Ireland 33; Italy 17
The World Cup starts here - or at least the serious preparation for the tournament is up and running in a bit to change the performances where Ireland has consistently been underachievers since its inception in 1987.
Head Coach Andy Farrell will test his tried and trusted and his probables and possibles over the coming weeks against England and Samoa and on Saturday got a look at many of the likely lads that he may choose to include in his traveling party to France next month.
This week, as part of the overall preparation, the Ireland squad spent the week in Portugal with his biggest worry an injury to No 8 Jack Conan, who left the grounds with a special protective boot on his injured right ankle after coming off in the 35th minute.
The Wicklow giant has roared back into contention in Farrell’s plans following a series of game-changing performances in the Six Nations earlier this year and would be a major loss if injury was to prevent him making the journey to the World Cup.
However he gave supporters a thumbs-up after the game, suggesting that he was happy that he would be fit to resume training fairly soon.
Other players who had to come off suffering injury knocks were scrum-half Craig Casey and full-back Jimmy O’Brien, both of whom probably cemented a place in the traveling party as understudies in these two vital positions.
Playing Italy is always fraught with difficulties as everyone expects a victory even with a much-changed side. However, the Iain Henderson-led players showed up well and were well worth their 16-point victory against an opposition that kept going until the very end.
Farrell will be happy to have had the chance to see some of the younger brigade up close and personal with the likes of outhalf Jack Crowley getting his chance to show what he could do in the event of being called upon. These three games will give him and Ross Byrne the chance to prove their worth in the enforced absence through suspension of regular No. 10 Johnny Sexton.
Crowley did his prospects no harm with a confident and clever showing over the first half, thereafter moving to full-back after O’Brien was forced off. Debutants Tom Stewart, Ciarán Frawley and Calvin Nash also got valuable time in front of the boss with Stewart in particular impressing.
When considering the senior team, the thought often strikes fans: “What would happen to Ireland if player of the year Josh Van der Flier couldn’t play for some reason?”
We got the answer in the shape of Caelan Doris, who took over the open side jersey and ended up with a man of the match performance after scoring two and creating another try.
That pass allowed Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey to dot down while early Munster front-row man Dave Kilcoyne had got a vital score to put Ireland 21-3 at the interval.
While Henderson will be happy with his comeback in the engine room, the real find in this game was his second-row partner Joe McCarthy who looked a class apart from the off.
Jacob Stockdale was trying to impress after being out in the wilderness for the past 24 months and began with a couple of penetrating runs. However, the management team won’t be too happy at the way his attempted tackle on his marker ended in a try after 51 minutes.
The other winger, Keith Earls, was hungry for work and travelled all over the pitch in search of the ball and he too lost his man Tommaso Menoncello when he touched down for the visitors.
Those in the crowd had the pleasure of seeing veteran Cian Healy cross the line for a try which drew a warm response from the supporters.
Afterwards Farrell said he was happy with the run out for the players and in particular Crowley.
“I didn't think he overplayed too much and looked composed enough. There's a few things we'll chat about in the week that'll help his performance but he'll be glad to get that done.
"It's another experience where he's started at ten, and this time he's been able to run the week. He'll gain massive confidence from that.
"We'll have a look at the performances of them Jack and Conor playing together, we tried to get two ball-players playing together, whether that came to fruition I'm not too sure at this moment in time.
"We started the second-half pretty poorly, and didn't really get going for a while, so we'll have a look at that."
The Head Coach evaluated the 80 minutes by stating: "A lot of good, and some bits that he'll hope to tidy up.. It would have been a big day for Jacob so he’ll be better for the experience for sure."
Of the new blood, Cian Prendergast got 45 minutes and was close to getting Calvin Nash in for a second-half try. All the squad will be hoping their name is mentioned when Farrell pares his squad back to 33 to make the short hop over to France for the start of the World Cup
Ireland: J O'Brien; K Earls, R Henshaw, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; J Crowley, C Casey; D Kilcoyne, R Herring, T O'Toole; I Henderson (capt), J McCarthy; R Baird, C Doris, J Conan Replacements: T Stewart, C Healy, T Furlong, T Beirne, C Prendergast, C Blade, C Frawley, Cn Nash.
