Italy some territory. Ireland

:04:05. > :04:10.had the line-out, inside their own 22. That was a good option from

:04:10. > :04:14.Tobias Botes. Very little on and that just keeps Ireland pinned back.

:04:14. > :04:23.This is what they have been trying to play a lot of rugby from. It is

:04:23. > :04:33.very good, the way Ireland have been playing. Rory Best tries to

:04:33. > :04:39.head his mark. And he does so. With Paul O'Connell. And Conor Murray

:04:39. > :04:46.Shipping to clear himself. He thinks better of it. The only

:04:46. > :04:56.forward to score points in the Six Nations so far, Rory Best. And that

:04:56. > :05:24.

:05:24. > :05:34.was very well taking. Ireland have Andrea Masi. Tobias Botes. Watched

:05:34. > :05:36.

:05:36. > :05:42.by D'Arcy. Advantage to Italy and the turnover is there. Sergio

:05:42. > :05:50.Parisse and Tobias Botes and Alberto Sgarbi. Tobias Botes kept

:05:50. > :06:00.at the alive. Sergio Parisse getting in the way of his scrum

:06:00. > :06:02.

:06:03. > :06:12.half. Still the Italian ball. Edoardo Gori. Tobias Botes. The

:06:13. > :06:18.

:06:18. > :06:26.Irish ball. The hand-off from Rob Kearney. Sexton? There might be a

:06:26. > :06:34.chance for Italy. And it is Alberto Sgarbi who is pulled down by Sexton.

:06:34. > :06:42.Three metres out. Edoardo Gori complains but there is a penalty to

:06:43. > :06:48.Ireland. It ends in an Irish penalty. It looked like they were

:06:48. > :06:53.going to go all the way, there. Rob Terry expected Jonathan Sexton to

:06:53. > :07:03.come back in. The right line was to stay out and Ireland did well to

:07:03. > :07:08.turn around and defend. Alberto Sgarbi just did not have the pace.

:07:08. > :07:13.Again, it was all there with the turnover. Down the left-hand side,

:07:13. > :07:17.it was on. They just took the wrong option when it came down to it.

:07:17. > :07:25.When you said that Ireland have not played in three weeks, is that

:07:25. > :07:30.harsh? They don't look like that. They are over eager. They really

:07:30. > :07:36.want to let the frustration of the last two weeks out. There is too

:07:36. > :07:46.much rugby in their own half. trouble again. He tries to get it

:07:46. > :07:46.

:07:47. > :07:52.down! Held up just short, says the referee. So many men! Sergio

:07:52. > :07:58.Parisse with the try for Italy. And he goes under the posts. The

:07:58. > :08:05.captain hits back for the Italian. You would have to say that was

:08:05. > :08:12.deserved. Italy were unfortunate not to get the try earlier on but

:08:12. > :08:20.given the chance, they got that one away. Look at what they can create.

:08:20. > :08:28.Keith Earls is virtually alone. Sergio Parisse was not going to let

:08:28. > :08:32.that opportunity go. Fitting that the captain should finish that off

:08:32. > :08:37.and the conversion to come with five minutes to go before half-time

:08:37. > :08:41.to level things up. Ireland, tactically, they have shown that

:08:41. > :08:47.they can break them down when getting themselves around the

:08:47. > :08:51.Italian 22. But it's very difficult to break them down from your own 22.

:08:51. > :08:59.And they have struggled, albeit with 60% of the territory, they

:08:59. > :09:05.have really struggled to get enough of that into the Italian 22.

:09:05. > :09:13.Jonathan Sexton is beginning to vary his game a little bit more and

:09:13. > :09:19.pushed the Italians back. The Sergio Parisse. With the honour of

:09:19. > :09:24.finishing that try. And as passionate and assistant coach and

:09:24. > :09:33.former player as you will find. Four minutes remaining and nothing

:09:33. > :09:41.between the two sides. Quintin Geldenhuys tries to take it at the

:09:41. > :09:47.restart. Ireland might have a chance. He gifted that ball and

:09:47. > :09:54.Stephen Ferris has it. Conor Murray looks outside and seize the

:09:54. > :10:04.advantage to Ireland at the moment. Ireland looking to hit back

:10:04. > :10:14.immediately. Tommy Bowe. Taken down. By Robert Barbieri and Alessandro

:10:14. > :10:14.

:10:14. > :10:20.Zanni. Rory Best, held up. That was a good pick up by D'Arcy. O'Connell.

:10:20. > :10:30.Still plenty of time for Ireland in this first half. Stephen Ferris

:10:30. > :10:34.

:10:34. > :10:42.plays it back. Conor Murray. O'Brien, quiet so far. Advantage

:10:42. > :10:48.again to Ireland. Of side. You can see Ireland have upped the

:10:48. > :10:52.intensity. But they're not playing with a lot of control and would

:10:52. > :10:58.like to see them really take that ball aggressively. He has taken

:10:58. > :11:04.that very static at the moment. And he is laying off very early. And

:11:04. > :11:11.would love to see him getting behind the game. They got the try

:11:11. > :11:14.eventually from this. Perhaps better to try to take the line-out.

:11:14. > :11:24.And try those chances with just a couple of minutes to go before

:11:24. > :11:30.

:11:30. > :11:35.half-time. First things first. Rory Best has to find his target. Jamie

:11:35. > :11:45.Heaslip. The one that is hoisted high and takes it. And Ireland,

:11:45. > :11:46.

:11:46. > :11:56.five metres out. Donnacha O'Callaghan is there with Stephen

:11:56. > :11:57.

:11:57. > :12:07.Ferris. Quicker ball. Tommy Bowe, nearly through. Good defence from

:12:07. > :12:08.

:12:08. > :12:13.Italy. Conor Murray tries to dive in himself. Ireland looking for the

:12:13. > :12:20.try to finish this first half and get back in front. Carried on by

:12:20. > :12:26.Donnacha O'Callaghan. Two metres out. Conor Murray. Gordon D'Arcy.

:12:26. > :12:34.Rob Kearney? Stephen Ferris! Goes wide to Tommy Bowe. And he goes in

:12:34. > :12:42.for the try. That will give Ireland the lead at half-time. When they

:12:42. > :12:49.get in charge, Italy cannot break them down. And the sheer weight of

:12:49. > :12:54.numbers, but Stephen Ferris did well, because very unselfish, he

:12:54. > :12:58.has given a pass to his team. He made sure of this five points. That

:12:58. > :13:01.is what Ireland want, as much as getting ahead, they would have felt

:13:01. > :13:05.the three-point penalty was not enough, they need to

:13:06. > :13:11.psychologically hit back hard and show that they are the better side.

