Ireland v Italy LIVE: Six Nations 2024 score and result as hosts secure comfortable second win

Jack Crowley claimed an overdue first senior try as Ireland continued their Guinness Six Nations title defence with a resounding 36-0 bonus-point win over Italy in Dublin.

The fly-half, who is tasked with filling the void left by retired number 10 Johnny Sexton, has gone 45 appearances for Munster without touching down.

He opened his international account inside seven minutes of his 11th Test to help the reigning champions back up a crushing opening weekend demolition of pre-tournament favourites France.

Dan Sheehan registered two of Ireland’s five further tries to take his tournament tally to three, while Jack Conan, man of the match James Lowe and Calvin Nash were also on the scoresheet for a team captained by Caelan Doris.

Ireland’s display could certainly have been more ruthless but it was more than enough to dispatch the championship’s perennial wooden spoon winners and secure a 17th successive home win.

“There’s not a lot to keep from this game. First half, we were too passive in defence, we let them take the momentum. It was too easy to win yards and get into the gameplan. In the second half, we improved a bit, but then we had nothing. Either we didn’t have the ball to attack, or it was poor quality.

“We knew that we were playing one of the best teams in the world and they were going to put us under pressure. But we struggled to take onto the pitch what we did in the week, and we lost a bit of belief in key moments. They never stopped fighting, but we need to improve our set piece and the defence. But without the ball, it’s going to be tough for us.”

“We are happy enough,” the Ireland head coach says to ITV. “We got what we wanted out of the game, a bonus point win, and keeping them to zero is very pleasing. Some nice performances from individuals. They are tricky enough to play against - they are a little bit more pragmatic so you’ve got to find other ways of getting the ball back.

“I thought we were trying to be a bit too tidy at times. We need to back ourselves a bit more. I think our scrum was man of the match, to be fair - that was a lovely weapon, and we backed up our lineout effort from last week as well.

“It’s good that the whole squad is up and running. But the competition only gets going from here on in.”

Ireland were good, but that was a step back for Italy. Gonzalo Quesada mentioned a need to match Ireland at the set piece before the game, and his side just never had a hope with how far short they were at both the scrum and lineout. Their ruck work was short of par, too - if you can’t slow Ireland down in phase play, you can’t stop them.

Plenty to think about for Quesada, whose still figuring out his best side as he begins life as Italy coach. They play France in Lille in a fortnight.

“It’s nice to be back at home. Pleased with the result, but there’s a few things to work on going forward. It probably shows how well the provinces are doing - the boys that came in, there were no clinks or clunks. The set piece was great - it’s easy when the platform is as good as that.”

A comprehensive victory for Ireland, showing their strength and depth again to keep Italy scoreless. It could have been more, really, two second half scores chalked off, but Andy Farrell’s side seldom looked trouble after the first half-hour and look red hot favourites to retain their Six Nations crown.

Jack Crowley continues to slot in seamlessly at fly half, and the Irish pack were dominant, with Finlay Bealham leading the way in the scrum-time skirmishes. Onwards Ireland roll with five match points to top the table after two rounds.

Just shy of that seventh score! Luke Pearce felt Jamison Gibson-Park had got there are a dummy and dart from the back of a maul, but a review of the footage before the conversion shows Gibson-Park had knocked on short of the line.

Deeper into the red the game extends with Ireland on the attack. An Italian on the floor involves himself - another penalty and Ronan Kelleher will throw a lineout six metres short of the line.

We haven’t seen much of Alessandro Izekor on his first Test start, but he’s caught the eye of Luke Pearce here - the referee rules that the flanker’s tackle on a charging Stuart McCloskey is high.

Ireland have never nilled Italy - but they’ll seek a seventh try rather than send us to the finish.