Ireland head coach Andy Farrell praised his team's resilience after they overcame a five-point halftime deficit to defeat Italy 20-13 in their Six Nations opener at Dublin. Jack Conan and Robert Baloucoune scored crucial second-half tries that turned the tide against an Italian side that had dominated the first half. Farrell emphasized the character shown by his players in bouncing back from their opening loss to France.

Despite trailing at the break, Ireland's defense held firm under late Italian pressure, with Farrell highlighting the team's ability to "back ourselves" when facing adversity. The Irish coach noted that recent history showed Italy would not fade away, making the victory particularly satisfying. While acknowledging too many errors at points during the game, Farrell was pleased with how his side responded to their previous defeat.

Sam Prendergast struggled at fly-half before being replaced by Jack Crowley on 55 minutes, who Farrell described as "outstanding" despite a late penalty mishap. Player of the match Baloucoune scored the decisive try on his Six Nations debut, with Farrell delighted by his performance after a stop-start international career. The win provides momentum for Ireland as they look to recover from their opening defeat and build toward the remainder of the tournament.