Italrugby brave, but Ireland passes: the Azzurri’s Six Nations ends in defeat
Six Nations, Italy-Ireland 17-22
It ends with another defeat, the third consecutive but also the most honorable, the Six Nations of Italy: at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, against Ireland, the Azzurri give their all and several times dreamed of the breakthrough, but had to surrender to the effectiveness of the national team in green jersey, also good at taking advantage of thirty minutes of numerical superiority in the second half.
The match began with Italy looking to avenge the heavy defeats against France and England: on 12' came the lead goal, signed by Monty Ioane and converted, for the provisional 7-0, by Tommaso Allan. The Irish struggle but at the first lunge they find parity: è on 24' when Hugo Keenan pierces the Azzurri defense by smashing the ball into the goal area, Jack Drowley converts and è 7-7.
Allan brings the Azzurri back ahead at 32' from the penalty spot (10-7) but in the final half Ireland finds the overtaking goal with Dan Sheehan (Crowley does not convert, 12-10 the score). Just before halftime Lamaro is punished with a yellow card, the guests take advantage at 7' of the resumption when again Sheehan goes in goal for 17-10 (Crowley again misses the two-point try).
On Lamaro’s return from the 'sin bin', more cold showers: this time è Ross Vintcent to be punished at the 50' with a card, which after checking at the bunker becomes red. The Blue player is thus sent off, a substitute will be allowed in only after 20' under the new rules, and the usual Sheehan takes advantage at 58', scoring his personal hat-trick that, after Crowley’s third botched transformation, makes it 22-10.
At the most difficult moment, forò, it was Ange Capuozzo who hung up the plug, with a splendid personal action that ended with the goal scored by Stephen Varney at 64': Allan converted, the score è of 22-17. Italy believes in it and finds itself a couple of times in the opponents’ 22 in the last minutes, but the Irish defense holds firm and there are no more scoring. Ireland thus ends its Six Nations with 19 points, Italy adds the defensive bonus point and closes the event at 5.
