Ireland take it on the chin in Italy

After much talk of provocation and retaliation, Ireland are left with a keen sense of anticipation. As preparation for a potential Grand Slam-destroying visit to Paris on April 6, Saturday's fractious 32-17 victory over Italy will just about do.

The Italians left Lansdowne Road complaining bitterly that the Irish had provoked the ugly moments of violence which resulted in two yellow cards for the visitors - and might well have seen Salvatore Perugini redcarded for a disgraceful butt on Peter Stringer.

'The referee did not punish the things Ireland did, so we reacted,' said Perugini. 'Stringer stamped on Troncon so I reacted. For the other yellow card, Peter Clohessy was stamping on Troncon again, so Giampiero De Carli was provoked.'

Referee Rob Dickson said both he and touch judge Joel Dume saw the Stringer incident as a push, and the Irish will not be troubling the citing officials about any of the flashpoints in a match which saw some very special milestones reached.

David Humphreys, captaining his country for the first time, also became its leading points-scorer four minutes into the game, kicking the first of his four penalties.

Two came before the 20-minute mark and, when John Kelly marked his debut with a try just before half-time, the Irish were cruising. They went in 19-0 up thanks to a conversion and penalty from substitute Ronan O'Gara.