Live Matchtracker: Ireland v Italy

FULL-TIME: IRELAND 29-11 ITALY

80 mins Sweet inside pass by Gower sets Mirco Bergamasco galloping into the Irish backfield. He makes a quick 30 yards and then slows and hits his brother Mauro and he goes on the burst and into the 22. Ireland scramble well though and Italy's last chance ends with a Gower chip that Kearney dots down just over his own tryline.

79 mins Off the top ball is bullocked up by D'Arcy in the middle. Reddan is scragged at the ruck though and it is slow ball on half-way.

Wallace puts up an odd kick that sails out into touch on the full.

78 mins Penalty Ireland for a scrum offence - Tom Court winning it.

Wallace kicks it down to half-way. Last chance.......

77 mins Italy win it but can't set a maul. Ireland counter-ruck strongly again and again turn it over - scrum Ireland on their own 22.

76 mins Kearney hoists a garryowen but Ireland's O'Brien is pinged for not retreating and Italy punt it to near the Ireland 22.

Tony Ward gives the RBS 6 Nations man of the match to David Wallace.

74 mins Scrum doesn't work out first time - 'new players' says Poite - big shove by Ireland and they move it right next where Wallace feeds a nice delayed pass to Kearney. Again set up and off that ruck, O'Brien knocks on Wallace's short pass.

Scrum Italy inside their own 22.

73 mins Italy claim through Bortolami. Box kick and Ireland run it back. Nice work by O'Driscoll, Paddy Wallace and O'Brien and Ireland set it up again near the Italian 22.

More offside from Italy and it is another penalty chance after Earls' poor chip brings the advantage into play.

Gower is back and Eoin Reddan is on for Ireland.

Ireland opt for a scrum.

72 mins John Hayes takes the overthrow this time and Ireland spead to Brian O'Driscoll. Nice low kick from him ends up bouncing into touch near the Italian line - 10 yards or so out.

Sean O'Brien and Tom Court in for David Wallace and John Hayes. Perguni comes out with Castro back in. Ongaro also on at hooker.

70 mins Italy are awarded a scrum at the lineout and it is a strong one. They get a penalty and Pocchino punts it long and into Irish territory. Just beyond the Irish 10 metre line, their lineout.

68 mins Both Italian half-backs have gone been replaced.

Donnacha Ryan takes the restart and O'Leary box kicks to half-way.

Italy claim through Piccone (the replacement scrum-half) and then hit an up and under. Wallace takes.

Moved right and D'Arcy has three men outside. He feeds Earls who sprints down the wing and passes to Kearney who gets tackled but Ireland are in behind. He sets it up then and from that ruck, D'Arcy takes it up and hits Heaslip on a lovely angle.

Italy turn it over though and from inside the 22 have ended the attack.

Ireland 29-11 Italy

67 mins Wallace does the needful and clips it over.

65 mins Pocchino, the Italian 21-year-old back up 10 is in for Gower who has a big cut on his forehead.

Big Ireland scrum again and Wallace feeds O'Driscoll off it and he looks dangerous before being swallowed up.

Moved back across towards midfield next and Wallace links up with Rory Best to get another few yards and Ireland are in the 22. Advantage is showing for offside and Ireland have a penalty in front of the posts.

Wallace will have a shot.

62 mins Free-kick Ireland for not closing gaps. Heaslip takes it up to the 22. O'Driscoll feeds Ryan and Ireland start moving it around.

O'Driscoll engineers a linebreak two phases later and then feeds Bowe. Inside the Italian 22 but Ireland are contained.

O'Gara is down - worry for Ireland.

Without their pivot, Ireland can't break down the Italy play and there is some really scrappy play as O'Leary delivers a pass off his backside that is almost picked off.

Phases well into double figures as Ireland are shoved back by the aggression. They are given a scrum 10 yards outside the 22.

Paddy Wallace is in for O'Gara.

61 mins Poite finds a little knock on and Ireland get a scrum. Ball shoots out the back to O'Leary who feeds O'Gara. His kick is collected by Masi and Tibaldi then box kicks. Earls takes it and it is out on the full.

