Jordan Larmour played a starring role as Ireland kicked off their autumn international series with a resounding 54-7 rout of Italy in Chicago.
Full-back Larmour, making his first Test start, scored three of Ireland’s eight tries, with Tadhg Beirne also crossing twice for the Six Nations champions.
Ireland’s other scores came from Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Garry Ringrose.
Italy’s only points on the scoreboard came from an interception try from Michele Campagnaro just before half-time.
Beirne got the scoring under way when he powered over after just four minutes, with Joey Carbery adding the extras.
It looked like Ireland would blitz Italy from there, but Conor O’Shea’s side hung in, despite McGrath scoring a second converted try after Larmour’s electric break.
Italy hit back on the stroke of half-time when Campagnaro intercepted Rhys Ruddock’s pass and Carlo Canna converted to cut the deficit to seven points.
Ireland came out firing for the second half and kept Italy scoreless in what was a much-improved performance.
Beirne bulldozed his way over for his second try before Larmour scored the first of his three tries when he intercepted Campagnaro’s sloppy pass.
Carbery maintained his flawless record from the tee by adding both conversions and the Munster out-half was on target again after 56 minutes when Sean Cronin scored off a powerful maul.
Italy were out on their feet and there was no let-up as Ireland ruthlessly put them to the sword with Ringrose scoring a try between Larmour’s two.
The first of the World Rugby breakthrough player of the year nominee’s tries came when his dancing feet again had the Italian defence in all sorts of problems.
Joe Schmidt was able to introduce Ross Byrne and Will Addison for their Ireland debuts, while O’Shea brought Dublin-born out-half Ian McKinley off the bench to play against the country of his birth.
This was a day that belonged to Larmour, though, and after Ringrose scored a lovely try when he linked with Bundee Aki, the Leinster full-back stole the show in the dying stages.
He had already intercepted Campagnaro’s pass to score a second try and with the clock ticking towards the end, Larmour was not happy to settle for a 49-7 drubbing and instead ran 80 metres to seal his hat-trick and a comfortable win for Ireland.