:13:11. > :13:17.And go into have time 2-1 tries ahead. Not by a marginal penalty.

:13:17. > :13:21.That was generosity to his fellow Ulster man, Tommy Bowe. He has a

:13:21. > :13:26.lot more tries in international rugby than Steven Bayliss. The 21st

:13:26. > :13:31.from Tommy Bowe, takes him ahead of Shane Horgan. On the all-time Irish

:13:31. > :13:41.list. And a very important time to score as well. The clock ticking.

:13:41. > :13:58.

:13:58. > :14:03.This will be the final kick of the first half. And the final kick of

:14:03. > :14:07.the first half is very good indeed. As was his last conversion. Ireland

:14:07. > :14:12.have a seven-point lead at half- time in a game that has been uneven

:14:12. > :14:16.in quality but certainly, Ireland have taken their chances. Very

:14:16. > :14:22.clever from Declan Kidney, he knows the more time that Ireland can

:14:22. > :14:32.spend in the Italian have, it welcome. Spend more time in the

:14:32. > :14:32.

:14:33. > :14:37.opposition have in the second half. It was a roller-coaster first half

:14:37. > :14:41.but it started off rather lame with the first early exchanges, the

:14:41. > :14:45.kicks, it looked like it was rather flat inside the stadium but then

:14:45. > :14:50.things did heat up whenever a plea got themselves back into the game

:14:50. > :14:56.and got territory and possession back. The tries coming from Keith

:14:56. > :15:00.Earls, filling the boots of Bob well. Italy, they would have been

:15:00. > :15:04.even closer than they are but they're iconic captain brought them

:15:04. > :15:11.level just before the break but then Tommy Bowe with his 21st try

:15:11. > :15:17.for Ireland. At half-time, 17 - 10. And an interesting second half in

:15:17. > :15:22.prospect. We will hear the thoughts of Keith and Martin at the moment.

:15:22. > :15:27.First, Luke Fitzgerald. It is feeling rather quiet in the stadium.

:15:27. > :15:32.Apart from the Italian so the top of the stand. But this has sprung

:15:32. > :15:40.into life? Both teams decided to hold onto the ball and they have

:15:40. > :15:50.played territory. Once they were down, the key was more attention.

:15:50. > :15:55.

:15:55. > :15:59.Philip Matthews said that Ireland It is tough, they would have been

:15:59. > :16:03.frustrated after not playing for a couple of weeks but they bounced

:16:03. > :16:08.back. You always expect a tight affair against Italians, I am not

:16:08. > :16:12.surprised we have got to this at half-time. If you give the Italians

:16:12. > :16:16.any chance, they take it. Absolutely, they are capable of it.

:16:16. > :16:21.There is a degree of familiarity between both teams. We know how

:16:21. > :16:24.good they are and they showed how dangerous they can be. It is no

:16:24. > :16:29.surprise Parisse got over the try- line at the end there. If both

:16:30. > :16:35.teams can hold on to the ball that will be the decider of the game.

:16:35. > :16:39.Hopefully we can do that better from the Irish perspective. More

:16:39. > :16:46.from you in the second half. let's look at the statistics.

:16:46. > :16:54.Territory at the moment is 50, 50. At one stage it was 65% for Ireland,

:16:54. > :16:58.35 dittany. They have really clawed their way back Kian. -- back into

:16:58. > :17:01.the game. At various stages we could have stopped and done the

:17:01. > :17:07.analysis but it would have been a different complexion of the game.

:17:07. > :17:17.It started flat. Totally flat and by the end of the second half it

:17:17. > :17:20.

:17:20. > :17:24.was a really good game. Italy are I think we scored a lovely try.

:17:24. > :17:30.do not think Ireland engaged properly for the first 20 minutes.

:17:30. > :17:35.It was sloppy. At that stage they had 65% of possession but did not

:17:35. > :17:40.use it too well. Before the match I was thinking what are we looking

:17:40. > :17:44.at? I was hoping we could look at Earls because he is filling the

:17:44. > :17:51.shirt of legend Brian O'Driscoll, and what a way to make your mark.

:17:51. > :17:55.He is under a lot of pressure. This came first from D'Arcy, a bouncing

:17:55. > :18:05.ball makes it hard for defence. That basically set up the field

:18:05. > :18:08.

:18:08. > :18:12.kids, hold your debt. He takes a couple of steps back but it gives

:18:12. > :18:17.them enough momentum when he gets the ball to run on to it and brush

:18:17. > :18:20.over the tackle there. It was a really good score. If he get

:18:20. > :18:24.anywhere near the line he scores well, some of the rest of his game

:18:24. > :18:28.may be not up to be scrapped of O'Driscoll but he knows where the

:18:28. > :18:31.try-line is. When you are they established partnership like that

:18:31. > :18:40.and a player that does play the same way as O'Driscoll plays, is

:18:40. > :18:43.It is but D'Arcy is a Senior guy there, he needs to take more

:18:43. > :18:46.control and responsibility and deliver for his younger partner.

:18:46. > :18:51.That is what makes rugby fantastic, different things happen and you

:18:51. > :18:56.must react. We talked about how important the back rows of both

:18:56. > :19:04.teams were. Early on there was an exchange between Heaslip and

:19:04. > :19:13.Parisse which gave Italy the thumbs up, I guess. Sergio is a good ball

:19:13. > :19:18.carrier, you can see here. But I think what happens here is top

:19:18. > :19:28.level. Botes back row is really good but Italy are playing well

:19:28. > :19:31.

:19:31. > :19:41.with the three we have at the back. that, good hands, good space, and

:19:41. > :19:43.

:19:43. > :19:53.and he is at the centre of everything good that it's any do.

:19:53. > :19:58.