Ireland lineout just inside the Italy 10 metre line.

60 mins O'Gara ends it with a kick into the Italian half. Italy lineout just inside their own half. Paul O'Connell is getting treatment for the second time this match.

Paul O'Connell is forced off with an eye issue - contact lens problem is seems. Donnacha Ryan comes in. O'Connell shoots Poite - the ref for Northants v Munster at Thomond Park - a dirty look as the walks off.

He won't be back as it isn't blood.

58 mins Italy bring Andrea Masi in for Robertson. Ireland looked to be getting at the Italian right winger.

The lineout is on O'Connell at the tail. Poorish throw to the tail and it is not stable and it is a ruck rather than a maul. Pick and go starts up.

Trench warfare starts up with Italy hitting hard. A great rip by Mauro Bergamasco on David Wallace ends the attack and Italy punt clear. Kearney runs it back but is turned over by Garcia and Ireland are suddenly back in their own 22 where O'Driscoll punts a long clearance.

Ping pong again.........

57 mins First scrum sees Ireland get on the front foot but is blow.

Second collapses and the third sees Ireland again do well. They are given a penalty by Poite and opt to kick the corner......lineout on the 5 metre line.

56 mins Ireland win the scrum and O'Gara puts a dirty low kick in behind Robertson. He feeds McLean but Earls is in his face and sheperds him before tackling.

Ireland are there in numbers and get the call at the ruck: their scrum just inside the 22.

55 mins Italy win the lineout and kick long where Tommy Bowe takes it. He ships an awful pass to Kearney but Ireland recover and the full-back chips.

Italy claim and counter and McLean is tackled high by O'Leary. Penalty Italy but from the lineout in the 22, McLaughlin claims and Ireland are off the hook again.

Ireland clear and Italy go wide to Canale but Ireland cope easily. The next ball is moved to Bortolami and he can't take the poor pass to his bootlaces.

Scrum Ireland near the half-way line. Castro is going off for Matthias Aguero of Saracens, winning his 14th cap.

Keith Earls and Rory Best come in for Jerry Flannery and Trimble. Ireland need a bit of freshness and Earls' pace can certainly do damage.

51 mins Ireland get a free kick for Italy's early drive. Heaslip taps and goes and feeds Kearney who gives it to O'Driscoll but it is right by touchline and the attack is pushed into touch.

Italy maul the lineout before box-kicking to Trimble. He marks and then passes to Kearney.

An Italian return kick is brilliantly taken by the Ulster winger next and he feeds Healy.

Brian O'Driscoll gets it from the resultant ruck and from the middle of the pitch puts in a nice long kick that bounces to touch to put Italy on their own 22 and with a lineout to win.

50 mins The match has gotten a bit aimless. Referee Poite has a word with Brian O'Driscoll and Canale - not sure about what.

Ireland take the lineout but their attack in midfield is ended by an Italian hand, which knocks the ball on.

Scrum Ireland just inside their own half.

49 mins Italy claim the lineout - Bortolami is a good addition there. Again, they can't penetrate and they kick and Kearney marks and clears into the Italian half.

46 mins Ireland claim the restart and kick to the far wing. Italy run it back and get up the 10 metre line through second row Carlo Del Fava. Ireland counter-ruck strongly through O'Connell and Hayes and it is again slow ball for them.

Tibaldi chips where Trimble gets it and feeds Kearney who kicks long.

Ping pong is ended by Kearney who runs one back but is tackled. O'Gara then slides a low runner down the touchline for an Italian lineout just inside their own half.

Carlo Del Fava is replaced by Marco Bortolami.

Ireland 26-11 Italy

45 mins Italy knock the re-start forward. Scrum Ireland on the 10 metre line and Italy are quickly pinged with Perguni looking like the man who gave it.

Ireland again have the chance to reply straight away after conceding.

From the 10 metre line, O'Gara hits it over for another three points.

