IRE
No.Name
15Simon Zebo, FB
14Tommy Bowe, W
13Keith Earls, C
T
12Robbie Henshaw, C
11Dave Kearney, W
10Johnny Sexton, FH
3
9Conor Murray, SH
1Jack McGrath, P
2Rory Best, H
3Mike Ross, P
4Iain Henderson, L
5Paul O'Connell, L
6Peter O'Mahony, FL
7Sean O'Brien, FL
8Jamie Heaslip, N8
Replacements
16Sean Cronin, R
17Cian Healy, R
18Nathan White, R
19Devin Toner, R
20Chris Henry, R
21Eoin Reddan, R
22Ian Madigan, R
23Luke Fitzgerald, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: London Stadium
4:45 PM, October 4, 2015
Attendance: 53,187
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'FULL TIME ANALYSIS

ESPN's man on the ground had this to say:

Tristan Barclay - @tbarclayESPN: "Ireland have been far from perfect this evening but have proven they can win ugly in the face of a bruising Italian effort. The Azzurri were mean in the tackle and disruptive at the breakdown, but in the end Irish experience and quality told. That itself shows you something about the title credentials of Joe Schmidt's side. They have been able to put the half-century of points on the likes of Canada, but against Tier One opponents they have shown they can hunker down and pick off their penalties. Italy go out of the tournament with an effort of which they can be proud. England fans would have handed over several limbs for a victory like Ireland's today."
81'16-9 End of second half
80'Sexton kicks into touch and it's over! Full time analysis on its way.
79'He misses. Dull end to a pretty dull game in fairness. We've seen one try and a couple of decent kicks. Parisse's return definitely helped Italy's game but too little too late. Perhaps if he was available for the previous two games it would've been a different story.
78'Sexton's got another chance at three points, this must surely seal it if he makes it...
77'Italy just can't get the break they're after here and Ireland doing very well pinning them down. Tackle after tackle after tackle. Italy look shot mentally and physically.
76'Substitute on - Luke Fitzgerald , Ireland
76'Player substituted - Keith Earls , Ireland
76'Substitute on - Guglielmo Palazzani , Italy
76'Player substituted - Edoardo Gori , Italy
73'
72'Ireland's No.6 O'Mahony has just been binned and they've got to see out the rest of the game with 14. He's been penalised for a dodgy tackle in the ruck, aiming for the neck of Italy's forward which the ref has classified dangerous. He's right - not a great challenge from O'Mahony but yellow is questionable.
72'Player substituted - Michele Rizzo , Italy
72'Substitute on - Matias Aguero , Italy
72'Yellow card - Peter O'Mahony , Ireland
70'Ireland emerge victorious in the end but Bowe's little chip forward finds its way out into touch. Just a game of pinning the Azzurri at bay now. Can Schmidt's men see it out?
70'Player substituted - Rory Best , Ireland
70'Substitute on - Sean Cronin , Ireland
69'Ireland have the scrum just along half way. What better way to burn down the clock. It has already collapsed once and we await the reset...
68'
67'
67'Player substituted - Sean O'Brien , Ireland
67'Substitute on - Chris Henry , Ireland
67'Substitute on - Devin Toner , Ireland
67'Player substituted - Iain Henderson , Ireland
67'Substitute on - Mauro Bergamasco , Italy
67'Player substituted - Simone Favaro , Italy
66'Italian has a very long penalty, and have failed to add the extras. That was the definition of desperation there, and in their defence, it's exactly what they are. All or nothing. 15 minutes to save their campaign.
65'Player substituted - Tommaso Allan , Italy
65'Substitute on - Carlo Canna , Italy
65'Player substituted - Sergio Parisse , Italy
65'Substitute on - Alessandro Zanni , Italy
63'Forwards clattering on forwards here, but not a lot else. Fizzled out. Sexton's couple of kicks seemed to have dimmed Italian hope and enthusiasm, and the quality of the rugby. Slow game now.
62'Player substituted - Lorenzo Cittadini , Italy
62'Substitute on - Dario Chistolini , Italy
62'Player substituted - Matias Aguero , Italy
62'Substitute on - Michele Rizzo , Italy
62'16-9 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
60'Another penalty for Ireland as Allen fails to roll away. Bit dubious. Allen couldn't possibly roll away with the bodies on top of him but nevertheless Sexton adds another three. 5 from 6 for him today.
59'Player substituted - Jack McGrath , Ireland
59'Substitute on - Cian Healy , Ireland
59'Substitute on - Nathan White , Ireland
59'Player substituted - Mike Ross , Ireland
58'13-9 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
56'Ireland pressure mounts and Sexton's eventually kicks into the corner, but unfortunately for his side, no one could retrieve. Good kick. The referee has brought the play back though, and Sexton has another opportunity to kick - this time for the posts.
55'
54'It's collapsed and we await it to be reset.
53'And we're back to scrummaging. Just along half way this one, with Ireland to feed...
52'10-9 Penalty goal - Tommaso Allan , Italy
51'
50'Italy continuing to ask questions of Schmit's side as they attack further. They're definitely looking like the better side here and Allen has another penalty kick to go within one point of Ireland's score.
49'Josh Hurno thinks he's scored but incredible last ditch tackle from O'Mahony to save his side. He crashes Italy's No.5 into touch - just!
48'Italy calmer the Irish storm by brewing up one of their own. Parisse very good here and... ITALIAN TRY...? Off to the TMO!
46'Irish forwards working very, very hard here clattering into the Italian line. Not much Italy can once they have the ball besides chuck it back to Allen to bail them out with his boot. Ireland now have the lineout has Allen finds the touch line.
44'Henderson charges down Allen's defensive kick and hearts in mouths for a few Italians there as it looked like the bounce was even going to work its way into the incoming Irish bodies. Italy still managed to escape thanks to their captain.
42'Lineout doesn't result to much besides from Ireland gaining the returning penalty as the Italy failed to release. No thanks to Favaro mind you. Full force into the tackle and restricted his teammate's movement on the floor. Ireland's turn to attack now.
41'Straight away we have another Italian penalty as Ireland as penalised for tackling off their feet. Too far out for Allen though, and the Azzurri aim for the corner.
41'HALF TIME ANALYSIS

