Ireland 29 Italy 8 LIVE REACTION: Irish beat Italians in crucial Women’s Six Nations clash – latest updates
IRELAND beat Italy 29-8 in their crucial women's Six Nations clash today in Dublin.
- Start time: 5pm BST
- TV/Live stream: BBC Red Button
Keep up to date with our live blog below...
Irish smiles everywhere
The Ireland team could not hide their delight at the final whistle at getting their first win of the TikTok Women's Six Nations at the third time of asking.
Ireland 29-8 Italy
Sam Monaghan is award the 'player of the match' award.
The gains Monaghan made today with her driving runs really hurt Italy.
You could have picked from any of a number of players but Sam Monaghan definitely deserves the accolade.
Credit: @Womens6Nations FT: Ireland 29-8 Italy
The referee brings the game to a close.
In a wet and windy Cork, Ireland have performed well coming back from an early Italy penalty to finish with a commanding victory.
Greg McWilliams' side needed this after two defeats in the opening two rounds of the TikTok Six Nations.
Ireland 29-8 Italy
79. This has been a good performance today by Ireland.
Anything but a win would have been hard to take.
Italy have not made the win easy by an stretch of the imagination.
Ireland 29-8 Italy
77. As the ball came loose from the lineout, Katie O’Dwyer grabbed the ball and spun away from the Italians.
Great technique from the Ireland player.
The wind prevents yet another conversion.
Try - Katie O’Dwyer (Ireland)
Ireland 24-8 Italy
75. Ireland will not be wanting to allow Italy to score anymore tries.
Game management is key, the scoreline fairly reflects the game at the moment.
If Italy were to score again it would seem a far more even game than it has actually been.
Ireland 24-8 Italy
73. A consolation try of sorts for Italy.
Unless of course they could pull off an unbelievable comeback.
The Azzurri are driving towards Irish territory again.
Try - Melissa Bettoni (Italy)
Ireland 24-3 Italy
71. Italy a re probing themselves now.
From the lineout their rucks drives towards the Ireland line.
Home side are struggling to keep them out here.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
70. The debutant Wafer is sent to the stands for ten minutes.
She will get to come back on to continue her debut.
The referee states she was lifting the player off the ground.
Yellow card - Aoife Wafer (Ireland)
Ireland 24-3 Italy
68. Ireland are making some simple errors and giving the Italians the chance to have a breather.
They seem to be looking to go through the motions for the rest of the game and not to turn the screw.
Italy are flagging a bit now.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
67. A lot of these Irish players have sevens commitments and this may be their last game of the championship.
The kicking of Stacey Flood has been brilliant today.
Really stretching Italy finding gaps with her kicks.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
65. Italy manage to find touch with a lucky bounce.
The wind is picking up more here.
Italy will find clearing their lines even more difficult.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
63. Ireland are using great game management here.
Changing players in the right areas to drain the opposition.
This time Italy are awarded a penalty.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
61. Ireland have utilised the tactical kicks well today.
Stacey Flood with a chip and run kick forcing Italy back.
Ireland win a penalty after Italy come in from the side of the scrum.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
59. Penalty to Italy.
They opt for a scrum on this occasion.
Strange decision when they would gain far more distance kicking for touch.
Penalty awarded to Ireland.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
57. Italy seem to have come into this game more in the last ten minutes.
They need to keep the ball and take some of the pressure off.
Again unforced errors breaks down the Italian attack.
Ireland 24-3 Italy
55. Italy are working through the phases on the Irish twenty-two.
They look to spread it out wide but the pass isn't to hand and goes out of play, again the Italians being the creator of their own problems.
Ireland lineout
Ireland 24-3 Italy
53. The referee saw enough to award the penalty try as Ireland were inevitable to score from that phase.
Ireland offside giving Italy a bit of a breather.
A lot of game left if Italy could score a couple of quick tries.
Penalty try for Ireland
Ireland 17-3 Italy
51. Ireland are camped metres from the Italy try line.
The Irish scrum pushes Italy back more and more.
Italy struggling to keep the green wall out.
Ireland 17-3 Italy
49. Brilliant chase by Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe from Cronin's kick.
Straight on the Italian captain, pushing her back over her own try line.
Whatever Greg McWilliams said seems to be working.
Ireland 17-3 Italy
47. This could be a long half for Italy.
Ireland are looking rampant in these early stages and seem hungry for tries.
The visitors have struggled with the pace of the Irish all game.