Ireland 23-11 Italy

43 mins Italy win the lineout and as Ireland contest the ruck on landing, a penalty is given against them for not getting falling over the of the ruck and obstructing the ball.

Mirco Bergamasco will again have the shot at goal from out near the touchline.

This time he gets it right, drawing it from a line just inside the right hand post and over.

43 mins Italy claim off the top ball and set it up in midfield. Chip lands in front of Bowe is touched and runs out into touch near the Irish 22 as Garcia re-enters the fray.

41 mins And we're underway in the second half. Italy claim and Tibaldi kicks long to Heaslip who feeds Kearney. He punts high and it is knocked on by Ireland. McLean kicks - 'advantage over' says Poite.

Ping pong time. O'Gara ends it with a lovely kick that bounces just in front of the Italian 22 and out.

Italy lineout and they get a penalty against Leo Cullen who shoved his opposite man in the air. Warning by Poite but no yellow card for Cullen......Italy punt to up near half-way.

HALF-TIME: Ireland 23-8 Italy

40 mins Gower takes the restart and sets it up on his own 22. Time is up and Tibaldi passes to McLean from the base and he tips it out sideways to end the half.

Ireland 23-8 Italy

38 mins It's 90mph here. Italy manage to get hands on the next restart and punt long to Kearney. Good kick by Gower but Kearney went for a clearance kick and has it charged down by Kaine Robertson! The Italian winger collects the blocked kick and it's a try from nowhere!

Mirco Bergamasco is taking this shot at goal.......and he can't get it over. Is Gower 100% fit?

Ireland 23-3 Italy

35 mins Another try for Ireland! Awful lineout by Italy and Cullen takes it at the back. Sets it up a yard out and O'Leary is able to scramble over from first receiver at the ruck.

Very easy.

O'Gara knocks over the conversion again.

34 mins Another superb sequence of play by Ireland. Started with Tommy Bowe chasing a kick well and claiming before setting up quick ruck ball. Moved to the threequarters and Ireland gallop into the 22 with lovely passing. D'Arcy feeds McLaughlin who powers to near the line and sets it up.

Rob Kearney tries a pass from that ruck but it goes into touch.

Ireland 16-3 Italy

32 mins Ireland again nick the lineout and David Wallace sets up the ball. Ireland shift it left and almost work a smart nice play around O'Driscoll, who flips a nice pass to O'Gara on the wraparound but it is stymied.

Gonzalo Garcia is then handed a yellow for inverting Brian O'Driscoll in the tackle. No harm done, but it is dangerous play and he dropped O'Driscoll in the air.

O'Gara taps over the penalty

31 mins Super scrum by Ireland and they win yards and great ball. O'Leary picks up runs sideways, drawing up the Italian defence. He then kicks low for Tommy Bowe who is first in line for it but it runs out over the touchline.

30 mins Cross kick by Ireland is claimed by McLean and he makes yards. Italy push down the Irish blindside next and have some tempo. Crash ball by Castro follows but David Wallace gets in an executes a great steal.

Ireland clear through O'Leary's box kick. Italy ball on half-way and Gower's kick is too long and runs out over the dead ball line.

Ireland scrum on half-way.

29 mins Great response by Ireland and they clear the re-start quickly with a chipped clearance to near the Irish 10 metre line.

Italy lineout is again nicked by Cullen.

Ireland 13-3 Italy

27 mins Ireland get a penalty from the re-start with Italy penalised for lying in front of the ball as Ireland pressed at the ruck. O'Gara will have a shot from on the Italian 22 and near enough the left hand touchline.

Good shot and it is through the middle of the posts.

Ireland 10-3 Italy

25 mins Gower will take the shot from just beyond the 10 metre line on the Irish side of half-way and eight yards from the right touchline.

Great strike and it goes over. Superb kick with a few yards of draw on it.

24 mins Scrum to Italy is awarded for.....a knock on? Not sure, but it's Italian ball on half-way.

Powerful scrum and Italy are then given a penalty. They shoved it three yards then a Cian Healy got the call given against him.

