What an amazing four weeks it has been. We've seen so many fine matches of rugby so far. 239 tries in 39 matches so far, over 6 per game! There have been an unprecedented number of near upsets, and some genuine astounding full time scores. It is fitting that the final pool game is the one which will decide Pool C. And it's exciting that the result is by no means a foregone conclusion.
These two teams have been playing each other regularly in 6 Nation Championship since the year 2000 and while the statistics clearly favour the Irish, the Italians will know they have beaten the Shamrocks three times. If they can manage to win today then they will progress to the Quarter Finals. Given this scenario I reckon anything could happen, but Italy will have to play the game of their lives to take the match.
The first half is an arm wrestle of styles. The Irish backs are having a go at anything, while the Italian pack are imperious in the set piece and particularly brutal at scrum-time. The half follows this pattern... Ronan O'Gara, Penalty, Mirco Bergamasco penalty etc. The difference between the teams is that when the Italians concede penalties it seems to be a deliberate option to prevent the Irish from getting a roll on. Pretty negative stuff all right.
The constant infringing comes at the expense of the game's flow and the teams head to the sheds with the Irish team deservedly in front by 9-6. They would definitely like more points, but their more positive play is slowly gaining the advantage.
The Irish are much improved in the second spell, and O'Gara nails another 3 pointer early to put them 12-6 ahead after 42 minutes. Next Ireland's finest ever player Brian O'Driscoll gets on the end of a finely worked backline move to grab the game's first try. O'Gara converts and the 19-6 lead means they are well out of harm's way.
If Italy want to make their first quarter final they'll need tries of their own... I'm not sure they're up to it. The final nail comes for their coffin on the 52 minute mark; the Irish present wave upon wave of assaults on the Italians led by bullocking second five Gordon Darcy. They stretch play first to the right, then out left where flying winger Keith Earls picks up the try. O'Gara slots the conversion. 26-6 and it is now all Ireland.
The Italians are permanently on the back foot, but muster incredible defence to hold up a certain try 55 minutes into the game. Even though they look beaten they are still fighting - this is very admirable. They finally begin to assert some pressure beyond the 60th minute. They camp in the Irish half for many minutes and hold onto a succession of possession.
But the Irish are patient and soak it all up without losing any advantage. Then on the 68th minute O'Gara's replacement Jonathan Sexton further demoralises the Itaians by slotting a 45 metre penalty. 29-6 to the Shamrocks with little more than ten minutes to play.
The Italians spend the final ten minutes of the match deep in the Irish half as they desperately scramble for a consolation try. The Irish coaching staff are probably delighted to see the team soaking up this pressure and not succumbing to the Italians' passion. This is a great sign for the quarter finals for Ireland.
To cap off a glorious night, Tommy Bowe scores the individual try of the tournament in the final minute. Well he would have but he was taken out as he was diving across the line to touch his toe hack down. But incredibly the TMO doesn't see it this way and no penalty try is awarded.
It doesn't matter though when Keith Earles returns the following twenty two yard drop out, back across the Italian line to finish a great night for the Irish.
Final score: Ireland 36- Italy 6
40 games 242 tries.
Tweet of the match - "Berlusconi, Rossi, da Vinci, Michaelangelo, your boys took one hell of a beating....#rwc2011 #IRE" @campbellc66
Tweet of the pools - "Dear Canada, Fiji, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Namibia, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga & USA - THANK YOU ALL! We'll miss you. Haere ra."
@JohnJCampbell
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