ESPN's man at the Olympic Stadium, Tristan Barclay (@tbarclayESPN), had this to say:

"Ireland are certainly being tested by a determined Italy side here at the Olympic Stadium. The Azzurri have enjoyed some decent territory but just lack the killer instinct to make it count. An example: Sergio Parisse opting to kick for the corner when a shot at goal would have drawn his side to within a point. The attacking mindset was welcome, but then Peter O'Mahoney stole the resulting lineout and Ireland escaped downfield. The Irish certainly haven't been at their most fluent, but the Italian defence has been impressive. They're heaping physical pressure on fly-half Johnny Sexton, who also has the emotional stress of being the man responsible for maintaining Ireland's lead."
41'10-6 End of first half
40'And we're back underway!
40'Player substituted - Andrea Manici , Italy
40'10-6 Start of second half
40'Substitute on - Davide Giazzon , Italy
39'Italy gain the penalty off the scrum as Ireland are penalised for being offside. The Azzurri will finally escape their 22 after a slow but steady Irish onslaught for the past five minutes.
37'Oooo, nearly for Ireland. Conor Murray fumbles it after the maul goes to ground from the Irish lineout. We've got the scrum now with Italy to feed. Looks like the scoreline will remain the same by half time.
36'Ireland have made there way into the Italian 22, but the men in blue are content at the minute - they aren't giving the Irish any room. O'Connell and Best leading the Irish charge, but little is coming as of yet besides a few metres territory. Try still seems a long way off.
34'Not a lot going worth reporting. Stalemate game which at the moment is being held up along the half way point with neither side imposing themselves on one another. Tackle after tackle flying in still, but Ireland nor Italy looking more dominate.
32'Irish lineout leads to the driving maul and Ireland manage to push it from the half way to the Italian 22. Good ground, but the referee has given the Italian try once it collapses.
31'Dangerous tackle from Italy and penalty's given to Ireland's Sexton... who hits the post! Unusual mishit from their star man.
30'Tight game... Stats reveal Ireland have made 48 tackles as opposed to Italy's 49.
29'Ireland lineout eventually finds its way to Zebo on the far left who dances his way into the Italian line. He's slammed down but Schmidt's men carry on working the ball. but it's eventually turned over by Italy.
28'And they fail to do so! Ireland pinch the ball make a break, but it's cut short.
27'Italian penalty in the Irish 22 and they've opted for the lineout, clearly wanting to make their territory pay...
25'Zebo's long kick goes outs and we come back for the scrum just short of the Irish 22.
24'10-6 Penalty goal - Tommaso Allan , Italy
23'One word to describe play since the try = scrappy. Little progress being made by either side over the past 2-3 minutes. Crying out for a side to take full control. Italy do have a penalty though which Allen lines up and subsequently scores.
21'
20'10-3 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
19'8-3 Try - Keith Earls , Ireland
18'Keith Earls TRY for IRELAND!