Italy will have a shot at goal.

23 mins Attack ends with a penalty against Ireland for not releasing - O'Driscoll pinged by Poite.

Italy punt it to half-way and it is their throw in.

22 mins Box kick by Italy is taken by Trimble - who is being targetted but handling it well. O'Drisoll gets it from the ruck and puts in a beautiful chip on his own 22 with four Italians in front of him. He collects it with lots of room and he tries a clever chip towards the wing for the onrushing Irish backs but it is hit too hard and trickles into touch.

Leo Cullen then claims the Italian lineout. McLaughlin crashes it up and Ireland have in onthe Italian 22.

19 mins Italy go wide but Canale is tackled. They move it quickly for the first phase, with Zanni taking it up. It slows down to an extremely slow pace again and Italy, with the tempo gone, knock on the next popped pass.

Ireland scrum is won and cleared by Kearney with a low scudder to McLean.

His return is caught by Kearney and hits a peach down the line.

McLean returns it and O'Gara's up and under is chased by Kearney who hits the Italian catcher. Slow ball for them again. Cleared again and Trimble has a chip on the return. Italy control it and have the ball on half-way. Slow again.

17 mins Ireland concede a scrum at the restart and are shoved back. Zanni picks and goes and Italy drive into the Irish 22. Gower goes next but is tackled well.

Italian ball on the Irish 22 in the middle of the field but it is slow and their pick and go game and short pop doesn't look like troubling Ireland.

They get a knock forward as Ireland look for an intercept. Scrum Italy just outside the Irish 22.

Ireland 10-0 Italy

13 mins Super maul by Ireland and they then give Gordon D'Arcy. From the next ruck O'Gara finds a sweet pass to Andrew Trimble and he races down the left wing!

Just scragged by the last Italian tackler and the Italians are getting back. A couple of offloads but Ireland can't get closer to the line - they are 7 metres out - and Rob Kearney sets up a ruck.

Slightly slow ball but is moved to D'Arcy. With ball in both hands he shimmies and runs a few yards sideways before moving it to O'Driscoll who shows lovely hands. David Wallace is the next mand and he feeds Heaslip who goes in untouched for a lovely Irish try!

O'Gara converts and Ireland are on their way.

11 mins Andrew Trimble hits Carlo Del Fava as he takes O'Gara's drop out but Italy win the ruck. However, scrum-half Tibaldi's box kick goes straight out. Ireland lineout on half-way.

Ireland go wide and David Wallace ends up with the ball in his hands on the far wing. He is tackled and O'Gara hits a kick down the middle - high but a little too long. Italy return a kick to inside the Irish half.

O'Connell takes this one and Ireland maul it - good momentum.

10 mins Ireland again take the re-start and box kick with Zanni again claiming. Return kick is taken by O'Gara and he punts long into the Italian 22. McLean hits a long return and Rob Kearney lets it trickle over the tryline for a 22 dropout to Ireland.

Ireland 3-0 Italy

9 mins O'Gara doesn't mess about pre-shot and smacks it high and over the posts at the Hill 16 end!

9 mins Surprise penalty for Ireland: Castrogiovanni is fingered for pulling it down by Romain Poite. Ronan O'Gara will have a shot.......

6 mins Paul O'Connell takes the lineout and O'Leary then skates forward for a few yards off the back of a maul. McLaughlin then crashes one up and Ireland are on half-way. Slow ball again - a trend at this stage - and Hayes is next bash one up.

Ireland try a chip next - lovely weight by O'Gara and Jamie Heaslip almost gathers with acres of space in front of him but knocks on.

Scrum Italy on their own 10 metre line.

4 mins Great position for Italy - 10 metres out from the Irish line. Italy win scrappy ball and from the ruck, begin some crahses one out. Mauro Bergamasco is met by Kevin McLaughlin. Leo Cullen also makes a hit and it is static ball.

