Five point summary:

  • Castrogiovanni’s injury destroyed Italy’s game-plan.
  • Murray and O’Gara justified their positions, their replacements were excellent when they came on too.
  • Mike Ross is the silent scrum assassin.
  • Ferris, and O’Brien: battering rams (with finesse) carrying the ball, and tackle magnets without it.
  • Donnacha Ryan impressed again for his short period on the pitch.