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Two tries from debutant Hugo Keenan helped put Ireland a benefit point win far from the Six Nations title after beating Italy 50-17 at an empty Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
The 24- year-old wing scored his brace in the first-half to settle the hosts’ nerves and they went on to achieve their aim of a bonus point win versus a perky Italy.
The Irish will need to repeat that against France next Saturday in Paris to assure themselves of the title.
Ireland leading the table with a point benefit over England and France.
If the title comes down to points distinction they may rue conceding a late shot to the visitors.
” There was a great deal of great play today,” said captain Johnny Sexton. “However, France are an impressive team and we have our work cut out.
” I do not know if we will rue that try at the end but we can not go back and look at whatever. We would have snapped your hand off for that result.
He included: “If anyone can do it (a perk point win in Paris) we can.”.
The game was held off from March due to the coronavirus pandemic and needed to be played without spectators.
The Italians had actually captured the Irish on the hop early on.
Jake Polledri made a fantastic break bursting previous CJ Stander and Sexton which resulted in a penalty.
Ireland were two times as penalised with referee Matthew Carley sending out Conor Murray to the sin bin in the third minute. Paolo Garbisi converted the penalty for 3-0.
It was, though, an incorrect dawn for the visitors.
Stander made up for his temporary lack of concentration as he reviewed for a shot in the eighth minute– Sexton transformed for 7-3.
Simply as Murray returned Sexton added a penalty to make it 10 -3.
Frequent indiscipline by the Italians avoided them making inroads into the Irish22
Keenan had actually been quiet up to the point he was used his very first scoring chance however he took it with aplomb.
He beat 3 Italian defenders to touch down in the corner after taking a charming floated long pass from Robbie Henshaw, who had replaced Garry Ringrose who had taken a knock to the jaw.
As Keenan trotted back to the halfwa
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