LIKE Ireland in Rome last Saturday, Leinster found out last night that it is one thing being expected to beat Italian opposition but quite another to actually do it.

Italy coach John Kirwan has pulled back from his threat to field an entire second 15 in Saturday’s Pool D clash with New Zealand in Melbourne.

Ireland A 28

Ireland followed an uninspired first-half, from which they led 12-0 through four Paul Burke penalties, with seven second-half tries that kept them on the road to a Grand Slam in their A international campaign at Donnybrook.