Ireland keep their cool

Ireland celebrate O'Driscoll's try

Ireland kept their cool to secure the final spot in the last eight with a 36-6 victory over Italy in Dunedin.

Ireland needed to at least draw the match to finish top of Pool C and set-up a quarter-final shootout with Wales.

However tries from Brian O'Driscoll and Keith Earls (2), 16 points from Ronan O'Gara and a penalty and conversion from Jonathan Sexton sealed the victory as Italy struggled to stop their passions boiling over.

The Azzurri had frustrated Ireland during the opening 40 but they were guilty of conceding too many penalties during an ill-tempered and fractious affair - with a number of off-the-ball scuffles and an allegation of eye-gouging against Leonardo Ghiraldini.

Mirco Bergamasco had landed two penalties to keep Italy, who needed a victory to secure a first-ever quarter-final appearance, in touch before they were blown away in the second half.

Ireland had got off to an ideal start as O'Gara made no mistake with a well-struck penalty from out wide after six minutes.

However Italy's pressure at the scrum resulted in a penalty chance for Bergamasco - with the winger making no mistake to level the scores.

O'Gara saw his second attempt rebound off the post, however he slotted Ireland back in front after 17 minutes.

The lead was short-lived as Ireland were pinged for collapsing an impressive Azzurri scrum and Bergamasco slotted over the resulting kick.

Tommy Bowe looked to have scored the crucial first try but Jamie Heaslip was harshly adjudged to have passed the ball forward.

Misery

Ireland, though, were rewarded for a sustained spell of pressure in the Italy half with a penalty from O'Gara.

But Ireland received a let-off just before the break when Bergamasco also hit the post with a long-range penalty attempt.

Ireland came out all guns blazing after the interval and their lead was extended to six points on 42 minutes with O'Gara making no mistake.

And the game was effectively sealed when Bowe broke through the Azzurri defence and found O'Driscoll for the Ireland skipper to score. O'Gara converted.

Earls added to the Italy misery as he went over in the corner after Gordon D'Arcy had made the initial break. O'Gara converted again for a 20-point lead.

There was some bad news for Ireland, though, as Rory Best and Paul O'Connell went off injured - but Sexton came on to add a further three points.

And Earls completed the victory with his second try in the final minute after being set free by Andrew Trimble. Sexton converted.