6 Nations Tournament: Irish without rivals crush Italy (36-0) and head to the Grand Slam as big favorites

Calvin Nash's Irish made short work of the Italians this Sunday at the Aviva Stadium. MAXPPP – Brian Lawless

Zero suspense, big beating. Italy did not exist this Sunday at the Aviva Stadium.  

Ireland honored their quest for a new Grand Slam in the Six Nations Tournament by celebrating Italy (36-0) on Sunday in Dublin, displaying in front of his audience the same omnipotence as against the French in Marseille at the opening.

The decor has changed, some of the players too (6 changes in the starting XV), but the outgoing champions and big favorites for the 2024 edition offered an almost identical spectacle, with conquering forwards and wingers , James Lowe and Calvin Nash, in majesty.

🏉🇮🇪 Quelle performance vocale de cet enfant qui chante Ireland's Call devant tout le public de l'Aviva Stadium 🤩
Forcément après ça l'Irlande ne pouvait que performer et s'impose facilement 36-0 face à l'Italie 👍#IREvITA #IREITA #Ireland #SixNationspic.twitter.com/XM4N1lzT6V

— catourneovale (@catourneovale) February 11, 2024

Two matches, ten points

After crushing the Blues at the Vélodrome (38-17), the team in the green jersey raced in the lead from start to finish, facing the Italians who were nevertheless valiant, but too limited and already exceeded by three tries at half-time (19-0).

Ireland added three in the second half to win the offensive bonus, as in France, and strengthen their first place after two days with ten points, two more than their English runner-up.

England-Ireland, an upcoming duel that looks like a final

The trip to Twickenham on the 4th day, March 9, already almost looks like a title final. This should be, in any case, the main obstacle to achieving a second Grand Slam in a row, something no team has achieved since the move to six nations in 2000.

In the meantime, the team of English coach Andy Farrell continued its post-World Cup redemption without a hitch, notably with Jack Crowley as the assured successor to Johnny Sexton at the World Cup. #39;opening.

At the age of 24, the No.10 from Munster (11th selection) achieved his first in the game in Dublin as starting leader, helped by his complicity with his club teammate Craig Casey, same age, thrown into the deep end to rest scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.

The Blues await Italy on February 25

The Azzurri will have to wait a little longer to bring back their first victory in the Tournament from Ireland. The red lantern has two weeks to recharge the batteries before a new summit on February 25 in France. Ireland will stay at home in two weeks to host Wales.