DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland got relief from beating Italy 20-13 in the Six Nations on Saturday, coming from behind at halftime and grinding out an unconvincing result.
Coach Andy Farrell wanted his slumping side to muzzle the doubters and make a statement after being blown away by France 36-14 last week, Ireland’s worst Six Nations loss in 16 years.
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Italy's Lorenzo Pani, right, is tackled by Ireland's Craig Casey, during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Ireland's Robert Baloucoune, left, runs onto score a try despite Italy's Lorenzo Cannone's late defence during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Italy's Monty Ioane reacts after the end of the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Ireland's Robert Baloucoune, goes over the line to score a try during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Instead, Ireland was within inches of losing to Italy at home for the first time in the championship.
“Italy do not lie down like they have done in recent years,” Farrell said. “I am so unbelievably proud of the team. They showed a lot of character and that will stand us in good stead. We stood strong at the end and, after a spotty first half, I was a lot happier with the second half performance.”
Italy backed up the 18-15 opening win over Scotland by contributing daringly to a compelling match and was unfortunate. Italy had a try ruled out by a forward pass and another try missed by an unlucky bounce of the ball.
Way past 80 minutes, Italy's last attack was broken by an intercept by James Lowe, who took it to the Italy 22 and got a penalty. But instead of taking three points to rob Italy of a losing bonus point, Ireland went for a bonus-point fourth try and replacement flyhalf Jack Crowley kicked the ball dead, ending the match.
“It was a bit of a shank but that wouldn't be the overriding thought that I took from Jack’s game,” Farrell said. 'I thought he was outstanding when he came on."
Ireland's stilted performance won’t worry England before their clash at Twickenham next weekend, when Italy goes to title favorite France.
From the kickoff, Ireland showed the intent that Farrell wished he'd seen more of in Paris last week. The attack flowed with wingers Robert Baloucoune — playing his first test in more than three years — and Lowe prominent.
Italy's defense was equal to the task, though, and an Irish tap penalty was wasted when hooker Dan Sheehan was penalized for a high jump.
Ireland couldn't expose a gap until Hollie Davidson, the first woman to referee a Six Nations game, yellow-carded Italy winger Louis Lynagh for a deliberate knock-on. Center Stuart McCloskey offloaded for fullback Jamie Osborne to score untouched. The easy conversion attempt was badly missed by Sam Prendergast.
As much as Ireland owned the first 20 minutes, Italy dominated the second 20.
After Ireland scrumhalf Craig Casey took a yellow card and bloodied nose from a passive high tackle on Italy's Lorenzo Cannone, Italy kicked to the corner, mauled the lineout and hooker Giacomo Nicotera scored. Paolo Garbisi's sideline conversion gave them a 10-5 lead.
Italy tighthead Simone Ferrari had the edge on Ireland loosehead Jeremy Loughman and, near halftime, Italy's scrum shattered Ireland's. Italy waived the three points to gamble on seven. But the maul was stopped and the attack held up.
Still, Italy led at halftime in Dublin for the first time ever and was halfway to a first Six Nations win in the Irish capital.
That interval lead lasted less than three minutes in the new half. Ireland sent a kickable penalty into the left corner and Jack Conan used the lineout ball to burrow over. Prendergast missed the conversion attempt badly again.
Italy should have retaken the lead thanks to sublime back play. Fullback Jamie Osborne had to make a try-saving tackle on counterpart Lorenzo Pani, then a Lynagh try was canceled after center Tommaso Menoncello ruined his lovely break with a forward pass.
That was Ireland's cue to send on new halves Jamison Gibson-Park and Crowley. Their impact was immediate and decisive. Ireland's attack sped up and Baloucoune backed himself to beat two defenders to the tryline.
Crowley converted, added a penalty, and Ireland was 20-10 up and rampant.
But Italy rallied again, and the scrum produced the rare sight of lifting Irish and Lions tighthead Tadhg Furlong off his feet. Minutes from time, Menoncello couldn't fully grasp a Garbisi chip in front of the Ireland posts and Italy, beaten 36-0 in 2024, had to settle for its narrowest loss in Dublin in 18 years.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Italy's Lorenzo Pani, right, is tackled by Ireland's Craig Casey, during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Ireland's Robert Baloucoune, left, runs onto score a try despite Italy's Lorenzo Cannone's late defence during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Italy's Monty Ioane reacts after the end of the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Ireland's Robert Baloucoune, goes over the line to score a try during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
BORMIO, Italy (AP) — There was dancing, plenty of dancing, for Brazilian ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen as he performed samba steps over and over. To no real music, either.
There were emotions, too, especially when they played his national anthem. And reflection, for knowing what this moment meant now and could mean later.