:19:58. > :20:03.He was not taking any chances where Parisse is an iconic captain, or is

:20:03. > :20:10.at the centre of everything. You go yourselves a try right on the

:20:10. > :20:14.stroke of half-time. -- you get yourselves. Ireland had a chance to

:20:14. > :20:18.take the score, they to good. They kicked into the corner twice in the

:20:18. > :20:22.first half to make certain they could go for seven points, which is

:20:22. > :20:32.a risky strategy but one they believe in. But it was a pass that

:20:32. > :20:38.to bounce, or bounces, people come out of the line, they do not know

:20:38. > :20:44.where it is going. I would have stuck my head down, it was very

:20:45. > :20:54.unselfish of him. Maybe Steven Ferris just wants to keep his head

:20:55. > :20:58.

:20:58. > :21:03.Bowe was with us a year ago, on the touchline. The walls. He struggled

:21:03. > :21:09.a few weeks ago when he played against Wales but when he gets the

:21:09. > :21:12.chance again he will score -- he was. Botes an interesting selection.

:21:12. > :21:20.We discussed that earlier. He missed a couple of crucial kicks

:21:20. > :21:30.against England but today he was kicking from the off. -- his

:21:30. > :21:32.

:21:32. > :21:37.it. This is not his position, his position is No. 9. Faure man who

:21:37. > :21:42.has known his position, this is his second or third Test, playing Ellis

:21:42. > :21:45.level, he is doing all right. so tough for Italy. They are

:21:45. > :21:50.getting their chances but not taking them and it becomes very

:21:50. > :21:54.hard. It reminds me of Ireland in the late 1990s. I remember playing

:21:54. > :21:58.them, we had a good pack of forwards, we were not really

:21:58. > :22:02.setting the world alight in the back line and we were playing a

:22:02. > :22:05.style that suited us. Italy have played a style that has suited them

:22:05. > :22:13.for the last the years but they are trying to expand it, but they need

:22:13. > :22:17.a goal kicker and a 10 to take It is the 30th parents in strong,

:22:17. > :22:25.and Dominguez, so it is the most unsettling area of the pitch. --

:22:25. > :22:35.pairing. It is, after them, it is difficult to fit into it.

:22:35. > :22:38.

:22:38. > :22:43.Frustrating as a Ford? Sometimes. - - as a forward. You're thinking...

:22:43. > :22:53.I can't say in the studio what I am thinking. I have heard about your

:22:53. > :22:58.

:22:58. > :23:08.language! Let's look at This weekend marks the 70th anniversary

:23:08. > :23:21.

:23:21. > :23:31.-- Kian Healey's kick. -- Cian As a prop, if you get a knock-on

:23:31. > :23:35.

:23:35. > :23:45.your head you have to go up and go Tomorrow Scotland take on France at

:23:45. > :24:14.

:24:14. > :24:17.After this game, we have a One of your colleagues looking a

:24:17. > :24:27.lot younger there. A lot younger. What you see happening in the

:24:27. > :24:28.

:24:28. > :24:32.second half? We have the option of bringing on Burton. He might change

:24:32. > :24:35.Botes but I think what Ireland did today in the first half was right,

:24:35. > :24:41.they tried to hit Italy psychologically because they know

:24:41. > :24:46.if it any go 10-10 in half-time, they know how we are about passion

:24:46. > :24:52.and pride, I think it will be something done with confidence in

:24:52. > :24:55.the changing room. I think that helps. Ireland went for the try and

:24:55. > :25:02.go to the changing room with five points ahead, I think that will

:25:02. > :25:09.help a bit. It will be crucial for Italy. 50 minutes is really where

:25:09. > :25:13.the World Cup game that -- is where Ireland came ahead in that game.

:25:13. > :25:17.think both sides played better but it was intensity and accuracy that

:25:17. > :25:26.they showed after 50 minutes and that is what happened. They do not

:25:26. > :25:30.Back to the commentary box. Ready for the second half. What you make

:25:30. > :25:34.of the first half? Where do you see it going in the second? And sure

:25:34. > :25:43.and Ireland come out they will approach the second after for me,

:25:43. > :25:53.I've been your CV influence -- I think you will see the influence of

:25:53. > :26:10.

:26:10. > :26:17.the half-time talk. The Italians chances and exploited the space out

:26:17. > :26:22.wide which they had made. Then they looked like the better side but it

:26:22. > :26:26.was scrappy from Ireland in the first half. It is all too

:26:26. > :26:36.predictable if you are trying to run the ball out of your own 22, it

:26:36. > :26:44.

:26:44. > :26:54.is easier for in -- for Italy to half back on partnership problems

:26:54. > :26:54.

:26:54. > :27:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:27:35. > :27:39.they have had. Trump, and Dominguez as he flung that out. You could see

:27:39. > :27:45.it Italy tried to what Ireland did in the first half, playing out of

:27:45. > :27:49.their 22. Ireland did that really well, now they have a valuable

:27:49. > :27:59.line-up on the Italian 10 yard line. This is a good attacking position

:27:59. > :28:06.

:28:06. > :28:16.now. They really want to do that, at -- half-time. They would love to

:28:16. > :28:36.

:28:37. > :28:41.from Paul O'Connell. The captain is the culprit. That is frustrating,

:28:41. > :28:46.they were building momentum that. Got a bit of penetration, Sean

:28:46. > :28:49.O'Brien let that rock and got behind the gain-line. That has just

:28:50. > :28:53.won the momentum back to Italy. They will find a touch here. They

:28:53. > :29:03.are putting Ireland back in their own half. Not what Declan Kidney

:29:03. > :29:07.

:29:07. > :29:13.touch. I am thinking of all the imports that came to try and fill

:29:13. > :29:20.that Joseph. Craig Gower, from Australia, I think he is leading

:29:20. > :29:23.out the Broncos tomorrow. None of them have really worked. It is like

:29:23. > :29:30.a quarterback in American football, probably the most difficult place

:29:30. > :29:40.to play where maturity and experience count for so much.

:29:40. > :29:58.

:29:58. > :30:08.Almost an overlap appearing there and sense it through but it will

:30:08. > :30:29.

:30:29. > :30:36.Italy. And a penalty for the Italian is. The Irish tackle isn't

:30:36. > :30:40.rolling away. Sean O'Brien is the man penalised. You can see what

:30:40. > :30:45.that has come from but effectively from the turnover position from the

:30:45. > :30:50.penalty that Paul O'Connell giveaway. That gives possession

:30:50. > :30:54.back to Italy. Ireland forced to kick very deep from their own half.

