Ireland trail Italy at the break

Ireland 10 Italy 13

Veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon crossed to give Italy a shock half-time lead over Ireland in Belfast.

Ireland appeared in control when Ulster centre Andrew Trimble touched down in the 26th minute but quick thinking from Troncon saw the Azzurri seize the initiative.

Ronan O’Gara supplied the rest of Ireland’s points with a penalty and drop-goal, while the boot of full-back David Bortolussi helped Italy edge in front.

A flat pass from O'Gara sent Denis Leamy charging into space in the third minute and the Munster number eight ran 20 yards before finding Denis Hickie.

Hickie had Girvan Dempsey outside him but chose to go it alone and was tied up by the Italian cover.

After cracking with worrying ease so early in the game, Italy’s defence had reorganised quickly and Ireland’s probing failed to produce the desired results, despite Gordon D’Arcy’s efforts to straighten the line.

Referee Nigel Owens penalised Italy for offside, however, and O’Gara slotted the three points from in front of the posts.

The Ravenhill crowd cheered on home favourite Andrew Trimble as he raced in for a try only to realise Owens had already blown for a knock-on from Murphy, made while the Leicester winger collected Peter Stringer’s kick in the build-up.

Trimble burst into space once again in the 19th minute, capitalising on some tigerish work from Hickie, but he spilt the ball in the tackle after breaking into Italy’s half.

Italy levelled with a magnificent drop-goal from full-back David Bortolussi, who gathered a loose clearance from O’Gara and lined-up his response which sailed over from the 10-metre line.

A cheap shot from number eight Sergio Parisse on Stringer, who had his back turned as he chased a loose ball, sparked a minor brawl which Owens punished with warnings to Donncha O’Callaghan and Kaine Robertson.

Ulster fans did not have to wait much longer to see Trimble cross for the first try as O’Gara launched a towering kick that Bortolussi completely missed.

The ball bounced kindly for Trimble, who gathered and crashed over in the 26th minute with O’Gara adding the conversion to give Ireland a 10-3 lead.

Bortolussi went some way to atoning for his error by replying with a penalty and was then involved as Italy launched a promising attack down the left.

Winger Matteo Pratichetti was halted 10 metres short but Italy had won a penalty and Troncon opted to tap and go, scrambling over the line with two Ireland players attached to his body.

Television referee Derek Bevan confirmed the try and when Bortolussi landed the conversion, Italy were 13-10 ahead.

Three pints were on offer in first-half injury-time when Italy infringed at a scrum but O’Connell, leading Ireland for the fourth time, signalled for touch and a knock-on let the Azzurri off the hook.