Baloucoune spares Ireland’s blushes as they come from behind to beat Italy 20-13
Robert Baloucoune’s eye-catching try and a late James Lowe interception sealed a 20-13 Six Nations victory for Ireland over Italy in Dublin on Feb. 14, 2026 (ET). The win masked a nervy performance in which Ireland trailed at half-time for the first time against Italy in the city and were forced into a gritty second-half recovery.
Italy’s historic half and Ireland’s early struggles
Italy arrived in Dublin with belief and carried that into the opening 40 minutes, grabbing a 10-5 lead at the break. A try from Giacomo Nicotera and accurate kicking from Paolo Garbisi gave the visitors the advantage and handed them their first ever half-time lead against Ireland in Dublin. Ireland’s early discipline at the scrum wavered, leading to a sequence of penalties that allowed Italy to dominate territory late in the first period. Craig Casey also spent time in the sin-bin, adding to Ireland’s first-half headaches.
The hosts nonetheless showed intent through their structure and a patient build-up from fly-half Sam Prendergast, who mixed crisp passing with bold attacking choices. Two missed conversions, however, atop ordinary discipline, meant Ireland could not cash in on enough points from their opportunities, leaving the contest finely poised at the interval.
Second-half fightback driven by replacements and finishing flair
The complexion of the match shifted after the break. Jack Conan struck three minutes after the restart to level the scores at 10-10, and the bench injectors proved decisive in swinging momentum. Jack Crowley’s entry added control and tempo in the middle, while late-game subs including debutant Edwin Edogbo brought fresh energy to the forward pack.
Robert Baloucoune’s try, a moment of creativity and pace from the wing, put Ireland seven points clear with time to spare and earned him the match’s top individual honour. The finish showcased the kind of instinctive interplay between backs and forwards that Ireland have relied on in recent campaigns; Prendergast’s passing and Crowley’s management played key roles in creating the opening Baloucoune finished.
In the closing minutes, Italy pressed hard for a last-gasp draw and looked capable of snatching a valuable championship point from the contest. Ireland’s metres behind the ball became increasingly congested, and there was a tense scramble to protect the lead. The turning moment arrived when James Lowe intercepted a pass and raced through to extinguish the possibility of an Italian equaliser, wrapping up the 20-13 scoreline.
Defensively, Ireland’s aerial issues from their previous fixture were addressed more comfortably, while newcomers made a strong impression: Edogbo’s debut was noted for physicality and grit in tight exchanges. The result will be taken as proof of character after a nervy opening 40 minutes.
What it means for both teams
For Ireland, the victory keeps the campaign alive but raises selection questions, particularly at fly-half where Prendergast’s missed kicks and Crowley’s calming influence will fuel ongoing debate. The coaching staff will also take encouragement from the bench impact and the squad’s ability to grind out a win when not at their fluent best.
Italy leave Dublin with plenty to encourage. The visitors showed they can compete in hostile environments, executed their plan well for long spells and threatened to claim a rare draw late on. Small margins and a few moments of execution separated the teams; Italy’s improving competitiveness will be a concern for the rest of the table if they continue to press at this level.
Ireland face a quick turnaround to their championship next week, carrying a hard-fought win but also reminders of areas that require sharpening as the tournament progresses.
