Andy Farrell: Ireland earned the right to score tries against Italy

Ireland return to Dublin with injury concerns over a quartet of players who failed to finish the game

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. Picture: Marco Iacobucci/PA

Andy Farrell refused to accept his Ireland team were on a hiding to nothing in Rome as he savoured a first win of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.

The victory, following defeats in Wales and at home to France, came courtesy of a comprehensive 48-10 result over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. It had been a game framed as a no-win situation playing a team without a championship win since 2015 and having leaked 91 points in their opening two matches.