Image source, Rex Features

Ireland have been dominant at the line-out today, but can't nick another Italian set-piece inside their own 22. Azzurri scrum-half Edoardo Gori boots clear the danger, but referee Jerome Garces decides to collar Peter O'Mahony for a high tackle. The Frenchman shows the yellow card. The Irishman cannot believe it.

Ten minutes left in this tight Pool D game. Can Ireland hang on? They should do. But they might have to do it with 14 men, however...

Another raft of changes sees Ireland introduce Devin Toner and Chris Henry, while Italy throw veteran Mauro Bergamasco into the fray.

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The first job of the afternoon for Carlo Canna - Tommasso Allan's replacement - is to line up a kick at goal. But the Italy fly-half's kick from close to the halfway line lacks the legs and drops short of the Irish posts.

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Time for a Italian change - and one that is not unexpected. Talisman Sergio Parisse - playing his first World Cup match after injury - trudges off after battling through an hour, despite only returning to training on Tuesday after a calf injury. Fly-half Tommaso Allan is also replaced.

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Ireland, whose overall possession percentage has now ticked up to 58%, are also starting to dominate the other attacking numbers.

They've now made now metres (299-223), more carries (102-77) and beaten more defenders (14-5).

Although how many of those beaten defenders is actually just Simone Favaro being given the runaround, we can't confirm...

Little under 20 minutes left. That's 20 minutes for Ireland to hold on and book their quarter-final sport. Or it is 20 minutes for Italy to mount a courageous comeback and save their World Cup skins?

Listen to this fascinating second half on BBC Radio 5 live by clicking on the speaker symbol at the top left hand side of the page.

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More Italian indiscipline - a sign that they are getting a little leggy? - gives Johnny Sexton another shot at goal. More silence from the crowd, before more brilliance from the Irish fly-half's trusty right peg.

Time for a double Ireland change in the front row. On come Cian Healy and Nathan White.

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We mentioned Simone Favaro's impressive tackling stats earlier on, but he's not been quite so imperious in this second half.

He's now missed five tackles - which is more than the rest of the Italy team put together (nine in total).

A hush around the Olympic Stadium as Johnny Sexton lines up his fourth kick of the afternoon, teeing up just to the right of the Italian posts inside the 22. No problem for the Irish fly-half. Three more points nudge his team further ahead.

Here is the Irish onslaught. Johnny Sexton hangs a cross kick in the autumn air, knowing that Ireland have an advantage after an earlier Italian faux pas at the breakdown. Robbie Henshaw challenges for the high ball, but it wriggles out of his grasp. So the referee brings it back for the earlier offence...

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

"Great pressure from Ireland but there's still an inability to make a clean break and get through the Italian defence. That worries me when they're taking it through phases, like they are."

David Humphreys
Former Ireland fly-half on Radio Ulster

"This is the stage of the game where you look at the strength of the benches, and see what impact they can make. People like Luke Fitzgerald, Devin Toner and Chris Henry will have to come on and make a difference."

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt looks pretty glum, hand on chin, as he assess the danger from his lofty position in the Olympic Stadium stands. Irish fans - if they didn't realise it before - know their side are involved in a scrap. "Ireland, Ireland!" rings around as they throw their support behind the men in green.

Image source, EPA

Italy might have been denied the chance of seven points, but the next best thing is to add three on their side of the scoreboard shortly after. Tommaso Allan gratefully accepts the chance to fire a penalty at the sticks, confidently walloping an arrow of a kick straight through. We have a game on our hands!

Image source, AFP

Italy denied, Ireland relieved. Sensational last-ditch tackle from Irish back rower O'Mahony, who shoves Furno to ensure the Italian's left-foot touches the whitewash. No try.