Ireland 29 Italy 11
Diarmuid O'Flynn, Croke Park
SUCH is the surgical precision with which Brian O'Driscoll plays that, had he not become one of the best rugby-players this country has ever produced, then this former student of Blackrock College could surely have taken his considerable skills down the road to the Blackrock Clinic.
The dexterity, the sublime hands, the exactness with which he measures the pass and the kick (two second-half efforts touch-finders that would have done any top out-half proud – this was a masterclass from Ireland’s inspirational captain in all of rugby’s finest arts. Throw in the fact that, on the other side of the ball, and as he proved yet again in this game, he is as able as any of the top backrowers in the world, and well, you get the picture. He didn't get man-of-the-match - that went to David Wallace, outstanding in a dominant pack - but then again he has walls full of those. What was important was that Ireland got the win, and thus got the defence of their Grand Slam off to the right start.
The first O'Driscoll incision came in the 15th minute, Ireland leading 3-0 after an early O'Gara penalty (like O'Driscoll, the Corkman was superb, almost foot-perfect during his 65 minutes on the pitch); “Scalpel!” called O'Driscoll, spotting a gap, and O'Gara duly did the honours, firing right to Darcy, who offloaded to O'Driscoll, who flicked on to David Wallace – simple finish for big Jamie Heaslip. Converted by O'Gara (six from six with the boot), Ireland were now well and truly on their way, scene set; another try before the break, O’Leary sniping from close range after yet another Leo Cullen take of an Italian ball, saw Ireland in total control at half-time, 23-8. Just the one glitch, a lazy clearance attempt by Rob Kearney blocked down for a gift try for Italy by Kaine Robertson, but this one was over.
As in any good surgical operation, O'Driscoll wasn't operating on his own – far from it. The anaesthetic was provided by the pack, the much-maligned pack, led by the towering Paul O'Connell. It wasn't done by injection, either, nor even with cloth-and-ether – this was brute force, old-fashioned knockout punch cleanly delivered, time after time. Happened at lineout especially, at scrum occasionally - where youngster Healy had a great battle with war-horse Castrogiovanni - and it happened on the deck, where Ireland were never less than competitive.
The backline too did its bit, both Howe and Trimble impressive on the wings. Overall, then, a dominant performance by Ireland, even if their second-half efforts didn't get the reward they deserved, held to just two penalties. A good start for the team, however, a great start for their captain. “We’re building to get better,” he said, “Still plenty to improve on, but job done.”
Ireland: Tries – J. Heaslip, T. O’Leary; Pens - O'Gara (4), P. Wallace (1); Cons – O’Gara (2).
Italy: Tries – K. Robertson; Pens – C. Gower, Mirco Birgamasco.
IRELAND: R. Kearney; T. Bowe, B. O’Driscoll (c), G. Darcy, A. Trimble; R. O’Gara, T. O’Leary; C. Healy, J. Flannery, J. Hayes; L. Cullen, P. O’Connell; K. McLaughlin, J. Heaslip, D. Wallace.
Replacements: R. Best (Flannery 56); K. Earls (Trimble inj. 56); D. Ryan (O'Connell inj. 61); P. Wallace (O'Gara inj. 66); T. Court (Hayes 73); S. O’Brien (D. Wallace 73); E. Reddan (O'Leary 74).
ITALY: L. McClean; K. Robertson, G. Canale, G. Garcia, Mirco Birgamasco; G. Gower, T. Tebaldi; S. Perugini, L. Ghiraldini (c), M. Castrogiovanni; C.A. Del Fava, Q. Geldenhuys; J. Sole, A. Zanni, Mauro Birgamasco.
Replacements: M. Bortolami (Del Favo 49); M. Aguero (Castrogiovanni 56); A. Masi (Robertson 58); R. Bocchino(Gower 65); S. Picone (Tebaldi 65); F. Ongaro (Ghiraldini 73); Castrogiovanni (Perugini inj. 73); Gower (Bocchino inj. 73).
Referee: R. Poite (FFR.
