Staff Reporter.
| Guinness Six Nations: Italy v Ireland |
|---|
| Italy: (10) 10 |
| Try: Meyer Con: Garbisi Pen: Garbisi |
| Ireland: (27) 48 |
| Tries: Ringrose, Keenan, Connors 2, Stander, Earls Cons: Sexton 6 Pens: Sexton 2 |
Ireland ran in six tries to claim their first win of this year’s Six Nations in a one-sided contest against a poor Italy in Rome.
Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors scored to open up a first-half lead for a much-improved Irish before Johan Meyer replied for the hosts.
CJ Stander, Connors and Keith Earls added further tries after the break as Ireland strolled to a win.
For Italy, it is a 30th consecutive Six Nations defeat.
The Azzurri have conceded 139 points in their opening three matches and despite flashes of attacking flair, it is their porous defence that continues to fail them in a winless run in the tournament that stretches back to 2013.
A comfortable win with a clear and accurate attacking identity was what was required from Ireland following consecutive opening defeats, and that is what was delivered as they produced an accomplished performance that will provide grounds for optimism as they approach a meeting with Scotland at Murrayfield in two weeks.
Italy: Trulla; Sperandio, Brex, Canna, Ioane; Garbisi, Braley; Lovitto, Bigi (capt), Riccioni; Lazzaroni, Sisi; Negri, Meyer, Lamaro
Replacements: Lucchesi, Traore, Zilocchi, Cannone, Mbanda, Palazzani, Mori, Bellini
Ireland: Keenan; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, Gibson-Park; Kilcoyne, Kelleher, Furlong; Henderson, Ryan (capt); Beirne, Connors, Stander.
Replacements: Herring, Healy, Porter, Baird, Conan, Casey, Burns, Earls.