The opening game of the 2001 Six Nations saw Ireland rally in the second-half to a 41-22 win over Italy in Rome, with a hat-trick from centre Rob Henderson.
After a first-half which saw Italy stun Ireland with a try from wing Corrado Pilat, centre Rob Henderson got one in injury time before the break for a half time advantage of 19-15 to the visitors.
Ireland recorded their first opening day win since 1988, and afterwards their coach Warren Gatland said: "We came here to get a result and we got a result. Obviously we are happy -- we would have been happy with a one-point win. We nearly let it slip before half time."
Captain and hooker Keith Wood added: "I'm pretty bloody happy. We got a win."
The pre-match news that talismanic fly-half Diego Dominguez was absent from the Italian line-up must have Ireland licking their lips, and as deputy Ramiro Pez -- also born in Cordoba, Argentina was visibly nervous, it looked as if an Irish romp was on the cards.
Not to be though in the first-half, as a penalty exchange from Italian wing Pilat, and Ronan O'Gara for the visitors saw Ireland nosing ahead at 6-3 after a scrappy opening ten minutes.
The loss of Dominguez was an expensive one, for as well as Diego Dominguez kicks usually and kicked in the opening Six Nations match in 2000 so Italy kicked poorly in this match. Indeed Italy were behind at half-time only because of failed kicks. By half-time Italy had scored two tries to Ireland's one.
Italy were surprisingly better than Ireland in the forwards. They were better at set pieces -- putting pressure on Ireland at scrum time, winning their own line-outs and pinching two of Irelands -- and in driving play. But outside of the forwards Italy were no match for the Irish, even without start centre Brian O'Driscoll who was out because of injury. At first O'Gara used a barrage of Garryowens to upset the Italians but it was the Irish running which finished them off.
The first scoring was came from penalties to make the score 9-3 to Ireland when Christian Stoica, the Italian centre a suprise selection at fullback for this match, cut through the Irish defence and despite Ireland's manful efforts to recover, he was there to take a return pass and then float one out to Corrado Pilat on the Italian right wing. Pilat scored in the corner. He was injured in the effort and replaced. He had also been Italy's first-choice kicker for the match and was replaced by Pez for the rest of the match.
At this stage Italy lost prop Alejandro Moreno to the sin bin after a report from touch judge Bob Dickson. While he was away, Rob Henderson, the man of the match, burst through the fragile Italian middle on a long surging run for a try which Ronan O'Gara converted. O'Gara added another penalty to make the score 19-8, and it looked as if Ireland was running away with it.
But the Italians, sparked by stocky scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon, came back and eventually went over in a bundle. Jonathan Kaplan was unsighted and referred to the television match official, Ed Morrison.
The process was long but eventually the telly ref found that Paulo Cecchinato had scored, to the roared approval of the Italian supporters. Pez converted and half-time brought a score of 19-15 to Ireland, not a comfortable lead.
Warren Gatland, the Irish coach, probably had harsh things to say to the Irish at half-time for they came out firing in the second half. In no time Henderson was over for his second try, which O'Gara again converted. Then some clever play by Tyrone Howe on the left wing brought Henderson his third. First Howe skilfully beast his man. Then confronted by Stoica he kicked a beautifully weighted kick some 30m into the Italian in-goal area where Henderson outstripped the Italians to score. Stoica in the meantime had blocked Howe's passage with a dropped shoulder. The try was the result of good advantage by the referee, Jonathan Kaplan.
The Italian forwards continued to strive manfully and the Irish backs continued to score skilfully. It was not long before Shane Horgan was over on the right wing.
Peter Clohessy, not for the first time in his career, incurred the referee's displeasure and a yellow card for putting studs on an opponent's body. Malcolm O'Kelly was fortunate that the same fate did not befall him for the same reason at the same incident.
The Italians went one better in ill-discipline. Peter Stringer pulled Alessandro Trocon's jersey as the Italian scrumhalf was striving to get close to the action not far from the Italian goal-line. Troncon swung round, swung a punch and laid Stringer out. For this Troncon was given a red card.
Ireland enjoyed his absence, and O'Gara, who had had a wonderful afternoon, tiptoed through the Italian defence to make the score 41-15.
Just before the end, the strong Italian flank, Mauro Bergamasco, burst straight down the field from a maul to score, untouched by the fanned Irish defence, under the posts. Pez converted to make the final score 41-22 to Ireland.
Afterwards Keith Wood said: "We are bloody pleased to have won."
The Teams:
Ireland: 1 Peter Clohessy, 2 Keith Wood (c), 3 John Hayes, 4 Mick Galwey, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 6 David Wallace, 7 Alan Quinlan, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Peter Stringer, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 11 Tyrone Howe, 12 Rob Henderson, 13 Mike Mullins, 14 Shane Horgan, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves: Jeremy Davidson, David Humphreys, Brian O'Meara, Emmet Byrne, Kevin Maggs, Frankie Sheahan, Andy Ward
Italy: 1 Andrea Lo Cicero, 2 Alessandro Moscardi (c), 3 Andrea Muraro, 4 Wim Visser, 5 Carlo Checchinato, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 7 Carlo Caione, 8 David Dal Maso, 9 Alessandro Troncon, 10 Ramiro Pez, 11 Denis Dallan, 12 Luca Martin, 13 Giovanni Raineri, 14 Corrado Pilat, 15 Cristian Stoica
Reserves: Filippo Frati, Ezio Galon, Walter Pozzebon, Giampiero De Carli, Giuseppe Lanzi, Tino Paoletti, Aaron Persico
Referee: Kaplan j.
Points Scorers:
Ireland
Tries: Henderson R.A.J. 3, Horgan S.P. 1, O'Gara R.J.R. 1
Conv: O'Gara R.J.R. 2
Pen K.: O'Gara R.J.R. 4
Italy
Tries: Bergamasco M. 1, Checchinato C. 1, Pilat C. 1
Conv: Pez R. 2
Pen K.: Pilat C. 1
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