Ireland player ratings: ‘Bench impact’ the difference as ‘lacklustre effort’ and ‘struggling’ scrum left Azzurri threatening a shock
Ireland celebrate a second-half try in Dublin during a frustrated performance that included Craig Casey's yellow card, inset
Following the unconvincing 20-13 win over Italy in the Six Nations round two match at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, here are the player ratings for Ireland.
Ireland player ratings
15 Jamie Osborne: The only back-three survivor from Paris, he showed his retention was merited with a generally glue-type effort on a very flat team afternoon. There were highlights, such as beating Monty Ioane in the air and the line he ran for his 17th-minute try, but there were also momentary mishaps, including being slow at a ruck in getting on the ball that wound up being stolen near the try line, as well as a soft knock-on. His second half then featured a crucial intervention at 10-all to stop a certain Italian try. Stayed on task after that, tidying up all around him. 7
14 Robert Baloucoune: Last capped in November 2022, the winger was one of six Ireland changes from the deflating round one loss in France and he finished it with the sponsor’s man of the match award. That was a generous decision, as Ireland has some better, more consistent players, but no one could deny that he wasn’t integral to the win. Announced himself on 14 minutes when popping up on the opposite wing to take a pass and offload in the contact to get Ireland attacking with Louis Lynagh sin-binned, but was otherwise quiet until his 57th minute try put Ireland into the lead they clung on to. Showed excellent footwork and physicality to threaten the line and then finished brilliantly with a one-handed stretch. 7
13 Garry Ringrose: Copped flak post-Paris for being part of a midfield not vocally helping Sam Prendergast, and for a player of his experience, this was another troubling display. Given a rude first-half awakening by a Simone Ferrari collision and then beaten in the air by Lynagh. His second half included the relief of Lynagh’s try being ruled out for a forward pass, as it was the midfielder and Jack Conan who gifted Tommaso Menoncello his break from halfway. There was an important tackle in the late Italy pressure, but it didn’t redeem his lacklustre overall effort. 5
12 Stuart McCloskey: Ireland’s most effective back by a country mile. His assist for the opening try was dazzling, ploughing into Manuel Zuliani and swivelling to get his pass away to Osborne. He was then pivotal with the choke tackle in stopping Italy from scoring a second try just before the interval. His level of impactful defence continued throughout the second half. Without him, Ireland could well have been beaten. 8
Lifeless Ireland indebted to bench’s rescue act as they edge past improving Italy
11 James Lowe: Back on the wing after last week’s omission, he raised the first cheer of the day with an aerial catch and then another with a 28th-minute kick and catch. Those little moments helped to signal that rumours of his Test-level demise were premature. He saved his best moment until the very last, though, leaping like a Gaelic footballer to grab Ioane’s attempted pass over his head and race clear into opposition territory to lift the Italian siege and secure his team the win. 7
10 Sam Prendergast: All over the shop defensively against France, it wasn’t long before the troubling jitters materialised again here. His opening stanza consisted of getting caught in possession, blowing an attack on penalty advantage with a poorly executed grubber, and then missing a straightforward conversion that any youngster in the crowd would have slotted. Also foxed by the ball bounce that favoured Lorenzo Pani and nearly cost a try. Started the second-half missing another kickable conversion, and the relief in the crowd was palpable when he was taken out of the firing line on 56 minutes. He looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Head coach Andy Farrell got this selection very wrong. 4
9 Craig Casey: Was his selection a genuine opportunity to claim the starting shirt or merely a ploy to rest up Jamison Gibson-Park for next weekend versus England? We’re plumping very much for the latter as he struggled behind a lethargic pack. Began with a terrible box-kick and then nearly gave up an intercept. Was excellent in tap-tackling the Prendergast-beating Pani, only to later get yellow-carded for poor tackle tech on Lorenzo Cannone. That 32nd-minute infringement invited Italy to score off the 12-man maul. Subbed 12 minutes into the second half with Italy just having had a try disallowed. 4
