Leinster full-back Jordan Larmour scored a hat-trick in Ireland’s crushing 54-7 win over Italy at Soldier Field on Saturday.
Larmour was sensational for Joe Schmidt’s side in Chicago and repeatedly took advantage of a porous Italian defence as Ireland ran in eight tries to one in a comprehensive victory.
The win marked Larmour first start in an Ireland jersey after six previous appearances off the bench in green and former Ireland international Andrew Trimble said that he had been making international defenders miss long before he went on to play for Ireland.
“I remember an Ireland squad when he came in to train with us when he was just 18 or 19,” Trimble said on eir Sport after the match.
“We didn’t know this fella at all and he was making mugs of people. He looked as dynamic then, even more so now, and he’s still doing it. He’s playing with a smile on his face.
“I think it comes from a lot of the work the big fellas are doing up front that gives him that space.
“We looked at some of the tries and said soft defence but it’s not a coincidence that there’s about eight or nine defenders defending softly. I think he’s doing that and making boys look stupid.”
Former Ireland head coach Eddie O’Sullivan said that Larmour’s power is often underestimated by the opposition and that if you don’t take him down on the first tackle, he could race away for a score.
“He’s incredibly powerful and Italy underestimated his power,” added O’Sullivan.
“Once you don’t get him on the first tackle, he steps you and it’s good night. They can’t get a hand on him. He doesn’t even break stride. It’s incredible.
“He still has more work to do but I just think that he’s so quick and deceptively powerful that when you think you have him, you don’t and when you know you don’t it’s too late.”
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