Ireland demolish 13-man Italy in farcical Six Nations fixture

Dublin - Ireland kept the pressure on unbeaten Six Nations leaders France with a 57-6 thrashing of Italy on Sunday in a game that descended into farce after the visitors were forced to play most of it with 13 men.

Ireland were 7-3 up when replacement hooker Hame Faiva, on for the injured Gianmarco Lucchesi, was sent off and, because Italy resorted to uncontested scrums, they had to nominate another player to leave the pitch for the final 61 minutes.

With gaps everywhere, the hosts followed up Joey Carbery's early try with eight more from Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter O'Mahony, Kieran Treadwell, Ryan Baird and two each for James Lowe and debutant Michael Lowry.

Ireland, who trail France by three points after taking a losing bonus point from Paris, need to beat England and Scotland to have a chance of winning the title.

"I thought they did really well with 13 men, it was very sloppy at times from us but a good result in the end," man of the match Josh van der Flier said in a pitchside interview.

Ireland probably could have further passed the French on points difference in a game with little else to gain bar getting some experience into players such as Carbery, who started ahead of fit-again captain Johnny Sexton.