Ireland vs. Italy: Winners and Losers from 2016 RBS 6 Nations Clash

Ireland comprehensively beat Italy 58-15 on Matchday 4 of the 2016 RBS Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Although the Azzurri played well for the first five minutes of the clash, as soon as Andrew Trimble scored Ireland’s first try on six minutes, it was inevitably one-way traffic for the rest of the match.

Ireland, though, at last gave their supporters some rugby to enjoy, crossing the whitewash nine times, including a classic try at the end of the first half finished off by No. 8 Jamie Heaslip.

Ireland’s partial redemption in this Six Nations is underway, and understandably they provide three of Bleacher Report’s winners for this match. Italy have two losers.

Ireland came into the match in patchy form and with supporters and many in the Irish rugby community, including Brian O’Driscoll, demanding a change of style from Joe Schmidt’s team. Answering some of their critics, Ireland were impressive in a nine-try rout, a Six Nations try-scoring record for the men in green.

Irish industry and precision led to 58 points, including this brilliant team try, the best of the championship so far (see video above).

Italy’s game used to be basic: solidity in the scrum and lineout and not much else. Now, even these traditional areas of strengths are letting the Azzurri down.

In the first five minutes at the Aviva, when Italy were at their most threatening, they lost two attacking lineout opportunities to an accidental offside and an aerial steal. They then almost conceded a penalty when Ireland had a scrum five metres from their own line.

As predicted, this opportunity for a good start cost Italy dearly.

And to take just the one most prominent other example, when Italy won a penalty five metres from the Irish line with 10 minutes to play, captain Sergio Parisse opted for the scrum to tie in the Irish forwards and offer his backs a wide open side and an inviting blind side. But they lost the scrum.

Italy should keep looking to be expansive, but they desperately need to resolve their problems at the set piece. 

Joe Schmidt, the Ireland coach, was severely questioned in the week leading up to the Italy match about selection and style, but his team provided a resounding response to the doubters.

After the match, as recorded by the Irish Times, Schmidt modestly noted how Italy’s injuries helped his team. "That gave us space to play and our players revelled in it," he said. "We got scores against France and England that were not awarded so it’s good to get them today. To finally release the pressure valve is nice but I have sympathy for Jacques Brunel."

Italy may not be Six Nations heavy hitters, but surely nobody can complain after Ireland scored their highest number of tries in a championship match.

Italy’s discipline—or lack thereof—hinders their ability to get a foothold in a game, just like their set piece.

To use one example, giving away penalties when in the rival 22 following a restart—and when all the opposition wants to do is kick the ball into touch and return possession—is just madness. In this case, instead of having their exit strategy put under pressure, Ireland were able to clear their lines at their leisure.

Probable incoming coach Conor O’Shea, per the Telegraph, has a lot of work to do to make the Azzurri competitive again.

Sean Cronin had a barnstorming second half after coming in at hooker for Ireland captain Rory Best. I mentioned when Best was appointed skipper by Schmidt that it could turn out to be a badly conceived decision, given Best’s age (33) and the ability of the Leinster No. 2, and albeit against a tiring Italian side, Cronin made quite an impact, with several clean breaks and one try.