Ireland continued its good start to the Six Nations on Sunday with a flattering 38-9 win over Italy. Tries either side of halftime by winger Luke Fitzgerald and flanker David Wallace turned the match in the visitors favor after a close first period. Tommy Bowe went over the line too, while Fitzgerald scored a second try and captain Brian O'Driscoll touched down in a late flurry that gave an unfair look to the scoreline with flyhalf Ronan O'Gara also kicking 11 points. His opposite number Luke McLean, making his first Six Nations start, provided Italy's points with three first-half penalties. Ireland joined Wales at the top of the standings with two wins from two games after last week's 30-21 victory over France in Dublin. Italy clearly wanted to make an aggressive start after last week's 36-11 drubbing in England and fullback Andrea Masi was sinbinned in the first minute for a high tackle that almost decapitated his opposite number Rob Kearney. Despite being down to 14 men, McLean put the hosts in front with a penalty and Ireland looked rattled. O'Gara misplaced several early kicks and handling mistakes scuppered some promising Irish moves before McLean was on target again to make it 6-0. The Azzurri let the visitors off the hook in the 19th minute when a mix-up in the backs enabled winger Bowe to sprint over from halfway and O'Gara kicked the conversion. With O'Gara off the field for a yellow card for tackling off the ball, Ireland turned down a series of penalty opportunities and tried to barge its way back over the line after McLean had kicked another penalty to put the home team back in front and take a 14-9 advantage at the break. The Italians had improved with Paul Griffen recalled at scrumhalf after a 16-month exile but the late capitulation, completed by O'Driscoll's intercepted try three minutes from time, will have left their morale in tatters.
