Ireland’s backline, despite the absence yesterday of Rob Kearney and Jared Payne, have clicked nicely at this tournament and Earls’ opening try was a good example of a clean, clinical strike.
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Ireland booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup and eliminated Italy with a somewhat unconvincing 16-9 victory at London’s Olympic Stadium.
The loser of Ireland vs. France will likely face defending champion the All Blacks in the quarterfinals.
Despite easily their best display, Italy were condemned to yet another exit in the pool stage.
The 32-year-old captain has handed the Italians a timely boost for a game where a defeat would definitively smash their hopes of reaching the last eight.
Prior to that Jonny Sexton and Tommy Allan had exchanged penalties and the stand-off who turned down Scotland in favour of Italy, nudged his side closer before the interval.
It was Italy, however, who were enjoying the majority of possession and after a breakdown infringement from Jamie Heaslip, fly-half Tommaso Allan slotted the penalty to draw level.
Ireland needed another heroic performance from lock Iain Henderson as his series of carries were in marked contrast to the largely ineffective efforts of the Ireland back row.
“We’re in no doubt we’ll be playing against the best French team that there can be, and we’ll have to be at our very best to come out on top”.
Italy started to compete at the breakdown and built a serious of risky attacking platforms, largely through the powerful ball-carrying of skipper Sergio Parisse. Now, can Italy make the most of this gift?
“I think, with the previous World Cups that have gone, they will be thinking about getting to the final and winning because that’s the standard that they’ve set for themselves”. Was there in 1999. He added another three points on the hour to put the Irish a converted try ahead. “A lot of the time if you can tackle the ball it slows down the ruck for the opposition on the next phase”, he explained.
“Coming back… I’m happy enough”. However, an Irish stumble or three against Italy has perked them up.
Tongan Rugby Union chairman Epi Taione made headlines when claiming that the world rankings were “worked out in a gypsy caravan park in Ireland somewhere”, but that soundbite served to drown out other more considered protests.
If Italy come out of this match with the win they can thank their openside Simone Favaro.
Back on the field, forty minutes left for Italy to stay in the Cup. “They kicked a lot and didn’t take risks”.
“We were lucky to escape with the points we need to get out of the pool”.
Even half-fit, though, Parisse still sat Mike Ross down in the third minute, drawing gasps from the crowd, and showed a gorgeous range of -passing, with a few floaty balls out to his wide men.
Earls then strolled home for the first try, Robbie Henshaw standing up in the tackle and wriggling round to pop the scoring pass inside. Stolen lineout ten metres from the Italian line the key.
In total Ireland made only five offloads against Italy and produced a single line break.
Italy kicks off the Pool D match in what is their knockout game.
Parisse’s performance was remarkable therefore, given that he only returned from injury on Tuesday.
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Ireland clung on, at times scintillating but more often ragged.