Once a racer for Norway, Pinheiro Braathen switched to Brazil, his mother's home country, and with two powerful runs Saturday to win the Olympic giant slalom he earned the distinction of picking up South America’s first medal at a Winter Games.
“I’ve tried over and over again to put words into what it is that I’m feeling,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “But it’s simply impossible.”
He gave his country another reason to celebrate even if it already just so happened to be Carnival season. The fun-loving, samba-dancing skier had the perfect helmet for the occasion, too, stenciling on the back “Vamos Dancar” — “Let’s Dance.”
He did a rhythmic number in the first run that gave him a 0.95-second edge.
With snow falling and fog settling in on the final run, the 25-year-old Pinheiro Braathen remained cool and relaxed as he navigated his way through the technical Stelvio course. After seeing his place — No. 1 — he just stared. When it finally sank in, he fell to the snow before starting to scream.
He finished in a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds to beat Swiss racer Marco Odermatt, the defending Olympic champion, by 0.58 seconds. Odermatt’s teammate, Loic Meillard, earned bronze.
“It’s a moment that’s hard to grasp, even though it’s crystal clear that you are officially the Olympic champion,” Pinheiro Braathen explained. “Even though I had such faith and I knew that this was written for me, it is still so incredible to live that dream turned reality. I couldn’t quite grasp it.”
Pinheiro Braathen comes from a family where his mother is Brazilian and his father is Norwegian. He started racing for Norway until abruptly retiring before the 2023 season, only to return a year later representing Brazil.
He’s already accomplished plenty of firsts with his new country: First Brazilian Alpine racer to finish on a World Cup podium last year and first World Cup win for the country this season.
Now, he’s the first Olympian from the South American continent to bring home a winter medal.
"The emotions that I’m feeling right now is an internal sun inside of me that is shining so, so bright and toward so many people,” he said. “I was skiing with my heart, and when you ski the way you are, anything is possible. The only thing that matters to me is that I remain who I am. I am a Brazilian skier who became an Olympic champion.”
That's why he got so choked up hearing his nation's anthem on the podium. Brazil has taken part of every edition of the Winter Olympics since 1992. The country’s best result until Pinheiro Braathen’s gold medal was ninth place in women’s snowboarding in 2006 with Isabel Clark.
“Being the reason that I get to hear and share that song in a stadium in the middle of mountains, because of a Winter Olympic gold medal for these colors, I’m beyond proud," Pinheiro Braathen said.
He gave a shoutout to the Norwegian Ski Federation as well.
“I don’t have any hate or bad feelings about what has happened,” he said. “I’m just thankful, because it’s our differences in our perspectives that have forced me to confront myself to follow my own dream. And it was that heart, and that strength, that brought me to the top of the Olympics.”
It was another medal for Odermatt at the Milan Cortina Games. He also won silver in the team combined event, where he partnered with Meillard, and bronze in the super-G.
“Three medals,” Odermatt said, “is amazing.”
Odermatt was asked about seeing a Brazilian on top of the Olympic podium and its significance: "For me, it doesn’t represent anything. He did his whole education in Norway. He just switched to Brazil now, so I don’t care about this. But he’s an amazing skier, and I have respect for him as an athlete.”
Atle Lie McGrath of Norway finished fifth. He has known Pinheiro Braathen since they began racing together as kids for their ski club.
“We shared a nice hug over there,” said McGrath, who wore a black armband in tribute to his late grandfather. “I’m really proud of him.”
In Milan, Pinheiro Braathen's fans, decked out in green and yellow, crowded into “Casa Brasil.” They cheered for the entirety of his run, screaming and jumping to their feet once he finished. The sound system blared “We Are The Champions” before playing samba-infused songs for everyone to dance to.
For Pinheiro Braathen, it's hard for him to imagine how he will be perceived now that he's won gold for Brazil. He's eager to find out.
“I can't tell you how many comments I’ve read through from the day I started representing Brazil until becoming an Olympic champion today that has been along the lines of, ‘I have no idea of what’s going on, but let’s go Brazil. Let’s go Lucas,’” Pinheiro Braathen recounted. “I think it’s that unconditional love and support from the Brazilians, even though we’re still in this journey of introducing ski racing to Brazil, that I really brought with me today and allowed me to ski as fast as I did."
Associated Press Writers Stefanie Dazio in Milan and Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing and AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Supporters of Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen react at the Brazil House as he starts his second run in the men's giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, center, winner of a gold medal in an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, celebrates with silver medalist Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, left, and bronze medalist Switzerland's Loic Meillard, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes during an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen checks his time at the finish area after the first run of an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes during an alpine ski, men's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
