Match Centre: Italy 10-48 Ireland

Italy 10-48 Ireland, Stadio Olimpico
Scorecard

Ireland came up with a six-try performance as they trounced Italy 48-10 in the third round of the Six Nations at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

This is Ireland's first win in three games as they move to the third place in the table while Italy have lost their 30th consecutive game in the Six Nations Championship.

Italy had a late replacement heading into the game as scrum-half Stephen Varney injured himself with Callum Braley replacing him in the starting line-up.

Italy were the first to open their account when Paolo Garbisi kicked a penalty goal in the third minute but his efforts were wiped out by Johnny Sexton's three-pointer in the sixth minute.

Lock Iain Henderson thought he had scored the opening try but was denied after Television replays showed he had lost control of the ball while grounding it but it was a matter of time they gained control with Garry Ringrose's 10th minute try that was improved by Sexton.

Ireland were given another shot after Andrea Lovotti was penalised and Sexton slotted the three-pointer making the scoreline 3-13 and around the half-hour mark Hugo Keenan dived over the line after he capitalised on an offload from Ringrose and five minutes later the centre offloaded to Will Connors as the flanker crossed over. Sexton kicked both the conversions as Ireland increased their lead to 3-27.

Just as the break was approaching, Italy got a breakthrough Garbisi offloaded to Johan Meyer as he raced past the try line and Garbisi improved making the scoreline 10-27.

Andy Farrell's men extended their momentum into the second half when Gibson-Park went to the left of the ruck to take Ireland to a five-metre distance and eventually Furlong sent CJ Stander over the line and Sexton improved it making it 10-34.

Any chance of a Italy comeback was put off as they lost Giosue Zilocchi and Luca Bigi to yellow cards in the 59th and 65th minutes. Both Stander and wing James Lowe had tries disallowed but Connors got his second at the back of a rolling maul making it 41-10.

As the final whistle blow was nearing, a combination of Casey and Sexton ensured Keith Earls joined the try-scoring list before the Ireland skipper kicked his sixth conversion to complete a resounding win.

Team line -up:

Italy: Trulla; Sperandio, Brex, Canna, Ioane; Garbisi, Braley; Lovitto, Bigi, 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; Beirne, Connors, Stander.

Replacements: Herring, Healy, Porter, Baird, Conan, Casey, Burns, Earls.