:30:55. > :31:01.It isn't that Italy are doing anything particularly dangerous

:31:01. > :31:05.when they have possession but Alan are just giving away penalties and

:31:05. > :31:09.spending too much time in their own half. They have to hold on to

:31:09. > :31:13.possession and that is really about discipline and concentration and

:31:13. > :31:17.controlled aggression. Falls onto the shoulders and the boot of

:31:17. > :31:27.Tobias Botes. He has not long qualified through his residency

:31:27. > :31:53.

:31:53. > :32:01.kick. And he knows. Again, you have to keep the scoreboard moving and

:32:01. > :32:07.take your chances but that was wide by a long way. The width of two

:32:07. > :32:15.posts, miles away. That will dishearten the rest of the team.

:32:15. > :32:25.Sergio Parisse, doing his best to carry. Paul O'Connell flopped down

:32:25. > :32:25.

:32:26. > :32:32.on it. D'Arcy. Ferris. He gets away well. Ireland keep it alive. Sexton.

:32:32. > :32:42.And Sean O'Brien. He sings his shoulder into Leonardo Ghiraldini.

:32:42. > :32:50.Jamie Heaslip. Still going. Donnacha O'Callaghan. Ireland

:32:50. > :32:58.looking to punish Italy for their mistakes. Conor Murray. D'Arcy

:32:58. > :33:03.again. Stephen Ferris is through! The ball is loose and Italy will

:33:03. > :33:13.have it. Even as Gordon D'Arcy stretches over the line. Scrum to

:33:13. > :33:16.Italy. That was a great tackle coming in. Ferris does well. It was

:33:16. > :33:23.well covered. Tommy Bowe was well covered. That was good Italian

:33:23. > :33:28.defence. That is what we want to see Stephen There is doing, taking

:33:28. > :33:38.the ball on himself. He is such a powerful runner, he can really get

:33:38. > :33:38.

:33:38. > :33:48.behind this Italian defence. -- Stephen Fairless. Looking for Tommy

:33:48. > :33:55.Bowe again. And he is a huge figure. It bounced through Quintin

:33:55. > :34:01.Geldenhuys on the second row. So, pressure on the Italians in the

:34:01. > :34:05.shadow of their own posts. This has given Ireland field position. Italy

:34:05. > :34:09.are under pressure and there will have to play in their own half. At

:34:09. > :34:13.some stage, Ireland will want to make sure they put this back as

:34:14. > :34:23.deep as possible into the Italian half. Force the shallow kick to

:34:24. > :34:45.

:34:45. > :34:54.touch. Leonardo Ghiraldini. Well Ireland get the squeeze on Italy?

:34:54. > :35:01.This will go the way of the Ireland penalty. The scrum have been doing

:35:01. > :35:06.their work. They did have a few difficulties in the first half.

:35:06. > :35:10.Italy are then just pushed back. That was a great effort from the

:35:10. > :35:20.Irish front five. Jonathan Sexton will not pass up this opportunity,

:35:20. > :35:25.

:35:25. > :35:32.will he? I think it was a Michele Rizzo standing up. A few months ago,

:35:32. > :35:42.-- moments ago, it looked like Ireland would be forcing themselves

:35:42. > :36:16.

:36:16. > :36:20.And Ireland have a ten-point advantage. When you can take your

:36:20. > :36:25.point and get into position, as Ireland have been doing and Italy

:36:25. > :36:29.have not... That puts more daylight between them and turns the pressure

:36:29. > :36:39.back on a plea, which should make it easier for Ireland but they need

:36:39. > :36:43.

:36:43. > :36:53.to keep discipline. Conor Murray swipes at Downfield. Andrea Masi.

:36:53. > :36:54.

:36:54. > :37:00.He crashes into he leave. That little chip. -- into Cian Healy. In

:37:00. > :37:05.the end, he did very well, the flanker. Carried on by Lorenzo

:37:05. > :37:15.Cittadini. The ball is out, says the referee and it comes back into

:37:15. > :37:18.the Italian half. Accidental offside, Ireland scrum. Tobias

:37:18. > :37:22.Botes, he has executed those little chips very well but because

:37:22. > :37:26.Islander concentrating on getting faster defence and leaving some

:37:26. > :37:36.space behind, that is something that Italy have worked on before

:37:36. > :37:40.this game. Robert Barbieri was wise to it. Canadian by birth from

:37:41. > :37:50.Toronto. His brother made his debut for Canada on the same day that he

:37:50. > :38:00.made his debut for Italy. Worth pointing out that both Italian

:38:00. > :38:06.

:38:06. > :38:14.half-backs are also a scrum hands. -- harms. --halfs. Ireland with the

:38:14. > :38:22.ball and Stephen Frears. Rob Kearney, steps out of the 22 and

:38:22. > :38:31.sends it towards the boots of Giovanbattista Venditti. The one

:38:31. > :38:35.macro comes forward. -- Andrea Masi. And that is the penalty. Well, that

:38:35. > :38:40.might have seemed like kick into nothing by Rob Kearney but to be

:38:40. > :38:45.honest, the way this Italian side are playing, they have not been

:38:45. > :38:49.kicking particularly well. They're far too deep. I can see Ireland

:38:49. > :38:59.using that more and forcing Italy to make those bad kicks. That gives

:38:59. > :39:00.

:39:00. > :39:05.them possession back again in a better position. And a wild slice

:39:05. > :39:11.from the outset of the but. They will have a line-out but not much

:39:11. > :39:16.ground gained. The stadium very quiet today. Just little sparkles

:39:16. > :39:26.of life as Ireland have come forward. And the noise again is

:39:26. > :39:32.

:39:32. > :39:42.really only coming from Italian O'Callaghan. Sexton. Pots inside to

:39:42. > :39:52.Tommy Bowe. Ferris with that dive. Rob Kearney, he frees himself.

:39:52. > :39:52.

:39:52. > :40:00.Eventually taken down by his opposite number, Andrea Masi. Rory

:40:00. > :40:10.Best. But D'Arcy had not arrived into position. Ireland still look

:40:10. > :40:12.

:40:12. > :40:22.more dangerous than Italy when they get the chance to run. O'Connell.

:40:22. > :40:26.

:40:26. > :40:32.Connery looks both ways and finds Sexton. D'Arcy. Ugly pass. It did

:40:32. > :40:40.not go forward, says the referee. And Keith Earls sense that this

:40:40. > :40:44.wonderful kick. And makes it very best of pretty poor position.

