Jordan Larmour scored a hat-trick as Ireland thrashed Italy 54-7 in Chicago on Saturday.
Both coaches fielded experimental sides and after a tight first half, it was Ireland who put on a show as they scored six tries in a second-half romp.
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Larmour enjoyed a fine outing in his first Test start, scoring three times in the second half.
The first half was a scrappy affair, with Tadhg Beirne grabbing his first of two tries to help Ireland go 14-0 up, before Italy’s Michele Campagnaro scored an intercept just before half-time.
However, Beirne went over for his second just after the interval to extend Ireland’s lead and the Six Nations champions never looked back as Sean Cronin scored from the back of a maul and Gary Ringrose finished off a fine break from centre Bundee Aki.
Ireland – Tries: Jack McGrath, Jordan Larmour (3), Tadhg Beirne (2), Sean Cronin, Gary Ringrose. Conversions: Joey Carbury (5), Ross Byrne (2).
Italy – Tries: Michele Campagnaro. Conversion: Carlo Canna.
Ireland – 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock (c), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jack McGrath
Subs: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Will Addison.
Italy – 15 Luca Sperandio, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Michele Campagnaro (c), 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Giulio Bisegni, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Rento Giammarioli, 7 Bram Steyn, 6 Johan Meyer, 5 George Fabio Biagi, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Nicola Quaglio
Subs: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Marco Lazzaroni, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Jimmy Tuivatti, 22 Guglielmo Palazzani, 23 Ian McKinley.
Photo: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
