Rugby: Ireland A defeat Italy by 54 pts

Ireland A 59, Italy A 5

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.

The Irish were largely uninspired in the first-half with Burke knocking over the kicks.

However, tries from Mike Mullins, Paddy Wallace, Anthony Horgan, Victor Costelloe, Keith Gleeson, Bob Casey and Jason Holland wrapped up the game in a second-half that confirmed Bob Casey’s recent good form at second row.

His handling from line outs and at the restart was impeccable.

Scorers:

Ireland A: P Burke 4 pens, 3 cons; P Wallace 1 try, 3 cons; M Mullins, A Horgan, V Costello, K Gleeson, B Casey, J Holland 1 try each.

Italy A: F Casagrande 1 try

Ireland A: P Wallace, G D’Arcy, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan, P Burke, N Doak; R Corrigan (Capt), G Hickie, S Best, L Cullen, R Casey, A Quinlan, K Gleeson, V Costello.

Replacements: D O’Callaghan for Cullen 55, A Ward for Quinlan 56, M Horan for Best 60, B O’Meara for Doak 63, J Staunton for Burke 63, J Bishop for Horgan 66, J Blaney for Hickie 70.

Italy A: M Baroni; F Casagrande, S Pace, R Salvan, J Sebastien Francesio; F Mazzariol, L Villagra; A Moreno, C Festuccia, C Nieto; L Mastrodomencio, E Pavanello; A Benatti, A Candiago, A Birchall.

Replacements: M Zaffiri for Candiago 65, T Paoletti for Moreno 71.

Referee: A Ireland (Scotland)