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8 Jack Conan: Recalled to start after two recent runs off the bench, he had trouble denting the Italy defence with his carries. He eventually got a better hang of things in the second half, following a tame first-half effort that was reflective of the disconnected Irish collective. His 43rd-minute try was crucial, as it got his team back on terms, and aside from the jaw-dropping moment when he had his pocket picked along with Ringrose, he defensively stood up and did just about enough to keep his team ahead. 7
7 Caelan Doris (c): Switched from No.8, how well did he captain? Uninspiringly. Had his difficulties in getting the rub of the green from referee Hollie Davidson, and his general level of play wasn’t what it needed to be to lift his struggling Ireland from their slumber. You’d think by the 74th minute, he would have a handle on how the ref was officiating the breakdown, but it was his infringement that allowed Italy to kick to the 22 and nearly score from the resulting chip and chase. Not an afternoon for him to fondly remember. 5
6 Cormac Izuchukwu: Off the bench in Portugal last July was his last appearance at Test level, and this Six Nations debut was a huge step up. Showed up as a lineout option in attack, but allowed Italy on the board with his rash 21st-minute penalty for interference with the set-piece jumper, a slip that allowed Italy to only lose the Lynagh sin bin 5-3. He was way better in the 18 second-half minutes he played before his substitution. There was a Peter O’Mahony-style steal of an Italian lineout, and also a charge down the wing in the lead-up to the all-important Baloucoune try. 6
5 James Ryan: It was high time for the experienced lock to stop producing his fake hard-man stuff and instead just play rugby to the high quality he can. He tried to carry, but his return was largely negligible; still managed to put in an okay 69-minute shift overall against a daunting Italian pack that deserved plenty of kudos for how connectedly they functioned. 5
4 Joe McCarthy: We’ve been looking for him to become more consistent with his top-level performances, and this was another missed opportunity as the Joe show fluffed its lines. Some first-half lowlights included a cheap, unnecessary push after Italy had already been given a penalty and then a misplaced pass. He simply didn’t get through enough of the basics he needed to do to contribute positively, and it was no surprise to see him exit 12 minutes into the second half with the score level at 10-all. 4
3 Tom Clarkson: Back for more after the dark speculation of a scrum mauling in Paris went unfounded. The trouble was that the feared mauling came to life here despite winning a penalty at the first scrum. Didn’t return for the second half as Tadhg Furlong was sent on to try and fix the emergency of the struggling set-piece and an interval scoreline that was 10-5 to the Italians. 4
2 Dan Sheehan: Another of the British and Irish Lions contingent who just can’t seem to reignite his best form. Was troubled throughout at the scrum, getting horsed backwards again and again and left popping his head up. Even his usual threat at the tap penalty was absent as he was walloped back in the contact during the first half when playing from the five-metre line. Yes, there was a welcome improvement in his lineout accuracy, but the flow to the rest of his game didn’t exist. He was another pulled on 52 minutes. 4
1 Jeremy Loughman: Another of the props to survive the pre-game Parisian doom and gloom. The issues at the scrum here against Italy happened at hooker and tighthead, but he can’t be absolved from blame. Took a smart catch to the front of the lineout and also carried a second time in the lead-up to Conan’s try. Trucked on for 68 minutes before giving way, with Italy having cut the gap to 20-13 from a scrum penalty. 5
Replacements: Furlong was the first roll of the dice at the interval with Ireland in arrears, and the triple change of Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Beirne and Jamison Gibson-Park followed on 52 minutes after Italy had a try disallowed at 10-all. This was crucial in wresting momentum back from the visitors, and with the composed Jack Crowley getting a rousing cheer when he was introduced, Ireland soon hit the front. The scrum was still hugely problematic, and it cost points and cut the margin to a nervous seven, but the bench impact, which later included a Test debut for Edwin Edogbo, was the difference between winning and losing. That said, the match ended with heads shaking that Crowley kicked his penalty dead instead of into touch, ruining the chance of the four-try bonus. 8