:40:44. > :40:49.Sergio Parisse is complaining but I am not sure that ball did go

:40:50. > :40:59.forward? I think the referee was right. Actually, it did drop short

:41:00. > :41:01.

:41:01. > :41:06.of the line. Sergio Parisse thought it was out on the full. The change

:41:06. > :41:15.being in at scrum half for Ireland. On comes Eoin Reddan. And off goes

:41:16. > :41:25.Conor Murray. He was just a little hesitant and Declan Kidney want a

:41:25. > :41:35.bad ball away quicker. Good driving from Italy. Leonardo Ghiraldini. He

:41:35. > :41:38.

:41:38. > :41:45.has gone backwards. Sergio Parisse, unchallenged. Rory Best eventually

:41:45. > :41:55.takes him down. Ireland get the penalty. Italy holding onto the

:41:55. > :41:57.

:41:57. > :42:01.ball. Again, the side is trying to play rugby out of their own half.

:42:01. > :42:08.This is like role reversal from the first half. Well Ireland go for the

:42:08. > :42:13.posts or pressure? I think they will go for pressure. Rob Kearney,

:42:13. > :42:19.left-footed, coming up for the kick to touch. The this will meet with

:42:19. > :42:27.general approval inside Lansdowne Road. Sergio Parisse is disgruntled.

:42:27. > :42:33.And he does that. Just taking Ireland into the 22. That was the

:42:33. > :42:39.right play. They really want to keep this pressure up on Italy and

:42:39. > :42:49.keep them deep within their own half. A Ireland had a line-out but

:42:49. > :42:51.

:42:51. > :43:01.their hooker, Rory Best, is still being patched up. Sergio Parisse.

:43:01. > :43:09.His facial expression says, I think you are wrong. So, Rory Best is

:43:09. > :43:13.back with us and Ireland have this attacking line-out. And the volume

:43:13. > :43:19.has been turned up again, just for the moment. This is a very long

:43:19. > :43:28.throw. Challenged well and stolen at the back by Italy. Good work

:43:28. > :43:38.from the Italians. And a chance for Edoardo Gori to clear. Still comes

:43:38. > :43:39.

:43:39. > :43:49.back to Italy. Lorenzo Cittadini. Edoardo Gori, sending it longer

:43:49. > :43:57.

:43:57. > :44:05.this time. Sexton. Trimble coming into the line. Rob Kearney, he

:44:05. > :44:15.steps around one, two out- accelerate. -- and accelerates. And

:44:15. > :44:15.

:44:15. > :44:25.the space opening up for Ireland. D'Arcy. Eoin Reddan. Keith Earls.

:44:25. > :44:27.

:44:27. > :44:33.O'Brien alongside for some muscle. Eoin Reddan finds Paul O'Connell.

:44:33. > :44:40.Straight into Alessandro Zanni. The ball goes lose. But a legally

:44:40. > :44:43.slapped back by Italy and Ireland have another penalty. That was

:44:43. > :44:52.great play from Rob Kearney, he has really looked greatness afternoon

:44:52. > :44:58.and he has found space. He has always broken the game down.

:44:58. > :45:04.Ireland just running back into this crowded area again. Sexton will

:45:04. > :45:12.have a go at this. And a change of plan. The last plan did not work.

:45:12. > :45:22.Italy waiting to make some changes. On the wings. Antonio Pavanello and

:45:22. > :45:22.

:45:22. > :46:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:46:10. > :46:20.and sent it through. Ireland are not moving ahead in leaps and

:46:20. > :46:24.

:46:24. > :46:34.bounds but moving ahead anyway. Italy, Botes is off and Chris

:46:34. > :46:40.

:46:40. > :46:50.Burton on in his place. Ireland back row for Sean O'Brien. -- Peter

:46:50. > :46:50.

:46:50. > :48:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:48:48. > :48:55.quick ruck ball, so they set it up. Ferris produces it, that is that

:48:55. > :48:59.strong running again that we wanted to see. They wanted to produce that,

:48:59. > :49:02.that pass from Sexton had to be picture-perfect. He committed

:49:02. > :49:08.himself to the intercept and probably would have gone all the

:49:08. > :49:13.way. Ireland are really now on top. The sustained territorial pressure

:49:13. > :49:19.has yielded points. The end they get these chances you feel a try is

:49:19. > :49:23.always going to come but every time they get into the 22... By its

:49:23. > :49:27.right, all they need to do is produce that one quick ball, if

:49:27. > :49:30.they slowed down, they go again. Getting the likes of Stephen Ferris

:49:30. > :49:40.on that ball, running straight and hard, taking a few defenders with

:49:40. > :49:48.

:49:48. > :49:58.him, quick ball back. I was a bit perfect kicking record so far today

:49:58. > :50:10.

:50:10. > :50:15.points now file and in the final quarter of this match. Italy looked

:50:15. > :50:24.beaten. This is where it gets difficult for them. Psychologically

:50:24. > :50:28.they need to keep their heads up and get territory. If they start

:50:28. > :50:33.trying to sit back and let Ireland come on to them, Ireland could

:50:33. > :50:41.easily score another 12. In what is left of this game. More changes for

:50:42. > :50:51.Italy which will bring -- its LEA - Canale coming on, an experienced

:50:52. > :51:12.

:51:12. > :51:22.back. -- Italy, Kamali is coming on. centre. -- Canale. Italy will have

:51:22. > :51:22.

:51:22. > :51:27.moment from the Italian back line. They caught Ireland culled from the

:51:27. > :51:30.restart. No real sign from Head's - - of heads going down there from

:51:30. > :51:40.Italy. The attack that position with intensity and nearly pulled it

:51:40. > :51:50.

:51:50. > :52:00.since he came on. There is Peter money earning his first cap for

:52:00. > :52:03.Ireland today. -- Peter O'Mahoney. It has been a difficult afternoon

:52:03. > :52:07.for Sean O'Brien, Ireland have not had the go forward possession that

:52:07. > :52:12.he likes to be taken, too much of the time they were looking to the

:52:12. > :52:17.back row to get the momentum going. Sean O'Brien prefer somebody else

:52:17. > :52:23.to get their his initial picks, then he can come deep making those

:52:23. > :52:33.lines. Ferris has been impressive. He has pretty much broken the game

:52:33. > :52:33.

