Ireland player ratings vs Italy | 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations

Ireland player ratings: Andy Farrell’s men badly wanted to bounce back at home against the Italians, but this 20-13 win certainly didn’t go to script.

Missed tackles, knock-ons, ill-discipline and defensive lapses characterised this performance, and worryingly, it’s becoming something of a leitmotif for Farrell’s side. They got the win, but question marks remain.

Here’s how we rated the Ireland players:

1. Jeremy Loughman – 5
One of a handful of players who left France last week with his reputation improved, even if it was a marginal gain. Simone Ferrari won the scrummaging by some margin here, with Ireland repeatedly collapsing when the pressure came on. Not clear why Ireland kept on using him as a midfield option either.

2. Dan Sheehan – 6
Correctly penalised for jumping into contact off a tap penalty to give away a valuable attacking platform for Ireland. Got ignominiously popped at one scrum and failed to wreak his usual havoc in the loose. Another Lions star trying to find some post-tour form, although he deserves credit for Ireland’s solid lineout.

Fixture

Six Nations

Ireland

20 - 13

Full-time

Italy

All Stats and Data

3. Thomas Clarkson – 4.5
Had his work out against Danilo Fischetti but won a penalty off the first scrum. Then the dam started to creak and then burst towards the end of the half, with Clarkson holding on for dear life. Pulled at halftime.

4. Joe McCarthy – 6
Ireland desperately needed a return to form for ‘Big Joe’ after his Parisian no-show and was certainly up for this one. Errors, however, did creep – especially when it came to some poor handling when popping up as a receiver.

5. James Ryan – 6
Back in the starting team, maybe with an eye to stiffling the lineout threat of the excellent
Andrea Zambonin. Ireland’s decision not to contest that set-piece was at times curious, with Ryan getting into more off-the-ball scraps.

6. Cormac Izuchukwu – 6
More or less anonymous in the first half, with few opportunities to show what he can do in the loose. A better second-half, where he stole a vital lineout in Ireland’s 22 to give his team some much-needed breathing space, before being subbed on 59 minutes.

7. Caelan Doris – 6
Along with Conan took on the bulk of the carrying in the first quarter, but Ireland’s back-row weren’t finding much in the way of soft Italian shoulders.

8. Jack Conan – 7
Trucked a few balls in a relatively quiet first forty, although he generally added value. Came up with Ireland’s desperately needed second try from close range just after the break. Got away with a missed tackle on Tommaso Menoncello, with referee Hollie Davidson calling a forward to spoil an Italian party.

9. Craig Casey – 5.5
Got away with a horrid box-kick with under 60 seconds on the clock and very nearly threw an intercepted pass a few minutes later. Thankfully, he got better after that, with some typically brisk and accurate service. Saved Ireland’s skin with a cover tackle on 24th minutes to just about foil a sure five-pointer for the Azzurri, but was yellowed for a high tackle a few minute later, one in which he came off second best.

10. Sam Prendergast – 4.5
Prendergast cut a frustrated character for much of this one. His early kick selection seemed ill-judged, while some of his passing in the first 20 minutes could best be categorised as high risk. Missed a sitter of a conversion (not his last) in front of the posts on 18 minutes and an insipid kick on 25 minutes very nearly saw Italy score under the posts. Hard to see him starting in Twickenham and his sheepish look as he left the field suggested he knows it too.

11. James Lowe – 6
Plenty of fight – there always is with Lowe. Decent under early high ball and got a few decent touches in quick succession in the first quarter. Question marks might be asked about his pace – or lack thereof – at this level, as he looks far better in contact than in space, his late break for the Italian line underlining the issue. A move to the centre might extend his career.

12. Stuart McCloskey – 7.5
Backed up a solid showing in Paris a weekend ago, providing a beautifully timed assist to Jamie Osborne for Ireland’s first try. Kept out of trouble after that to bank another competent showing amidst the chaos of a faltering Irish side. His NFL style pass in the lead-up to Baloucoune’s try was top draw.

13. Garry Ringrose – 5
Beaten by Louis Lynagh in the air off a crosskick and it was to become a theme. Once Ireland’s tidest midfield operators, post-Lions Ringrose has become a bit of a hot mess. His pre-occupation with shooting out of the line is not paying off – often leaving Ireland’s defence dog-legged. The effort is there, but execution just looks off.

14. Robert Baloucoune – 8
The Ulster flyer’s chance to make a claim for more inclusion and he came with intent, beating two defenders with his first touch. Showed some decent scrambling on defence too and finished Ireland’s third try brilliantly. Much more to come, you feel, if he can be given a run of games.

15. Jamie Osborne – 6.5
Took Ireland’s first try off a decent support line off McCloskey but a few too many errors started to creep in, with some loose handling letting him down. Way more good than bad though.

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher – 7
An improvement on Sheehan with a couple of notable touches that helped settle the nerves of a rattled-looking Ireland.

17. Tom O’Toole – 6
Hardly on long enough to rate, although the scrums did improve a tad, so deserves credit.

18. Tadhg Furlong – 4.5
On after the break, any hope he’d solve Ireland’s dire scrummaging mess disappeared after the first scrum of the second half. Like Sheehan, he got popped, the ultimate humiliation for a tighthead prop.

19. Edwin Edogbo
Not on long enough to rate, coming on at 69 minutes.

20. Tadhg Beirne – 6.5
Part of the replacement crew that helped avert the crisis.

21. Nick Timoney – 6
Was a relative star in the Paris flop, but didn’t quite hit those heights here.

22. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7
Things improved under JGP, the Leinster halfback helping to steer Ireland back into less fraught waters – a brilliant touchfinder on the 68 minutes being the highlight.

23. Jack Crowley – 7.5
A huge roar rang out when the Munsterman entered the fray and Ireland soon started to hit their straps in a manner that was missing under Prendergast. Was able to kick points too, a skill set that eluded his rival for the ten jersey this afternoon.