Ireland keep hopes alive of championship win

Ireland 19 Italy 3

Ireland’s slim RBS Six Nations Championship title hopes were effectively ended at Lansdowne Road this afternoon as some fearsome weather conditions meant the required points avalanche failed to materialise.

Heavy rain lashed down on Dublin all morning and although it eventually subsided before kick-off, the powerful wind which swept across the ground ensured playing conditions were a nightmare.

The elements were in Ireland’s favour in the first half and they took advantage by running in tries through Malcolm O’Kelly and Brian O’Driscoll, although the question remained whether it would be enough.

Any doubts were quickly dispelled after the interval, however, as the Irish made a better fist of battling into the wind than their opponents, even managing to score a third try through winger Shane Horgan.

It was no classic – the weather guaranteed that – and even if England do beat France next weekend, there now appears no chance Ireland will finish with the required points difference.

But there was some reward to take, not least O’Kelly’s sixth International try in a green shirt, which saw him celebrate drawing level with Willie John McBride’s Irish cap record for a second row in the perfect manner.

There was also an improvement in O’Driscoll’s form – he scored a magnificent try, which was unfortunately tarnished by his second half yellow card for a high tackle – on a day when kicking was extremely tricky.

That was proved as early as the first minute when Ireland won an early penalty on the halfway line after Andrea Lo Cicero was penalised at the scrum but Ronan O’Gara’s kick crept left of the upright.

Italy were under heavy pressure from the start – escaping from their 22 was extremely difficult given the power of the wind – but they eventually wrestled free only to undo their good work by conceding a needless penalty.

Ireland went desperately close to scoring following a powerful forward drive - started by O’Kelly – which swept them to within a few yards of the Azzurri line and almost repeated the move moments later.

Both times, however, they were denied by Italian infringements and on the second occasion referee Kelvin Deaker took action by dispatching hooker Fabio Ongaro to the sin bin.

The Irish continued to pour forward and just as it appeared Italy had performed heroics in keeping them out, they conceded the softest of tries. They won a line out five yards from their own line and substitute hooker Carlo Sestucci directed his throw straight at O’Kelly and the towering Leinster lock spied his chance and dived over.

O’Gara missed the conversion but the respite was only brief for the hapless Azzurri as O’Driscoll went on a long, arcing run and made light work of Ongaro before crossing in the corner. This time O’Gara added the extras.

The re-start meant it was Italy’s turn to camp in opposition territory and they wasted little time in pinning the Irish back with a flurry of kicks, one of which Denis Dallan threatened to touch down before the ball bounced out of danger.

But then Ireland struck for a third time, breaking from deep in their own half and the speed of their attack stretched the Italian defence out of shape, allowing Shane Horgan to collect O’Gara’s pass and romp home.

O’Gara converted but Italy then appeared to slash the deficit when Dallan charged over but the winger spilled the ball over the line with all the hard work done.

The Azzurri were on top at this stage and their cause was aided when O’Driscoll’s high tackle on scrum half Paul Griffen was punished by 10 minutes in the sin bin.

But all Italy had to show for their possession was a penalty from Roland de Marigny and this remained their only points from the match as Ireland spent the closing moments in Italian territory, before a disappointing match was thankfully ended by Deaker’s whistle.