:52:33. > :53:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:53:21. > :53:31.and every time he has got the ball outside at the moment. They have

:53:31. > :53:31.

:53:31. > :54:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:54:50. > :54:52.will wait until after this line-out. It was so good, there was no way

:54:53. > :54:58.the chase could have stopped the quick line-outs and Italy have

:54:58. > :55:04.chosen not to take it. That is the rip, who ripped the ball out of

:55:04. > :55:14.Parisse's hands, a grey steel by Paula, King of for the penalty. --

:55:14. > :55:42.

:55:42. > :55:46.into the Italian half. The referee said knock-on, it looked like it

:55:46. > :55:51.went backwards. Italy survive that Irish attack. A Mike Ross will be

:55:51. > :55:55.looking forward to the Monday Vidya session when he sees that. He is in

:55:55. > :56:05.a place where he does not need to be. He is cutting out the long pass

:56:05. > :56:23.

:56:23. > :56:33.and is not dynamic enough to be coming on. Five changes have been

:56:33. > :56:34.

:56:34. > :56:44.made for it to be. That is the on, well, he came on briefly, then

:56:44. > :56:46.

:56:46. > :56:52.went back. Looked like they move Tommy Bowe into inside centre. --

:56:52. > :56:56.they moved. The reason we are fussing so much about Ronan O'Gara

:56:56. > :57:03.is that he will become Ireland's record cup holder ahead of Brian

:57:03. > :57:13.O'Driscoll if and when he comes on. Tom caught and Sean Cronin getting

:57:13. > :57:18.

:57:18. > :57:23.ready there. -- Tom Court. Declan Kidney is deep inside but stadium.

:57:23. > :57:33.I wonder what he makes of this? At times it has been good, at other

:57:33. > :57:43.

:57:43. > :57:53.replacements now? Not yet. Ronan O'Gara is disrobe, not entirely, he

:57:53. > :58:11.

:58:11. > :58:21.held it at the back and marched them a few yards. A chance here for

:58:21. > :58:50.

:58:50. > :58:58.binding by Ireland at the scrum. to come on for Ireland. Three of

:58:58. > :59:08.them. Sean Cronin comes on for Rory Best. There is a Ronan O'Gara, Cat

:59:08. > :59:09.

:59:09. > :59:12.No. 118 for Ireland. -- cap. One more than O'Driscoll. Hundred and

:59:12. > :59:22.18 caps since he made his debut back in 2000. Incredible

:59:22. > :59:22.

:59:22. > :00:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 66 seconds

:00:12. > :00:18.through the Irish ranks. Ireland will certainly want to take this

:00:18. > :00:25.momentum and score another try in the final 10 minutes. It isn't easy.

:00:25. > :00:31.Still another 10 minutes left. And the substitutes are breaking up the

:00:31. > :00:41.pattern, Tommy Bowe in the centre. That is a real mistake from Ronan

:00:41. > :00:45.

:00:46. > :00:55.O'Gara. He has thrown back loose kick. Anti- spirals that one into

:00:55. > :01:05.touch. Yes, just as Ronan O'Gara missed that, Paul O'Connell really

:01:05. > :01:09.was going beyond again. Great support. The substitutes are

:01:09. > :01:14.breaking up the combinations. Tommy Bowe has been working really hard

:01:14. > :01:24.from his wing. It will be up to Fergus McFadden to start doing some

:01:24. > :01:32.

:01:32. > :01:36.of that work. The hooker from I Rony is on. The territory, just

:01:36. > :01:46.about the same percentages. And in the second half, they made that

:01:46. > :01:52.

:01:52. > :01:59.play. Just about back on his feet. Tommaso D'Apice waits. The stuffing

:01:59. > :02:04.seems to have been knocked out of Italy just a little bit. Level at

:02:04. > :02:14.10 - 10 just before half-time and that try just before the break for

:02:14. > :02:17.

:02:17. > :02:20.Ireland was telling. Ireland have pulled away in the second half.

:02:20. > :02:28.suppose the big one is that turnovers. Italy have turned

:02:28. > :02:38.Ireland over six times. Or, conceding six of them, I should say.

:02:38. > :02:48.

:02:48. > :02:58.An Ireland conceding only two of that long. 180 points only against

:02:58. > :03:08.

:03:08. > :03:12.Italy. Italy have changed the scrum half. There he is. Fabio Semenzato.

:03:12. > :03:22.Enjoying his first touch of the ball somewhere down there. And the

:03:22. > :03:23.

:03:23. > :03:32.scrum to Ireland. Another hold up. The crowd have gone quiet, we have

:03:32. > :03:37.entered that quiet time when we are thinking about the final whistle.

:03:37. > :03:44.Ireland will want to finish this off. They will want to at least

:03:44. > :03:49.make the score board flatter. It has been slightly below

:03:49. > :03:59.expectations in terms of performance. The penalty to Ireland.

:03:59. > :04:06.

:04:06. > :04:11.Number one penalised. Keep your head and shoulders above. The tight

:04:12. > :04:17.outside, he has gone down almost immediately, conceding that penalty.

:04:17. > :04:23.What can Ireland do from this line out? Sean Cronin with his first

:04:23. > :04:32.throw. Just a reminder that England against Wales at Twickenham is

:04:33. > :04:36.coming up at 4 o'clock. Not that we have given up entirely on this one.

:04:36. > :04:46.Ireland would like a force tried to put the gloss on a performance that

:04:46. > :04:56.has been patchy. -- 4th try. They are just walking Italy back to

:04:56. > :04:56.

:04:56. > :05:06.their own 22. Tommy Bowe. Almost coming through at the angle...

:05:06. > :05:06.

:05:06. > :05:16.Penalty to Ireland. Quickly taken by Eoin Reddan. Again, Ireland

:05:16. > :05:25.picking up the pace. Rob Kearney is in there. Sean Cronin, the

:05:25. > :05:35.replacement hooker. Bon Reddan. Jamie Heaslip could not quite get

:05:35. > :05:40.

:05:40. > :05:50.the ball away. Fergus McFadden steps in. Ronan O'Gara. Into some

:05:50. > :05:55.

