Ireland overcame a disjointed start against a combative Italy side in Rome to record their second Six Nations win from two games. Their eventually-comfortable victory gives them a shared lead at the top of the table with Wales and leaves Italy at the bottom.
Italy had begun well however. Tempers flared after only 40 seconds following a rough tackle by Andrea Masi on Rob Kearney that incurred the wrath of several Ireland players and brought a yellow card for the Azzurri full-back. Some robust defence around the fringes prevented the Irish from pressing home the advantage and when David Wallace was penalised for holding on Luke McLean kicked Italy ahead.
Two Irish attacking line-outs were then picked apart by the canny Italians – Sergio Parisse catching the eye with one steal – before McLean landed another three points.
It was an impressive opening quarter from Italy, who were capitalising ruthlessly on Ireland's error-strewn display. But they then paid a heavy price for a mistake of their own in the 19th minute, when a promising attacking line-out was undone by a ponderous move in midfield which allowed Tommy Bowe to sneak in and intercept a pass destined for Mirco Bergamasco.
With Masi absent at full-back, Bowe, with three Italian defenders in pursuit, had a clear run to the line and crossed to score with Kaine Robertson on his back.
The fly-half Ronan O'Gara added the conversion, but Italy continued to press, and were rewarded with a third McLean penalty that nudged them back in front.
Ireland were soon a man short for 10 minutes. Gonzalo Canale charged down a clearance by O'Gara and was then tackled without the ball by the No10, who was sent to the sin-bin. But he was soon joined by Italy prop Salvatore Perugini for infringing at the line-out and after five minutes on the rack, Italy's line finally cracked on the stroke of half-time.
Nineteen phases of play were ended when Stephen Ferris surged forward and offloaded in the tackle to Luke Fitzgerald, who dashed in to score from eight metres with Kearney converting.
The second half opened in the same vein with Ireland pounding away at the home defence. The pressure eventually paid off with David Wallace picking a path through the ragged Italian line for a try that was converted by O'Gara.
O'Gara landed his first penalty of the afternoon and at 24-9 ahead going into the final quarter Ireland looked in the clear.
The game seemed to have petered out, but Ireland burst into life in the final five minutes to give the final score a lop-sided look. Fitzgerald and Gordon D'Arcy combined at a quickly-taken line-out to send the former in, and with two minutes remaining O'Driscoll galloped the length of the field on the intercept for the 19th Six Nations try of his career.
