Peter O’Mahony’s desperate try-saving tackle on Josh Furno spared Ireland’s blushes in a 16-9 victory over Italy, as Joe Schmidt’s men qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals.
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Schmidt’s side dominated neither territory nor possession in the first-half, and yet still created several chances they could not convert.
Johnny Sexton bisected Italy’s line with ease before slotting the opening points from the tee, though Italy then levelled through Tommaso Allan’s first penalty.
Earls then strolled home for the first try, Robbie Henshaw standing up in the tackle and wriggling round to pop the scoring pass inside.
From the scrum Conor Murray grubbered into the corner, Ireland stole the lineout and struck without mercy.
Paul O’Connell won a superlative turnover penalty in his own 22 to relieve early pressure that ought to have been the catalyst to Ireland dominance.
Schmidt’s men responded as such, only for Murray to lose the ball at the base, allowing Italy to break with pace and verve.
Parisse ghosted into the 13 channel and thought he had sent Furno into the corner.
O’Mahony had other ideas however, eating up ground before enveloping the big Italy lock and forcing him into touch just before he dotted down.
Again Ireland diced with danger, pulling down an Italy maul to allow Allan to post his third penalty and cut Ireland’s lead to a solitary point.
Still Italy pressed, but Parisse – hardly fit after his calf haematoma – could continue no longer.
Italy know they are not the same without their inspirational captain, but even with Parisse on the sidelines the Azzurri continued to grind away.
O’Mahony’s timing may have been perfect to deny Furno his try, but was potentially-damaging in picking up his yellow card.
Italy broke again, still refusing to accept there could be no comeback. But then Ireland turned the ball over once more, Sexton punted for touch, and O’Connell and company tiptoed their way to the last eight.
Ireland face Les Bleus in Cardiff to fight out top spot in Pool D, with the winners likely to take on Argentina in the last eight.
ICYMI: Diego Maradona leads the post-match celebrations as @unionargentina beat #TGA #RWC2015 https://t.co/HFb0v3oNln
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 4, 2015
Elsewhere, Argentina took a huge step to the World Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive win over Tonga in front of football great Diego Maradona.
The Pumas lived dangerously early on against the combative Sea Eagles but a blistering four minutes in the first half proved decisive to seal a 45-16 victory in Leicester.
Maradona, who inspired his country to victory in the football World Cup in 1986, saw Juan Imhoff become the Pumas’ all-time Rugby World Cup top tryscorer when he went over during an incisive break and Nicolas Sanchez also scored 26 points.
Kurt Morath missed four kicks for Tonga before Argentina hit cruise control in the final 10 minutes thanks to tries from Julian Montoya and Santiago Cordero.
Victory over Namibia in their final Pool C game would see Argentina claim the runners-up spot behind New Zealand with Tonga’s hopes hanging by a thread ahead of their final game against the All Blacks.
