GILBERT Ireland International Replica Rugby Ball , 5 - Ireland

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They might have had more, but after successfully going to the corner and launching Aki, Ryan was forced into a fumble. At half-time it was only 7-3, but the crowd responded as if watching an epic. We’re obviously very pleased to come away with a bonus point win,” he concluded. “I thought we showed great character because we were under the cosh a little bit.

Just two of the alterations are enforced, with Sexton and Tadhg Beirne ruled out by injuries sustained in the 32-19 success over the French. A lot of the pre-match talk in Ireland had revolved around Ross Byrne, standing in for captain Johnny Sexton. He did perfectly well, although Ireland certainly missed Sexton’s reassuring presence. The absence of Sexton hands James Ryan the captaincy, and Garry Ringrose misses his chance to win his 50th cap with a late injury. There was all sorts of manic toing and froing in the endgame before Libbok drilled a penalty from halfway to the corner, but an imposing drive was eventually stopped and held up. The loss of Finlay Bealham to a twisted knee in the first half was a blow. With Tadhg Furlong already out injured, Ireland’s tighthead reserves are certainly being stretched. But this is what Farrell wanted in a World Cup year - the chance to prove that Ireland are not reliant on Sexton, or Furlong, or anyone.Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Baird, Ryan; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Doris. Andy Farrell's side set a new national record of eight straight Six Nations wins, surpassing the seven-game streak they set between 2004 and 2005 Andy Farrell apologised to his mum after being caught biting his nails during the second half of this see-sawing and highly entertainnig game. “Was I?” asked Ireland’s head coach, laughing. “I shouldn’t do that. My mother's going to be mad.” South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth is held up by Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson Park of Ireland. Photograph: Dave Winter/Inpho

With Sheehan having given Ireland a much-needed shot in the arm, things went from bad to worse for England on the cusp of half-time when Steward was sent off after colliding with Hugo Keenan. Their ill-discipline kept giving easy ball to Ireland. A good performance by England but the focus should be on this tremendous Irish side. They have earned the right to start," said Farrell. "And, from what we have seen so far, it's been a good start to the week. With a scrum penalty advantage, Libbok worked a wraparound with De Allende and his long pass put Kolbe over. But despite the latter narrowing the conversion angle as Hansen had done, Libbok missed the two-pointer.Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Edoardo Padovani, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Pierre Bruno; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.