Ireland responded to the French defeat in less than convincing fashion after they struggled for long spells to put Italy away and held on to win 22-17 in Rome on Super Saturday.
Man had hoped that after Grand Slam hopes were shelved following defeat to France that Ireland would bounce back in style and put pressure on France and England as they looked to become the first side to win three Six Nations Championship in-a-row. However that didn't happen as Italy dominated for the bulk of the first-half, cutting through the Irish defence time and time again.
If wasn't for Michele Lamaro's yellow card before halftime and Ross Vincent's 20-minute red card Ireland could've been in serious trouble and even with a one-man advantage for 30 minutes Ireland were left defending in their own half in the final stages, with an interception from James Lowe being the key turnover which ultimately gave Ireland the win.
After what was such a promising start the last two performances from Ireland became no more than a damp squib. It was quite evident in both outings against France and Italy that Ireland had no plan B once they didn't dominate physically up front. Both France and Italy dominated in the tackle in both matches and Ireland had no answer to it.
After starting the Championship with 3 wins from 3 and winning the Triple Crown it would be fair to say that Ireland's finish to the Six Nations didn't go as planned. Finishing behind France isn't a disaster but finishing below England would be quite disappointing for Simon Easterby's side, especially after beating them so convincingly in Round 1.
With this Championship marking the last for stalwarts Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy as well as the first for the likes of Sam Prendergast, Jack Boyle and Jamie Osborne the 2025 Six Nations will go down as a changing of the guard in Irish rugby. Ireland still had the oldest side in the Championship, with over 13 players in their Round 1 squad against England aged over 30.
15 March 2025; Ireland players, from left, Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
This includes the likes of Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne and Finlay Bealham who are all over 33-years old and played significant minutes this Championship. It's a concern that many in Ireland have been fearing since the last World Cup and with France and England finishing this tournament strong with a younger side, it could also be a changing of the guard for the Six Nations Championship.
That's how England's most capped player Ben Youngs feels about it. Speaking on For The Love Of Rugby, Ben Youngs was brazen in his opinion that Ireland aren't going to be the contenders they have been going forward, predicting that France and England will take the ascendency.
To think that after 3 rounds they were looking like it was very much in their hands to win the title to really stumbling over the line to finish the tournament. And there's going to be some transition for Ireland, there really is.
You start looking at France and you start looking at England, you then look at Ireland and they're in a different stage right now and I'm starting to feel like that for so long they have been such a dominant force within this tournament, but I feel like, and I really do and I'm happy to say it, I feel like that is now done.
I don't see them being that dominant force that they have been for such a long time. I feel like France and the more that England mature will kind of be the two teams to lash out for the title.
You can say that Ben Youngs could be jumping to conclusions, with Ireland having a very impressive underage system over the past few years and while not all those players will translate to the senior side, it would be fair to say that enough will come through to keep Ireland at a competitive level for years to come.
