Ireland have beaten Italy 16-9 in the Rugby World Cup, after Keith Earls scored the only try of the match.

It took nine minutes for Ireland to gain the lead when Jonny Sexton put a penalty through the posts, after Ireland were stopped near the tryline.

Tommaso Allan levelled the scores six minutes later, after the ball was illegally forced out of a maul by the Irish defence.

Earls scored the solitary try of the match in the 19th minute, breaking through the Italy defence after a pass out wide from Tommy Bowe.

Italy won another penalty five minutes later when Paul O'Connell did not roll away after tackling Josh Furno, and Allan sent it through the posts once again.

Sexton had a chance to extend Ireland's lead in the 33rd minute but his kick bounced off the post.

Allan then took Italy to within a point of their opponents after an Irish player came in offside during an Italy drive.

Ireland attacked in riposte with Rory Best combining with Conor Murray before Sexton launched a high kick forward which was gathered by Sergio Parisse.

Sexton restored the four-point lead in the 58th minute when Ireland won a penalty and stretched the lead to seven four minutes later to score his 11th point of the match.

Allan, who had been accurate with the boot throughout the match, was replaced by youngster Carlo Canna with 13 minutes remaining. His first task was to put a long-range penalty through the posts but the kick did not have enough length on it and the gap remained at seven points.

Ireland played out the final eight minutes of the match a man down after Peter O'Mahoney was sin-binned for a shoulder charge on Furno.

Sexton missed a penalty in the 79th minute but Italy's attacks were not enough as Ireland claimed the victory.