They suspected it, and now have the certainty: the Blues will have to impose themselves against Scotland if they want to raise the trophy of the Six Nations Tournament. At the top of the ranking at the dawn of the last day, the XV of France was indeed doubled by the Irish, tombers of Italy in Rome (22-17), Saturday March 15. A improved success that allows them to compile 19 points in the standings and still dream of a third consecutive title. But it seems very improbable and will depend on the performances of England and France later during the day.
If the XV of the clover no longer had its destiny in its hands before its last match against Italy, it is largely because of their disappointment of the past week. In a position of strength and in front of their Dublin audience, they were widely beaten by the Blues (27-42), abandoning them first place.
Was this disappointment still in the Irish heads at the time of the kick-off of their match in Rome? Probably. Because it was often difficult to recognize the steamroller who left his opponents no chance in the last two tournaments of the Six Nations. Completely disorganized, the Irish even conceded the first test of the meeting written by the Lyonnais Monty Ioane, the most lively to get a kick from the Toulonnais Paolo Garbisi.
The Italians believed it to the end
For a long time, the Italians were in the match. But as often since its entry into competition in 2000, Italy has sinned by its inaccuracies and its discipline. The third line Michele Lamero and the Giacomo Nicotera hooker, each received a yellow card for largely avoidable faults, when the third Ross line was even definitively excluded for a head shock with an opponent.
Without impressing, Ireland took advantage of it at least to detach itself from the score thanks to Dan Sheehan, author of a hat -trick in 20 minutes: a extremely rare performance, especially for a hooker. Not enough to ensure the gain in the match, which could even have turned in favor of the premises after the trial of the scrum half Stephen Varney at the time of play. But despite the latest reminders of the Toulouse winger Ange Capuozzo, the Italians never managed to fully fill their delay.