After the drama of last weekend’s opening-round victory over France, Ireland enjoyed a far more comfortable afternoon’s work against Italy in Dublin.
This thumping eight-try success was both predicted and predictable and was lapped up by the raucous Irish support at the Aviva Stadium.
There is talk that if any side is to deny defending champions England an unprecedented hat-trick of Six Nations titles, it will be Joe Schmidt’s men.
Ireland are now on an nine-game winning streak and have won 12 of their last 14 matches.
Certainly the way they reduced the Azzurri to so much rubble will do their confidence levels no harm whatsoever ahead of the visit of Wales’ in a fortnight’s time.
That particular encounter will not be for the faint hearted, but after Jonathan Sexton’s dramatic late drop-goal sealed a famous 15-13 in Paris seven days earlier, this was a relative stroll in the park, even if Ireland did concede three tries.
Ireland were last crowned Six Nations champions in 2015 and they were facing an Italy side who have now lost 13 of their last 14 Tests.
Conor O’Shea’s men were thumped 46-15 in Rome last Sunday and this latest setback marked their 14th straight defeat in the Six Nations.
Ireland had failed to score a try against France but Leinster back row Jack Conan made his Six Nations debut in one of four changes from the win in France.
Conan replaced CJ Stander, while Jack McGrath, Devin Toner and Dan Leavy also came into the Irish pack.
Promising back Jordan Larmour, who has scored six tries in 14 games since making his Leinster debut, was named among the replacements but came off the bench to make his senior international bow.
Italy made three changes from the loss to England, with Braam Steyn, Nicola Quaglio and Luca Bigi all selected.
Ireland led in the 11th minute when Connor Murray's smart pass found Robbie Henshaw and he crashed over from close range.
From there it was one-way traffic and a second try soon arrived when some delightful interplay led to scrum-half Murray darting over to score.
The Azzuri struggled to keep the hosts at bay and a third try came midway through the first half when imposing centre Bundee Aki showed formidable strength to outmuscle two Italy defenders and power through to score.
Sexton's third conversion made it 21-0 after 21 minutes and in the 36th minute some fine work at the breakdown from Dan Leavy led to a fine break from Aki before Keith Earls burst clear to score.
Sexton's fourth goal made it 28-0 at the break and effectively finished the match as a serious contest as well as securing the bonus-point.
The procession continued after the restart as Henshaw went over in the 44th minute but he sustained an arm injury in the process and was forced off to be replaced by 20-year-old Larmour.
In the 53rd minute, captain Rory Best got in on the act for Ireland - his first Test try for five years - and Joey Carbery's first conversion made it 42-0.
Italy fashioned a response when fly-half Tommaso Allan scored and converted his own try.
Yet Ireland hit straight back when Jacob Stockdale scored before Italy's replacement scrum-half Eduardo Gori went over for the visitors' second.
Stockdale soon had his second and Ireland's eighth before Italy grabbed a third late on through Matteo Minozzi.