The lineout which resulted from Murray's kick does in fact reap the rewards. Sexton's great little reverse offload lands in Henshaw's hands before he then proceeds to offload to Keith Earls who secures the try. Nice move from Schmidt's men. Great work rate from the Irish.
17'Conor Murrays grubber along the floor once Ireland emerge from the scrum can't be met from Tommy Bowe. Nice idea and could've reaped rewards if it wasn't for an awkward bounce which ended up in touch.
16'Ireland have the scrum now as we look to restart after Italy's Parisse failed to release.
15'
15'3-3 Penalty goal - Tommaso Allan , Italy
13'Ireland penalised just as their opponents start gaining some serious ground inside their 22 for a knock on, and rightly so. Italy make the penalty and it's 3-3.
12'Game seems to have settled and calmed down a bit. Italy used the scrum well but it was pinched by Keith Earls just on the edge and inevitably the Italian's drove the centre out into touch. The Azzurri probably the better side so far despite the small 3-0 scoreline.
11'
10'Italian scrum along half way.
9'3-0 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
8'
7'However, play has been brought back for an Italian offside and Sexton has the chance of Ireland's first three here. Well within the Italy 22 and 99% certain he'll make this one.
6'Sexton activates the accelerator for the first time in the game as he breaks the Italian line and darts 20 metres or so into the Italian half. He's soon taken down but some good ground made for his team. Can they prosper?
4'Encouraging play here from the Italians as they put some nice phases together, sweeping moves from right to left and then back again as they seek a break through.
4'Player substituted - Gonzalo Garcia , Italy
4'Substitute on - Tommaso Benvenuti , Italy
3'The Italians take control again at the lineout and pump the ball right to left in a quest to find some ground. Ireland doing okay so far at keep them at bay...

...Another lineout again, on the near side this time but within Irish hands. Italy have the first casualty of the afternoon, too.
2'Some steady build up from the Italians but they fumble it - the first handling error of note - and it's back in possession of the men in green. They're quick to find Sexton though, who kicks up field for another lineout, this time on the near side.
1'Italy get us under way here in the Olympic Stadium, courtesy of Tommy Allen.
Sexton kicks out further up the pitch on the far side, so we have the first lineout of the day, in the hands of the Italians.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Rugby World Cup clash between Ireland and Italy!

Follow our reporter at the ground, Tristan Barclay (@tbarclayESPN), who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from the Olympic Stadium via Twitter.

You can read ESPN's preview HERE.

Ireland XV: Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Iain Henderson, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Italy XV: Luke McLean, Leonardo Sarto, Michele Capagnaro, Gonzalo Garcia, Giovanbattista Venditti; Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori; Matias Aguero, Andrea Manici, Lorenzo Cittadini, Ouintin Geldenhuys, Josh Furno, Francesco Minto, Simone Favaro, Sergio Parisse.

Also see...
Parisse back for Italy
Payne and Kearney out for Ireland

1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby World Cup 2015 News