Ireland's Byrne feels the force of a high challenge

By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport, Rome

Captain fantastic Brian O'Driscoll became his country's most prolific tryscorer as Ireland overcame a potential disaster in Rome to post another warning to RBS 6 Nations favourites England.

The fired-up Italians, fresh from their superb win over Wales, found the in-form Irish an altogether different proposition as they followed up their comfortable win over Scotland with a five-try rout at a sun-kissed Stadio Flaminio.

Ireland shrugged off the absence of three first-choice backs through injury and the loss of prop Reggie Corrigan with a wrist injury before half-time to secure an eighth successive win stretching back to last June in Auckland.

Italy coach John Kirwan had cheekily suggested the only way to stop Ireland and subdue the enormously-talented O'Driscoll was to fix him up with a beautiful woman and ply him with champagne the night before.

The clean-living Irishman had clearly enjoyed a restful night for he was once more in inspiring form, scaring the living daylights out of the Italian defence with each touch of the ball.

The 24-year-old Dubliner produced some sublime handling skills and he finished decisively on 59 minutes, crashing onto David Humphreys' well-rehearsed inside ball, to claim his 18th try, taking him past the tally of Brendan Mullin.

In a match packed to the brim with Irish heroes, Victor Costello led a magnificent pack performance and helped lay the platform for half-backs Peter Stringer and Humphreys to unleash their side's devastating threequarters.

Stringer clearly enjoyed his much-heralded spat with Alessandro Troncon, the Italian captain who had been sent off in this fixture two years ago for poleaxing the little man from Cork.

Troncon had raised the pre-match tempo by accusing his opponent of provocation but Stringer let his rugby - and his pinpoint passing in particular - do the talking.

He also scored only his second try in 30 games for Ireland when pouncing at the base of a strong drive from his forwards on 18 minutes.

Teams

Italy: Vaccari, M. Bergamasco, Stoica, Raineri, Dallan, Dominguez, Troncon, De Carli, Festuccia, Martinez, Bezzi, Bortolami, De Rossi, Persico, Phillips.

Replacements: M. Bergamasco for Dallan (74), Pez for Dominguez (49), Castrogiovanni for Martinez (61), Palmer for Phillips (72).

Not Used: Moretti, Giacheri, Queirolo.

Tries: Dallan.

Cons: Pez.

Pens: Dominguez, Pez.

Ireland: Murphy, Kelly, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie, Humphreys, Stringer, Corrigan, S. Byrne, Hayes, Longwell, O'Kelly, Costello, Gleeson, Foley.

Replacements: Henderson for Kelly (79), G. Easterby for Stringer (79), Horan for Corrigan (41), Sheahan for S. Byrne (73), Cullen for Longwell (64), A. Quinlan for Costello (73).

Not Used: Burke.

Tries: Stringer, Kelly, Humphreys, O'Driscoll, Murphy.

Cons: Humphreys 3.

Pens: Humphreys 2.

Att: 22,500

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (England).