After the pizzazz and fireworks of Marseille, certainly one of Eire’s primary priorities going into Sunday’s Six Nations encounter with Italy was to keep away from the doable hangover from a well-known, chest-beating win over certainly one of their fiercest rivals.
In reality, it was by no means doubtful. Whereas there have been a couple of shaky moments and errors, Eire produced knowledgeable and environment friendly efficiency with six tries to remain on target for one more Grand Slam.
Whereas the environment was flat at occasions, Eire supplied sufficient moments to spark the Dublin crowd into life, with James Lowe’s very good solo rating and Jack Crowley’s first attempt for membership or nation prime examples.
The Azzurri, who prompted Eire loads of points in Rome final yr, had been merely less than the duty.
Eire know the rating now. The rising strain, the fixed questions on Grand Slams, the end line creeping into sight. They went via all of it final yr. They know how you can navigate the varied sides of a Grand Slam bid, and most significantly, they know how you can get the job finished.
Sunday’s efficiency will not have been revelatory for Eire’s challengers. They continue to be a remarkably well-coached unit able to recording snug wins even whereas working far beneath their most. In addition they stay the staff to beat.
However for Andy Farrell, a seventeenth successive house win was significantly pleasing given how they fully shut Italy out, the primary time Eire have saved a staff scoreless in a championship recreation since 1987.
“36-0 is a pleasant scoreline for us,” mentioned Farrell.
“It is in all probability a greater scoreline than 50-20. I believed we had been medical at occasions and I believed our set-piece was glorious, prime drawer.
“We scored some good tries on the again of all that sort of strain. Two [wins] from two, it is a respectable begin nevertheless it will get more durable.”
Farrell’s final three phrases reverberate the strongest. Whereas Eire have overwhelmed France away – arguably their hardest fixture on paper – they need to negotiate appointments with their Triple Crown rivals: house video games towards Wales and Scotland both aspect of a visit to Twickenham to face England.
Whereas Farrell was capable of make six adjustments and nonetheless lead his aspect previous Italy with little fuss, there’s a sense that he’ll want all of his heavy-hitters within the weeks forward.
With that, the sight of Hugo Keenan limping off within the second half could have been deeply disturbing for Eire followers. Keenan, certainly one of Eire’s excellent gamers in recent times, was electrical at full-back once more earlier than being pressured off.
With captain Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Furlong and Bundee Aki all carrying niggles that had been deemed severe sufficient for them to be excused from responsibility for the Italy recreation, and Garry Ringrose lacking the primary two matches, the accidents are quietly stacking up within the Irish squad.
Farrell can sick afford additional damage complications earlier than Wales go to Dublin in a fortnight’s time even when he does count on the aforementioned trio to return to coaching this week, however he was not ready to supply any reassurances about Keenan.
“Hugo has a bang on his knee, so I do not know,” Farrell mentioned.
“He appears in good spirits however you noticed him, he was limping so we’ll see how he turns up tomorrow morning, whether or not he wants anybody to take a look at that I do not know.”
Whereas a few of Farrell’s frontliners had been absent, others stepped up, not least Robbie Henshaw.
A beginning centre for the British and Irish Lions in 2021, Henshaw has endured his share of damage troubles whereas stiff competitors in midfield means he isn’t all the time assured of a beginning spot.
However after an enormous efficiency towards France final week, the 30-year-old was central to Eire’s success once more – even when the smile was momentarily wiped off his face when his second-half attempt was dominated out.
“He is discovered his mojo, he is again,” Farrell mentioned of Henshaw.
“He is on fireplace on the minute. You would see that after we first met up in coaching. He is again to his previous self.
“His confidence, he is bouncing across the place. We spoke in the course of the week about his mixture with Stu [McCloskey] final time they performed in Biarritz towards Samoa [in a World Cup warm-up] the way it wasn’t what it ought to have been.
“They each labored actually onerous to make the staff really feel righty in the present day and Robbie was actually on the coronary heart of that.”
Doris displays on ‘particular’ day as captain
It could not have been his finest efficiency, however Sunday can be a day to cherish for Caelan Doris, who grew to become the a hundred and tenth man to captain Eire in O’Mahony’s absence.
Given that he’s solely 25 and made his debut for Eire 4 years in the past – in Farrell’s first recreation in cost, by the way – it’s a telling reflection of Doris’ rise that he was a candidate to succeed Johnny Sexton as skipper.
Farrell stunned some by handing the Leinster again row the captaincy – particularly with James Ryan within the beginning line-up – however Doris delivered a end in his first run-out because the group’s chief.
“It was particular and understanding the group now we have made it much more particular,” mentioned Doris, who admitted he was extra nervous than typical within the build-up to the sport.
“We’re a tight-knit group. We have been collectively for the heart of 4 years now, the relationships now we have are particular.
“The atmosphere the coaches have set, about being ourselves and being susceptible makes my job simpler and made it simpler this week. I leaned closely on the opposite lads as effectively.
“I hope everybody that has been concerned from Ballina to Blackrock can take a little bit of delight from this and seeing me captain the nation.”
