France rejoice a Six Nations win as Ireland finish third

IT’S France who were celebrating tonight as they overcame a plucky Scotland side who fought right up to the final whistle as this year’s Guinness Six Nations came to a closure. Ireland were first to gain a bonus point victory on Super Saturday when they got the better of Italy but it was closer than expected. They can thank replacement Bundee Aki for their win having put in a saving tackle in the dying minutes on right wing Ange Capuozzo with the try line in view. Italy scored first, Monty Ioane going over and Tommaso Allan kicking the conversion. Hugo Keenan replied with a try on 23 minutes which was converted by Jack Crowley to level the score.

The Italians replied with a penalty by Allan to go 10-7 ahead but Ireland went in at the break leading 10-12 thanks to a try by Dan Sheehan, Crowley’s conversion sailing well off target. Eight minutes into the second half Dan Sheehan was on the score sheet once again, going over in the corner to put his side into a 10-17 lead but Crowley again missed the conversion. The busy TMO disallowed a touch down but Ireland increased their lead to 10-22 when Dan Sheehan again breached the Italian rearguard to make it 10-22. From there to the final whistle, with Italy down to 14 players since early in the first half, Ireland had to defend courageously but they conceded another try when Stephen Varney pounced on a bouncing ball inside the Irish try line and Tommaso Allan converted. In a nail-biting last few minutes, Italy lost possession of the ball near the visitors’ goal line after Bundee Aki put in that powerful tackle.

With France beating Scotland, England putting up a big score against Wales and France getting the better against Scotland, Ireland finish third.

Italy: Tommaso Allan (USAP, France); Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby, capt), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Monty Ioane (LOU, France); Paolo Garbisi (RC Toulon), Martin Page-Relo (LOU, France); Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma), Gianmarco Lucchesi (RC Toulon), Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Dino Lamb (Harlequins), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby). Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Francais), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby), Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs), Stephen Varney (RC Vannes, France), Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby).

Ireland: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht); Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster); James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster, capt). Replacements: Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster), Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster); Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht).

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)

TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

Overall head-to-head: Played 38, Italy 4 wins, 0 draws, Ireland 34 wins.

Last five meetings: (2024) Ireland 36 Italy 0. (2023) Ireland 33 Italy 17. (2023): Italy 20 Ireland 34-20; (2022) Ireland 57 Italy 6. (2021) Italy 10 Ireland 48. Italy 17-Ireland 22.

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