:05:55. > :06:02.heavy traffic. Still with Ireland, though. O'Connell. Within five

:06:02. > :06:11.metres of the Italian line. Closing in. But that that will not gone

:06:11. > :06:17.from Italy to see if that try. The scrum to Ireland. Ireland seemed to

:06:17. > :06:26.have the upper hand. In the second half. Everybody would have loved to

:06:26. > :06:35.have seen Paul O'Connell going the distance, there. Ireland have won

:06:35. > :06:40.the ball 38 times at the 22. It has been pretty one-sided in the

:06:40. > :06:45.statistics and on the scoreboard. And the sense that Ireland might

:06:45. > :06:55.just finish this off with another try. They have a big blind-side to

:06:55. > :07:00.

:07:00. > :07:10.operate with. It looks like they will pack that line-out. That could

:07:10. > :07:39.

:07:39. > :07:49.well just to be bringing Italian quickly. O'Connell. Their chance,

:07:49. > :07:49.

:07:49. > :07:59.still. Still held at bay, three metres out. The advantage again.

:07:59. > :08:03.

:08:03. > :08:08.The penalty coming for them. So close. Yes! They try is given. The

:08:08. > :08:18.referee is looking to his assistant but the try has been given. No. 4

:08:18. > :08:28.for Ireland. Tom Court got the ball down eventually. He was pleased

:08:28. > :08:29.

:08:29. > :08:37.with that one. Still five points. Ireland certainly would have scored

:08:37. > :08:42.because they had the numbers outside. He had to make it count,

:08:42. > :08:52.and he did. The first international try, I think, for Tom Court.

:08:52. > :08:53.

:08:53. > :08:58.Absolutely. He'd just got it, there. Through Tommaso D'Apice. The

:08:58. > :09:08.defection of the ball touching the line. That is enough. The first try

:09:08. > :09:26.

:09:26. > :09:35.for Ireland. Sexton will continue, handsome victory for Ireland, now.

:09:35. > :09:40.And a couple of minutes remaining. All-Ireland really needed to do was

:09:40. > :09:50.spend time down at the 22. Any decent ball, they have been

:09:50. > :10:05.

:10:05. > :10:15.converting their chances. His 7th kick from seven attempts. Italy

:10:15. > :10:25.have looked distinctly second best again. That was secured by Peter

:10:25. > :10:45.

:10:45. > :10:55.O'Mahony. Kristopher Burton. Giovanbattista Venditti. 50 seconds

:10:55. > :11:01.

:11:02. > :11:05.remaining. The man-of-the-match, presumably for his kicking...

:11:06. > :11:14.the challenge from Andrew Trimble. It will be another try for Ireland!

:11:14. > :11:19.And Andrew Trimble has a gift from Ed Leigh. Just about as the clock

:11:19. > :11:27.hits. 40 minutes are up and Ireland are completely and utterly out of

:11:27. > :11:33.sight. I think Declan Kidney will have a couple of things to say

:11:33. > :11:43.about that. Lovely dummy. Just come across. He will never be caught

:11:43. > :11:43.

:11:43. > :11:52.from there. Donnacha O'Callaghan looks reasonably happy with the

:11:52. > :11:58.proceedings. And Andrew Trimble, with his 10th try for Ireland. It

:11:58. > :12:03.looks on the scoreboard as if it has been emphatic. But the

:12:03. > :12:09.performance, they will know, leaves room for improvement. By I don't

:12:09. > :12:13.think Declan Kidney would alter anything other than that margin.

:12:13. > :12:22.There are some things he has to work on. In terms of management of

:12:22. > :12:27.territory. But overall, I think he would be happy enough. They have

:12:27. > :12:32.often played better. And not come out with that margin. The final

:12:32. > :12:42.kick, fittingly, going to the Man of the Match. With his eighth

:12:42. > :12:50.

:12:50. > :12:54.attempt. Seven successful so far. He fails. Disappointment at the

:12:54. > :13:02.last but apart from that, it was a complete performance from Jonathan

:13:02. > :13:07.Sexton. And Ireland by the pottery emphatic winners. 42 - 10. They

:13:07. > :13:13.will be very happy with that margin. That gets their Six Nations back on

:13:13. > :13:16.the road again. A few things to think about, territory, they spent

:13:16. > :13:23.too much time in their own half but overall they will be pretty pleased

:13:23. > :13:29.with that result. The other side is that Italy were pretty poor at

:13:29. > :13:32.times and deservedly second best. Would they go? Ireland know that

:13:32. > :13:37.they go on this mad tour around the other cities for the next three

:13:38. > :13:42.weeks. They have a hectic schedule. They had the game against France to

:13:42. > :13:47.deal with. They have a decent physical test ahead of that. But

:13:48. > :13:51.they know that that performance will not do in Paris and they will

:13:51. > :13:56.have to step their match up a little bit. At least they were

:13:56. > :14:00.dangerous when they got the quick ball and into the 22, they were

:14:00. > :14:04.converting opportunities. Italy, the old traditional weaknesses

:14:04. > :14:09.exposed with that lack of creativity. They cannot find the

:14:09. > :14:15.right man for that pivotal role. The same winning margin as it was

:14:15. > :14:20.in the World Cup. It does not get any easier for Italy. They are in

:14:20. > :14:24.Cardiff in two weeks. They finished up playing against Scotland at the

:14:24. > :14:32.Olympic Stadium in Rome. Ireland play France next Sunday. And then

:14:32. > :14:35.Scotland and then England at Congratulations and it was an

:14:35. > :14:40.emphatic win in the end against Italy but what about that

:14:40. > :14:48.performance? It was a good team performance, we played a lot of

:14:48. > :14:53.rugby in our own half and in the first half. The scores came. Told

:14:53. > :14:58.about having to break down this team. Just about keeping composer?

:14:58. > :15:02.All week, it took us 50 minutes to break them down in the World Cup.

:15:02. > :15:07.They are a very strong physical team. But we script The victory in

:15:07. > :15:12.the end and it was well needed. good to see you Ulster team-mate

:15:12. > :15:15.running in with at the 5th try? was good to see him on the

:15:15. > :15:19.scoresheet and rounded this off nicely. One or two disappointing

:15:19. > :15:23.results in the Aviva Stadium of late. Did you feel as if you owe

:15:24. > :15:28.something to the crowd? We talked about putting in a big performance.

