Eire achieved their first Guinness Six Nations win of the season as they took their thirty fifth check match victory in opposition to Italy on the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Taking part in their 771st check match, and their thirty ninth with Italy for the reason that first assembly of the nations at Lansdowne Highway on 31 December 1988, Andy Farrell’s facet simply held on for the house win.
On an historic day for rugby, Scottish referee Hollie Davidson grew to become the primary girl to referee a males’s Six Nations match.
In a somewhat disappointing first half from an Irish viewpoint, the hosts discovered themselves behind after 40 minutes.
An early Irish alternative was spurned as Dan Sheehan tried to leap over the Italian defence from a standing begin. The Italians stood up, as if they anticipated the transfer, and blew the Irish hooker again into the bottom.
Lynagh despatched to sin bin
Italian winger Louis Lynagh, son of Australian rugby legend Michael, was yellow carded for what referee Hollie Davidson adjudged to be a deliberate knock on. The Scottish official consulted the TMO, and on viewing the display screen, instantly made the choice to sin bin the Italian quantity 14.
Plenty of unforced errors from Eire noticed the house facet lose possession within the opening quarter – a lot to the frustration of followers within the stands.
On the constructive facet, harmful and efficient runs from James Lowe on one wing and Robert Baloucoune on the other helped Eire make subject progress.
Osborne Attempt
It took 17 minutes of the sport earlier than both of the try-scoring strains was breached. Eire, with the benefit of a person, made probably the most of their numerical superiority, with fullback Jamie Osborne given the simple job of touching down, because the Italian line of defense was stretched.
Sam Prendergast missed the conversion try which adopted. Although positioned simply left of the posts, the kicker miscued and noticed his effort drift harmlessly left of the posts.
𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐄 𝐎𝐒𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄! 👏
Eire strike first on the Aviva!
Eire 5-0 Italy#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/sIvCo6hLRp
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026
Garbisi penalty
The Italians quickly lowered the deficit as Paolo Garbisi slotted over a penalty try. By that stage the guests should have been glad to be solely two factors behind the Irish, regardless of the lack of a person for ten minutes.
Yellow card for Craig Casey
On 32 minutes Craig Casey was yellow carded for foul play. With the Munster participant remaining upright within the deal with, he was deemed responsible of harmful play and Eire have been lowered to 14 males.
Italy made the house facet instantly pay for his or her yellow card. Successful a lineout, the Azzurri drove Eire again over their very own line of defense, and hooker Giacomo Nicotera of Stade Francais dived over the road for a attempt.
Paolo Garbisi maintained his 100% kicking report on the day, as he efficiently slotted over his second kick of the afternoon.
Half-time: Eire 5 Italy 10
Eire started the second half at tempo. Tadhg Furlong changed Tom Clarkson in inexperienced. Quickly Andy Farrell made extra adjustments because the recent gamers instantly had an impact throughout the sphere.
Conan’s early second-half attempt
With the the Irish successful the lineout, Eire drove for the Italian line. Powerhouses Caelan Doris and Jack Conan added power from the again of the maul, because the Quantity 8 touched down for the opening rating of the second interval
Sadly for Eire, Sam Prendergast once more missed the kick on the posts – his second miss of the sport to that stage.
𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋!
Nice begin to the second half 👏
Eire 5-10 Italy#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/RwzlEpZQXI
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026
Baloucoune attempt on Six Nations debut
Rob Baloucoune, later named Man of the Match, put the hosts again into the lead as the sport approached the ultimate quarter. The Ulster winger, with choices to move, confirmed nice self-confidence on his Six Nations debut, as he ran after which stretched out for the road.
𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐄! 🔥
What a method to begin your Six Nation’s debut! 💪
Eire 17-10 Italy#IREvITA | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/iUqZt9rbyi
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 14, 2026
With Jack Crowley now enjoying at 10, the Munster man kicked the conversion try which adopted, and Andy Farrell’s males moved right into a 17-10 lead.
Crowley quickly made it a two-score recreation as he dissected the posts along with his first penalty try of the sport. In a match of swinging fortunes, Italy have been subsequent to attain, as Garbisi kicked his second penalty of the fixture.
In an anxious ultimate jiffy of the sport, Italy have been camped on the Irish line till a relieving interception from James Lowe lowered the stress on the Irish defence.
Lowe’s tempo of previous was evident as he raced down the sphere, giving Eire one final probability of attaining a bonus-point attempt, with the clock properly previous 80 minutes.
Jack Crowley, aiming for the touchline, misjudged his kick which went too far, and introduced a sudden finish to the sport, giving Eire their first Guinness Six Nations win of the 2026 season.
Ultimate rating: Eire 20 Italy 13
Eire Staff
15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Robert Baloucoune, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. James Lowe, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Craig Casey.
1. Jeremy Loughman, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Cormac Izuchukwu, 7. Caelan Doris (captain), 8. Jack Conan.
Eire Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Tom O’Toole, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Edwin Edogbo, 20. Tadhg Beirne, 21. Nick Timoney, 22. Jamison Gibson-Park, 23. Jack Crowley.
Italy Staff
15. Lorenzo Pani, 14. Louis Lynagh, 13. Leonardo Marin, 12. Tommaso Menoncello, 11. Monty Ioane, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Alessandro Fusco.
1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Giacomo Nicotera, 3. Simone Ferrari, 4. Niccolo Cannone, 5. Andrea Zambonin, 6. Michele Lamaro (captain), 7. Manuel Zuliani, 8. Lorenzo Cannone.
Italy Replacements
16. Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 17. Mirco Spagnolo, 18. Muhamed Hasa, 19. Federico Ruzza, 20. Riccardo Favretto, 21. David Odiase, 22. Alessandro Garbisi, 23. Paolo Odogwu.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
LiveScores Now Accessible at IrishScores.com
LiveScores Now Accessible at IrishScores.com
