It wasn't easy, but Ireland ultimately emerged with a fully deserved 34-20 Six Nations victory over Italy in Rome this afternoon.
The visitors played well for much of the first half, running in four tries and looking as though they were taking control of the game as it approached halftime.
However, an intercept try from the Italians just before the interval put them right back into the game.
The second half was a hard fought battle, with the Italians threatening to pull off a famous victory. They found themselves only seven points behind heading into the closing stages, only for a Mack Hansen try in the final ten minutes to finally kill the game off as a contest.
Italy 20-34 Ireland: Hansen goes in under the posts and Ireland finally put some clear daylight between themselves and Italy.
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and@RTEplayer: https://t.co/UW8C8Yc1Pb
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/yrkfeBiT3I pic.twitter.com/EvKuhVf9Hg— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 25, 2023
Ireland will be hoping to make plenty of improvements ahead of their game against Scotland in two weeks time.
Bundee Aki apologises for performance against Italy
Ireland will be slightly disappointed with their showing in Rome, failing to live up to the standards they set in their win over France last time out. That was perhaps inevitable considering the buildup to that fixture in comparison to this one.
There were plenty of good aspects of their play, especially in terms of their attacking flow in the first half. However, they were also some concerning passages where they allowed their opponents to play with far too much freedom.
In all, it was a mixed bag.
No player summed that up better than Bundee Aki. The Connacht man produced some fantastic moments in the first half, including a very well-taken try.
Italy 10-19 Ireland: James Lowe and Bundee Aki combine once more, with Aki touching down in the corner to extend Ireland's lead.
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer: https://t.co/UW8C8Yc1Pb
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/yrkfeBiT3I pic.twitter.com/Ng3dxHepy0— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 25, 2023
In saying that, his discipline did let him down on occasion in defence. He missed five tackles over the course of the game and made some questionable decisions.
He also knocked the ball forward when it looked like he was about to run in a try in the second half.
Speaking after the game, it was clear to see that Aki was disappointed with his overall performance. In fact, he would go as far as to almost apologise to his teammates for the way he played.
We did some really good stuff, but then we did the total opposite. That's just a credit to Italy. We knew it was going to be a tough game, we said that all week. They are a proud nation.
We just had to make sure that our discipline was on the right side. I can certainly put my hand up there, because mine definitely wasn't on the right side, it was on the bad side.
I certainly didn't help the squad there towards the end.
Fair play to Italy, they gave it to us. Fair play to our boys for digging deep as well...
I think our overall performance (has to be better). Definitely on the discipline side of things, that's one big thing we talk about all week.
I can certainly say I was one that wasn't disciplined.
Considering that his performance had quite a few good aspects to it, his reaction points to the winning mentality within the Ireland squad at the moment.
That can only help them moving forward.
SEE ALSO: Mack Hansen Left Red-Faced By Hilarious Interview Blooper