:15:28. > :15:32.Yes, it came in the end. The result was the main thing. We worked hard

:15:32. > :15:36.all week and I were still level was fantastic and I think we got

:15:36. > :15:46.ourselves to another level. We need to keep it going. We have three

:15:46. > :15:48.

:15:48. > :15:58.tough games ahead of us but Redemption for Ferris after that

:15:58. > :16:12.

:16:12. > :16:17.opening match against Wales. This What are you most pleased about

:16:17. > :16:23.with that victory? The size of it, the fact it was a victory, at that

:16:23. > :16:27.they did score tries at the end of it, that the guys that came off the

:16:27. > :16:31.bench played well, that there was a new captain Peter O'Mahoney, who

:16:31. > :16:34.has a big future, they looked strong in the second half but had

:16:34. > :16:38.been they put themselves under a lot of pressure so there is a lot

:16:38. > :16:44.to work on. Was there a bit of rustiness, lethargy, having missed

:16:44. > :16:50.that game, in the first half? It took them a while to warm up.

:16:50. > :16:55.not sure if it was rustiness, or lack of intensity. That is where I

:16:55. > :16:58.would retreat -- worry. The St you can get over, intensity, that is a

:16:58. > :17:02.fortnight that they had not played with the attention to detail which

:17:02. > :17:08.could be down to lack of intensity, which I think it probably is.

:17:08. > :17:12.were you most disappointed about? The discipline? We did in the

:17:12. > :17:16.second half what we did not do in the first half and at this level

:17:16. > :17:23.you cannot miss a tackle, make mistakes, or missed penalties,

:17:23. > :17:28.which is what we did. Italy lost the game in that first few minutes.

:17:28. > :17:38.That scrum we lost, I told you before the game, I think we put --

:17:38. > :17:45.

:17:45. > :17:51.The score is a big margin, we have a lot to work on. I think it was

:17:51. > :17:54.redemption for Ferris, man of the match. Grey bricks from him. One

:17:55. > :18:04.eventually led to Tommy Bowe's second try. This one could have

:18:05. > :18:13.

:18:13. > :18:19.Canale shouldn't have come and at the end of it. -- come in. None of

:18:19. > :18:26.the forwards at the right side could get to the left, then one big

:18:26. > :18:32.well placed pass to the end. See the power and strength of the push.

:18:32. > :18:35.A very quick ball, but if you look at the Sexton pass, he looked up,

:18:36. > :18:41.saw where the Italian defenders were, it was a lovely pass, good

:18:41. > :18:49.score for Tommy Bowe. We may have made ferrous man of the match but

:18:49. > :18:55.made ferrous man of the match but We will give it to him. Tom Court

:18:55. > :18:57.came on and made an impact. It was one of the key elements of the win,

:18:57. > :19:07.the impact of the players coming in the impact of the players coming in

:19:07. > :19:10.

:19:10. > :19:20.off the bench. You can even see in this that a Ryan gets a good game

:19:20. > :19:34.

:19:34. > :19:40.line -- Donnacha Ryan gets a good looked tired, they were struggling,

:19:40. > :19:50.falling off tackles. Ireland looked more comfortable in the last 20

:19:50. > :19:50.

:19:50. > :20:00.minutes. I think the changes made a Donnacha Ryan in the second row,

:20:00. > :20:03.

:20:03. > :20:06.for me, I can't understand why he I think he has played well and when

:20:07. > :20:10.you have a foreign player who has an impact like that when he steps

:20:10. > :20:15.on, he needs to be picked. Botes, we talked about your frustration,

:20:15. > :20:19.the kicks he missed, the drop goal, the field position he failed to

:20:19. > :20:29.gain for Italy. He had a great gain for Italy. He had a great

:20:29. > :20:34.

:20:34. > :20:41.had to hold for 50 minutes, it is like that, and a thing we need to

:20:41. > :20:46.work a lot. It is not our physicality, all passion, it is

:20:46. > :20:56.making mistakes when we do not need to. I think we paid for that.

:20:56. > :20:57.

:20:57. > :21:02.kind of killed off the Italian When you lose a line-out at five

:21:02. > :21:08.metres, that kind of thing is really hard for a forward. But is

:21:08. > :21:12.that time, 15 minutes, that Ireland pulled away and eventually that is

:21:12. > :21:16.what happened, very frustrating. For a team like Italy you're trying

:21:16. > :21:20.to change, there will always be the case if they do not take their

:21:20. > :21:23.points because they need to be 15 minutes in having taken every

:21:23. > :21:28.opportunity, almost in the lead, and they would have been if they

:21:28. > :21:32.put over the points. But instead they are 10 points down, struggling,

:21:32. > :21:37.things are not going against them, they are getting tired. You are

:21:37. > :21:42.fitter if you're in with a chance of the game, and they were out of

:21:43. > :21:52.it almost at that stage. Two more games this weekend. Wales against

:21:53. > :21:55.

:21:55. > :22:00.England at Twickenham coming up Let's have a quick word on the

:22:00. > :22:09.England-Wales game. What did you make of England in Rome? I played

:22:09. > :22:15.for 30 minutes but I think England were not playing at the level there

:22:15. > :22:22.used to play, but maybe Wales is the favourite to win this game. It

:22:22. > :22:28.is not easy to win against England at home. I know what home means for

:22:28. > :22:34.the English people and I don't think it will help Wales. But Wales

:22:34. > :22:40.have shown how good they are here. I do not think England will let

:22:40. > :22:45.them win easily. I think it is a big plus. I think England should

:22:45. > :22:48.have lost the first two matches and did not, that is a great thing to

:22:48. > :22:51.have. They have not played as well as they would have liked but still

:22:51. > :22:56.come away with victories which will give them confidence. I think to

:22:56. > :23:00.lead the makes them a stronger team. Nick Mallett has put his name in

:23:00. > :23:08.the ring for the England job, he played with them for a long time,

:23:08. > :23:13.would he be a good England manager? I do not think -- if you ask me as

:23:13. > :23:20.a player, it means a lot, I think he made us grow a lot as an Italian

:23:20. > :23:27.team. It was a big loss for us. He has a lot of passion and if you

:23:27. > :23:32.need to say something to his face, he will say it. I love him and it

:23:33. > :23:38.is -- he is a great man. Thank you so much, I know you are frustrated

:23:38. > :23:43.because you would rather be down there. I promise you we would do it