Gower then puts in a lovely Rugby League style grubber along the ground and Ireland are briefly very stretched - chance for Kaine Robertson but Luke McLean couldn't get the ball to him and is then tackled. Ireland get a penalty from the resultant ruck.

A bit of a let off, but the Irish drift might have had it covered.

3 mins Ball off the top is deflected past Tomás O'Leary and he has to chase back. David Wallace gets it and powers Ireland forward. Moved wide but Italy have numbers and hit Andrew Trimble hard.

Trench warfare near halfway and an Irish ruck ends with a penalty for Italy as Poite singles out Tomás O'Leary. Italy kick into the Irish 22.

2 mins Powerful scrum by Italy but Craig Gower can only just control a poor pass from Tibaldi, stalling the attack. Another ruck sees Ireland givena penalty be referee Romain Poite.

Ronan O'Gara punts long into the Italian half. Lineout Ireland near the Italian 10 metre line.

1 min Ireland receive the kick and control it for Tomás O'Leary to box kick. Good kick and Tommy Bowe arrives with it but Zanni controls it for Italy. They return a kick of theri own and Tomás O'Leary seemed (I think) drops it and knocks on.

Scrum Italy just outside the irish 22........

2.33 Kick off

2.29 Italy first and it is a typically passionate rendition. They look VERY serious.

Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland's Call follow. Ireland link arms as the typically brisk version of the former rings out and it ends with a roar. Ireland's call next and the camera shifts to John Hayes, who has powerful emotion written all over his face.

The camera picks out what appears to be some Italian fans gleefully singin along to Ireland's Call! (the words are helpfully written on the big screen).

Another roar, and here we go!

2.27 Ireland are being introduced to the President by captain Brian O'Driscoll who smiles as he reaches the end of the and introduces Paddy Wallace and Keith Earls - perhaps a memory of the time President McAleese was forced off the red carpet (or whatever it is) intruded: the carpet didn't quite stretch all the way along the line.

Anthems set to begin.

2.25 Both teams are out on the field and have lined up to meet President McAleese.

2.10 It is a very nice afternoon at Croker and Tracey Piggot is having a word with Declan Kidney. 'We've asked them to be who they are', says Kidney and this has been one of the mantras of the week.

The other notable feature of all the pre-match talk was that Irish players are all saying they are approaching this season with winning the RBS 6 Nations again in mind - in contrast to thinking about retaining or defending the title.

2.00 The TV coverage is underway and the panel are getting stuck into the issues of the day with the usual relish. Mentions of Eddie Hekenui so far: one (Brent Pope).

13.55 If we heard one thing this week it is that the Italians are 'physical'.......but what does that mean exactly.

According to the dictionary:

1. of or pertaining to the body: physical exercise.
2. of or pertaining to that which is material: the physical universe; the physical sciences.
3. noting or pertaining to the properties of matter and energy other than those peculiar to living matter.
4. pertaining to the physical sciences, esp. physics.
5. carnal; sexual: a physical attraction.
6. tending to touch, hug, pat, etc.; physically demonstrative: a physical person.
7. requiring, characterized by, or liking rough physical contact or strenuous physical activity: Football is a physical sport.

We're guessing it's number seven.

13.45 RTÉ Radio commentator Michael Corcoran has a few interesting bits and pieces for us: it's a little foggy at the ground and down at pitch level but it will not be another Ireland v SA atmosphere with sunshine expected come kick-off. Injured Italy captain Sergio Parisse is there in Croke Park along with an awful lot of Italian supporters.

Coming out for a team photo on the field a while ago, the Italians looked 'massively focussed' - no messing about. Both Craig Gower - an injury doubt - and Mirco Bergamasco have been out taking practice goal kicks. Mirco (wing) landed a nice one from beyond the 10 metre line.......

For Ireland, Andrew Trimble and kicking coach Mark Tainton were the first men out on the field and Tomás O'Leary and Paddy Wallace have just trotted out to join them.

13.35 This is pretty cool: watch South Africa Rugby World Cup winning captain and all round legend Francois Pienaar talking to Michael Doherty about the film Invictus, and a certain tournament.

