Ireland Player Ratings v Italy: Jack Crowley makes decent fist of opportunity

14 – Mack Hansen

Hand up, take the blame, make amends. Hansen was quick to acknowledge his blooper in letting Italy centre, Tommaso Menoncello, bounce through him to tee up his side’s first try but the wing recovered to play a significant role in attack, his lovely in-field knockdown for the bonus point try in particular. 6.5

13 - Garry Ringrose

Under pressure. Ringrose had to be on his mettle against the tournament’s best centre pairing but was part of a struggling Irish defensive line which was too easily breached. Skinned by Capuozzo for Varney’s try. Also conceded silly penalty that Allan converted from distance. 5

12 – Robbie Henshaw

Had to bring all his experience to bear as Ireland were under the cosh at times in defence as Italy attacked cleverly through the middle. Not at his most conspicuous. 5

11 – James Lowe

Took time to settle. Another trying to make up for lost time, popping up here and there as usual but over-hit a kick-through. Impossible, though, to keep quiet, a booming clearance kick giving Ireland crucial territory. 5.5

10 – Jack Crowley

Place-kicking terrible but made a decent fist of his opportunity. There was a lot of pressure on Crowley to perform after been given the starting shirt over Prendergast. The Munster out-half did beautifully in sending Keenan over for the first try. Pig’s ear conversion, though, of the second try and never found his range. 6

9 – Jamison Gibson-Park

Not at his most fluent or decisive despite fine chip kick for bonus point try. The scrum-half got away with a hasty pass thrown that was intercepted by Fischetti. Gibson-Park ought to have stepped in earlier to step one-dimensional hammering at line by the forwards and was creamed once by opposite number, Page-Relo. 5.5

1 – Andrew Porter

A routine shift at the coal-face. Porter had to chisel away as best he could to secure any sort of foot-hold for his side. There was little notable difference in the set-piece performances of the teams. Gave way early by his standards. 5.5

2 – Dan Sheehan

Hat-trick hero. Busy and involved as usual. Sheehan grafted away as Ireland battled to create firm foundations, keeping in the fight and getting due reward with a try before half-time, extending his Six Nations record for try-scoring. 8

3 – Finlay Bealham

Last chance to shine with Tadhg Furlong on the mend and on the bench, Bealham put in a typically robust performance,. Nothing fancy, unfussy and committed. 6

4 – James Ryan

Head down, hard yards. It was a day for some solid grunt work up-front and Ryan applied himself to the task as best he could. Didn’t make any sort of special mark. 5.5

5 – Tadhg Beirne

In the midst of the action. It may not have one of Ireland’s most assured performances with errors and hesitation but Beirne stuck to his guns, his lineout double act with Sheehan creating platform for first try. 6.5

6 – Jack Conan

A grafter. Conan was brought in to provide grunt and the Leinster back-rower duly provided plenty of sweat and toil for the cause. Conan carried hard and often. 7

7 – Josh van der Flier

Rarely seen. Van der Flier’s distinctive red headguard was not as prominent as it once used to be. Has been a quiet tournament by his high standards. Subbed off early for Peter O’Mahony. 5

8 - Caelan Doris

Testing time for the captain. Doris had to show great depths to his leadership claims after such a savage set-back against France. Yet it was clear that Ireland had not shaken off the hangover. 5.5

Replacements

Ought to have made more of an impact.

Things were stacked in their favour when the Italian bench was shredded in the first half as three forwards were forced off through injury, denying them the chance to make a mark in the latter stages. Yellow cards, red cards, everything was in Ireland’s favour as Italy’s discipline collapsed.

Yet the result was in the balance right until the final whistle with scratchy, under-clubbed Ireland just about getting home.

Good to see Tadhg Furlong back for the first time since last summer but the real emotional acclaim from the sizeable Irish presence in the crowd was reserved for the last sighting of Peter O’Mahony coming on to a test field in the 52nd minute, Conor Murray joining later.

Ireland got the job done but it was not that impressive. 5.5.