Ireland team bus follows crazy police escort through Rome

Ireland’s Six Nations stars faced a scare before they even reached the Stadio Olimipico to face Italy on Sunday.

The team was bus was given a reckless escort through the streets of Rome, as a police car slalomed its way through oncoming traffic towards the ground.

The whole episode was caught on video by those on the team bus, with players and staff heard laughing in amazement at the brazen nature of the driving.

Italy’s coach was led through the streets of Rome by a crazy Police escort on Sunday

Ireland players and staff couldn’t help but laugh as the police car slalomed through the streets

The Italian officers drove close to parked cars and forced other vehicles to wait for the coach

One member of the coach could be heard calling calling the driver a ‘f****** lunatic’. 

The officer, and another passenger, could be seen sounding their horn and blaring their sirens before driving into oncoming traffic to slow them down.

There were even clips of the two gesticulating at cars to move back and stop after trying to join the road held by the bus. 

The drive to the ground wasn’t the only hair-raising experience of the day for Schmidt’s team either. 

Ireland had to come from behind against a resolute Ireland side on the pitch, eventually winning 26-16 to secure an unconvincing victory.  

On the pitch, Ireland struggled to overcome their Italian rivals, needing a comeback to win