If some are still in doubt, they can be reassured (or scared): Clover’s XV has well digested last World Cup’s quarter-final elimination. A week after their great success against the Blues in Marseille, the Irish left even less suspense against the Italians at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Sunday February 11. Andy Farrell’s men did not understate their talent to achieve a second successive success, dominating the Italians (36-0), with an attacking bonus point at stake. They thus regained the lead in the Six Nations tournament rankings, ahead of England, the only other team to have a flawless performance after two days.
The parallel with the Blues – also beaten in the World Cup quarter-finals – already striking during the opening match, took on a new dimension with Fabian Galthy’s men’s hard-fought victory over the ‘charming Scots’ this weekend. It is true that the Irish are more used to recovering from early elimination at the World Cup, having been beaten eight times in as many attempts in the quarter-finals.
Against Italy, the raucous Irish fans found the team they crowned with a grand slam last season. And the suspense didn’t last long. In the wake of Jack Crowley – a brilliant replacement for legend Jonathan Sexton, who retired after a high set at the Oval -, Clover’s XV took just seven minutes to score their first try through the sure mediation of their new opener.
Up front, Toulouse’s Ange Capuzzo tried to take advantage of the rare gaps left by the Irish defence, but they were systematically closed in on the Italian backline. Clover XV then patiently beat Dan Sheehan (24E and 50E), Jack Conan (37E), Calvin Nash (78E) and James Lowe (62E). The all-rounder, the latter tried to return all captured balls to his camp towards the other end of the field with his powerful left leg.
After arriving at the head of the Squadra Azura early in the competition, Argentina’s Gonzalo Quesada will have to quickly regroup his troops to try to bounce back against France on February 25 in Lille. His team currently sits last in the tournament, having already finished at the bottom of the rankings in the previous edition. For his part, Clover’s XV will face the Anglo-Saxon triptych, as he prepares to challenge Scotland after England, Wales.
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