A big win in more ways than one - Ireland get off the mark in the Six Nations against Italy

Lucy Mulhall on her way to scoring a try against Italy. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Cian Tracey Twitter Email

April 10 2022 07:27 PM

A big win in more ways than one.

Ireland's Women's Six Nations campaign is up and running at the third time of asking, as a hugely improved performance saw Greg McWilliams' side dismantle Italy.

There had been encouraging signs in their opening two defeats to Wales and France, but Ireland stepped it up a notch, as their set-piece fired and the error count significantly lowered.

With a trip to England to come in a fortnight, likely without many of the stars on show in front of 5,039 supporters at Musgrave Park, it was vital Ireland got a win on the board here.

To put this impressive victory into context, Italy are going to the World Cup, Ireland are not, and although the visitors were missing some players, take nothing away from the importance of this win.

That the bonus point was wrapped up as early as the 51st minute told its own story. If anything, Ireland will feel like they left a lot of scores behind them, as they continue on their journey.

Ireland's scrum coach Rob Sweeney was unavailable this week, and Greg McWilliams was able to call upon Men's assistant John Fogarty, who provided valuable experience.

The scrum was much more solid than it was a week earlier in France, with Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney forming a strong front-row.

Sam Monaghan was outstanding yet again in the second-row, as her strong carrying regularly put her side on the front foot.

On the other side of the ball, Jones worked tirelessly in defence, with her big hits fast becoming a trademark of the pocket rocket hooker.

Jones scored one of Ireland's five tries, with Lucy Mulhall, Eve Higgins and Katie O'Dwyer also dotting down, while Ireland scrum won a penalty try.

McWilliams had made four changes to his team and each of them made a difference, as Hannah O'Connor helped shore up the lineout and added a real edge around the breakdown.

Kathryn Dane was a calming presence at scrum-half, while Beibhinn Parsons and Haney also played their part.

It was Italy who started brighter and when Djougang was pinged for going off her feet, the visitors opened the scoring courtesy of Beatrice Rigoni's kick from in front of the posts.

A few sloppy errors halted Ireland's momentum, but they stayed patient and grew into the contest.

After a couple of wobbles at the set-piece, the lineout finally fired and Ireland showed just how dangerous they can be when they nail the basics.

Ireland simplified the call and as Jones nailed her throw, finding O'Connor at the front, a powerful rolling maul was stopped just short of the line.

But Ireland found their clinical edge, as they recycled the ball quickly and worked it wide for Nicole Cronin, who threw a delightful skip pass for Mulhall to finish well midway through the opening half.

Ireland should have doubled their advantage shortly after as the impressive Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe got over, but despite consulting her TMO, referee Aurelie Groizeleau ruled that the winger had been held in the tackle, and chalked off the score.

It looked like a very harsh call, but there was no doubt about Ireland's second try five minutes before the break.

The home side had already gone close through Cronin and with Monaghan punching holes in the Italian defence, the pressure eventually told, as Elisa Giordano was sent to the bin for repeated infringements inside the 22.

Cronin fired the penalty into the corner and the maul again caused major damage, with Jones getting on the end of another well-worked set-piece to give Ireland a fully deserved 10-3 half-time lead.

No doubt the message from the coaches at the break would have been to start fast and make further use of the numerical advantage and Ireland did just that.

O'Connor did brilliantly to win the breakdown turnover and even though there didn't appear to be much on when Dane put up the box-kick, the Italians were far too slow to react and Higgins made them pay, as the centre caught the ball and ran clear to score her side's third.

This time Cronin nailed the conversion to open up a commanding 14-point lead.

Ireland were rampant and there was no let up as they secured the bonus point just 11 minutes after the restart.

As if to underline the major improvements that had been made at scrum time, Ireland obliterated Italy, and the referee didn't hesitate to run under the posts and award the penalty try.

McWilliams emptied his bench and handed a debut to 19-year-old back-row Aoife Wafer, who was yellow-carded shortly after coming on.

That allowed Italy to score a late consolation try through experienced hooker Melissa Bettoni, but not to be outdone, Ireland had the final say.

O'Dwyer was quickest to react to a loose ball and the replacement prop skillfully pirouetted over the line to spark wild celebrations.

It was a fitting end to what felt like a very important win for this Ireland team, who have two weeks to regroup and prepare for the much tougher challenge of England.

Ireland – L Mulhall, B Parsons (A Doyle 59), E Higgins, S Flood, A-L Murphy Crowe (E Breen 63), N Cronin, K Dane (A Reilly 70); L Djougang (C Pearse, 65), N Jones (E Hooban 61), C Haney (K O'Dwyer 59); N Fryday (capt) (B Hogan 59), S Monaghan; D Wall (A Wafer 59), E McMahon, H O'Connor.

Italy – V Ostuni Minuzzi; M Furlan, A D'Inca, B Rigoni, M Magatti; V Madia (S Stefan h-t), S Barattin; G Maris (V Vecchini 59), M Bettoni (E Stecca 76), L Gai (S Seye 76); S Tounesi (A Margotti 73), V Fedrighi; Veronese, I Locatelli (A Frangipani 53), E Giordano.

REF: A Groizeleau (France)