Pienaar is well up on Irish rugby and the Six Nations reckons everyone will be gunning for Brian O'Driscoll and co that bit more because they are successful, but he also wishes us 'good luck' in that cool South African accent. Thanks Francois. Clip is here.

1.25 For anyone looking at a punt, RTÉ Sport's Hugh Cahill reckons Ireland are very well positioned to beat the 21 point spread with the loss of Parisse worth 10 points and conditions ideal for running rugby.

For my (Brendan Cole) money, that sounds pretty good. A few quid on Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll to score a try at any time (5/4) is another one that stands out with Italy looking likely to struggle to stay organised and pretty weak in the outside channels.......

1.05 RTÉ commentator Ryle Nugent: the gates have opened and the crowds are starting to trickle through, the drizzle has lifted and the sun is making an effort to come out - the team is expected onto the field in about 15 or 20 minutes or so. And the sense of anticipaton is building..........

12.55 Reminder to those of you heading out for the match to set it to record on your NTL or Skyplus of whatever else at home (if that's the type of thing you like to do).........nothing worse than arriving back to find you've forgotten to do this! The match and analysis will, of course, also be available on the RTÉ website.

12.40 If you're wondering about the TV screen just above this tracker, it is going to show RTÉ's live TV coverage from 1.30pm. Live radio coverage is also available on the side this page and the tracker will also be running throughout for those of you following on iPhones, in foreign parts or......whatever else.

If you're wondering what I'm on about, click through the 'Full Live Coverage' button at the top of the page.........

12.35 On the rumours about Brian O'Driscoll sparked by a story in a newspaper yesterday, RTÉ TV commentator Ryle Nugent adds that there is no late news on team changes this morning. Final confirmation will come once the teams are off the bus and beginning to get ready but - as was the case yesterday - there is nothing to suggest that O'Driscoll won't play. We expect to have final confirmation of that soon.

12.28 Go here for George's Late Late interview - round 10.20 for the bit about BOD.

12.25 If you're looking to while away a few minutes this Six Nations morning, check out George Hook's interview on last night's Late Late. The Hookster managed to accuse Ryan Tubridy of being a Fianna Fáiler (not happy), talk about his own political outlook (died in the wool blueshirt), and reveal his desire to make friends with BOD.

12.20 RTÉ television commentator Ryle Nugent tells us it's kind of quiet around Croke Park just now - lots of Italians in around the ground but the Green Army has yet to arrive in force for this early afternoon kick-off and Dublin is not quite as busy as you might expect on a big match day. On the weather front, conditions are clearing slightly compared to this morning.'

12.17 Good wins for both the Wolfhounds (As) and the Under-20s last night: outside centre Brendan Macken and wingers Darren Hudson and Simon Zebo were three players that really stood out for the 20s, as did the half-back pair and the pack. To be honest, 'twas good stuff all round.

12.08 Thanks Joanne..we're blushing. sportonline@rte.ie with your comments.

12.05: 'Great work web site is excellent looking forward to a continued weekend of excellent rugby. Watched Ireland A on line and U-20s both excellent. Thanks RTÉ well done again.' Joanne.

11.45am RTÉ ANALYST CONOR O'SHEA: 'I've been out for a nice long run this morning and it's wet and cold but it's not actually too bad. The key thing is that there is no wind so I actually think the conditions will be OK for Ireland.

'But it's not going to be as easy as people think. You always have to listen to players and they are all saying that Italy will be the biggest physical challenge. Ireland will win but it will be tough.

11.30am Welcome to our first live Ireland matchtracker of the RBS 6 Nations. Check in for live updates from the ground from RTÉ commentators, match-day morning expert analysis from RTÉ analyst Conor O'Shea and whatever else we can find from around the rugby and Six Nations universe.

From kick-off at 2.30pm we go in to live tracker mode. If you have any thoughts on the match, get in touch: e-mail sportonline@rte.ie with your predictions, prayers, prophecies or whatever else.............