Ireland head coach Easterby hails 'lasting legacy' of retiring trio

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby said that the retiring trio of Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy have left a "lasting legacy" on Irish rugby.

The trio called time on their illustrious careers after Ireland's 22-17 defeat of Italy in their final Six Nations game on Saturday. 

Healy was not included in the Ireland squad but scored a try off the bench against France in Dublin last week, and the trio received warm applause from the fans in Rome, where Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick of tries.

"Those three players have been incredible for what they have done on the pitch, but we spoke in the changing room about what they had done off the pitch and helped players in similar positions to them and how they connected to players," Easterby said after the game at the Stadio Olimpico. 

"They have left their mark on the team and on Irish rugby on the pitch, but internally they have had a real impact."

The Irish, who won the Six Nations in 2023 and 2024, finished their campaign with 19 points from five games. But their chances of winning a third straight title are all but over with France and England having the chance to overtake them with wins later in the day.  

"You are always going to miss players that move on, particularly with their experience and time in the group, but it's part and parcel of sport. We'll recognise and acknowledge that tonight but we have to move on," Easterby said. 

"I think there is a lasting legacy that the three of them have left. The team has to move forwards and we have to produce the next O'Mahony, Healy and Murray. That's the challenge."

Ireland have now won each of their last 12 Six Nations matches against Italy. It is their second-longest winning run against any side – only behind their 13-game streak against the Azzurri between 2000 and 2012.

"It's five points that we needed," Easterby said. 

"There's a little bit of disappointment that we didn't play at our best. Credit to Italy, they had a part to play in that but we coughed up too much possession and didn't make the most of some opportunities we had. 

"In a game like that, we could have broken the back a little bit, but we allowed them to stay in the game. The scoreline reflected it was tighter than it should have been."

Meanwhile, captain Caelan Doris believes the 2025 campaign will be a springboard for future success.

"I think there's been a lot of good stuff," Doris said. 

"Our first three games, winning the Triple Crown within that, showed quite a lot of positive things in there.

"There's lots of things we can learn and grow from over the last couple of weeks and I hope that it will be a springboard for us as a group to go and continue to evolve and a bit of a realisation that there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot in us.

"Overall, four wins from five, lots of positives definitely."

Sheehan was delighted to be back playing "big games" after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. 

"It was a big Saturday at the end of the Six Nations and to be here is great," he said.