Ireland 16
Italy 9
Keith Earls' first half try proved the difference as Ireland struggled to overcome Italy in their Pool D clash at Olympic Stadium, with over 53,000 mostly Irish fans in attendance.
Johnny Sexton added three penalties and a conversion as Ireland never got going against the Sergio Parisse inspired Azzurri. Tommasso Allan struck three penalties of his own to keep Italy within touching distance of the 6 Nations champions.
The result secures Ireland's place in the quarter-finals, with Italy consigned to exiting the tournament at the pool stages once again.
It was a disjointed performance throughout as their supposedly weaker opponents seemed the more cohesive side from the beginning, but it wasn't reflected on the scoreboard.
Italy came firing out of the blocks early on, controlling the ball for the opening exchanges but it was Ireland who struck first with a Sexton penalty in the 9th minute. After the restart Italy continued to hold the ball and got their just rewards when Allan slotted a penalty of his own to level things up in the 15th minute.
The Italian's ineptitude from their own set piece cost them dearly as they couldn't control their own line-out on multiple occasions and it was from this that Ireland scored the crucial try.
Ten metres out from their own line, Andrea Manici's throw was picked by Peter O'Mahony and Ireland went wide after a couple of phases. Henshaw picked an inside line off Sexton to get in behind the gainline and then offloaded to Earls who crossed unopposed to score his eighth try at a World Cup, surpassing Brian O'Driscoll's previous record of seven.
You would have been forgiven for thinking Ireland would kick on from here and dismiss the Italian challenge, but another Allan penalty in the 24th minute kept them in touch after Paul O'Connell infringed.
Sexton had a chance to extend the lead but his long range penalty bounced back off the upright. Then, minutes before the break, O'Connell and Sexton turned down the chance for three to go to the corner but the Italian defence was equal to their drive from the maul and they cleared their lines before going in for half time.
Ireland knew they were in for a game after the break but their intensity levels never rose and were very fortunate not to conced a try in the 48th minute. Ireland's defence was stretched as Josh Furno received the ball out wide and raced for the left corner. Only for a brilliant last ditch O'Mahony tackle and the Azzurri would've gone ahead.
Allan's third penalty made it a one point game in the 52nd minute before Sexton slotted two more three pointers to settle the Irish nerves with an hour gone.
They were to be last scores of the game as substitute out-half Carlo Canna dropped a long range penalty short. Ireland then threw Italy a lifeline when O'Mahony was sent to the bin for the remainder of the game for a shoulder charge, however they couldn't take advantage of the extra man as a needless obstruction on Tommy Bowe gave Ireland a chance to seal the win with 60 seconds remaining, but Sexton missed the kick.
Italy tried to muster one last attack from within their own 22' but Jamie Heaslip turned it over before Sexton booted the ball into touch to end the game.
Ireland survived but improvements will be needed if we are to topple the French in Cardiff next weekend.
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