Summary

  • Italy 17-22 Ireland (Result)

  • Ireland keep title hopes alive with bonus-point win in Rome, need results elsewhere to go their way

  • Dan Sheehan scores hat-trick for Ireland with Hugo Keenan also crossing

  • Hosts had taken lead in 12th minute through Monty Ioane try

  • Michele Lamaro and Giacomo Nicotera yellow carded for Italy; Ross Vintcent shown 20-minute red

  1. The final whistlepublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Peter O'MahonyImage source, Getty Images

    It's over and out from Ireland's Six Nations campaign.

    You can read Matt Gault's report from the Stadio Olimpico here as Ireland scrape over the line against Italy.

    Keep an eye on the BBC Sport website and app for more reaction from the game, as well as highlights from Rome.

    Now, all eyes move to the final two matches on Super Saturday.

    You can follow both games across BBC Sport, starting with Wales against England before France take on Scotland.

    Thanks for joining us throughout the Six Nations and you can follow the game in Cardiff here. Ciao!

  2. 'We'll enjoy our time together'published at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland head coach Simon Easterby on Ireland being top the table before England and France play, and what comes next as they wait for those results: "For Caelan it's probably have a shower and tidy himself up a bit, he looks a bit of a mess - as he always does coming off the pitch. For us, we can't impact that now so we will go back to the hotel, get changed and share a bit of time together.

    "We've enjoyed the last eight weeks, the experiences, but it's often after the games that you enjoy the most. It's time that you share with people who you know have put a lot of work and effort in. It's not to be dismissed to share that time with each other, particularly the players who are going to leave us. You don't get that time back."

  3. 'Maybe there was a little bit of forcing things out there'published at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Doris on whether Ireland forced thing knowing points difference could be a factor: "Possibly a little bit of that. It wasn't something that was overly pushed or anything during the week because of the respect we have for Italy and their attack and what their capable of.

    "It was very much result first but there was probably a little bit of feeling when momentum was coming with us, given how the first 20/30 went, that we wanted to convert when we got the chance.

    "Maybe there was a little bit of forcing things out there. There was quite a number of last passes that didn't go to hand. Why? Maybe forcing things, I'm not sure."

  4. Postpublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Doris on what he learned from a first Six Nations as captain: "I'll reflect more in depth over the next couple of weeks.

    "Dealing with refs is always an ongoing learning curve, the emotional tone of the week, liaising with the coaches, the leadership group.

    "There's lots of little bits but I'll reflect more deeply over the next week or so."

  5. Crowley was good in 'inconsistent team'published at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland head coach Simon Easterby on Jack Crowley's performance: "He was good. It was a slightly inconsistent performance for the team, so it's hard for the 10 sometimes, in how he can impact the game but he did well. The positive thing for us is we have the experience for Sam [Prendergast, who started the first four matches] in that position and Jack has come in this week and led the team well. It's pleasing the two of them have had a bit more time in the saddle and that will stand with them a we move forward."

  6. Postpublished at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ange CapuozzoImage source, Getty Images

    Ireland head coach Simon Easterby on Italy cutting them open: "At times it looked a little bit greasy out there. There were guys slipping a bit. They are a good attacking team and they have a ability, they conceded too easily but attack well. They are tough to play against and have players who are the core of their attacking team and they played really well. We didn't deal with a couple of their threats early on. They have shown they are good with the ball in hand. At times we nullified them. We had to work hard to widen out defence because they had lots of width in their attack. If you miss one or two tackles they have the ability to hurt you, and they did that at times"

  7. 'I hope that it will be a springboard for us'published at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland captain Caelan Doris on the side's Six Nations campaign: "I think there's been a lot of good stuff.

    "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."

  8. Retiring trio have left 'lasting legacy'published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland head coach Simon Easterby on Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy and rebuild on summer tour: "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. They have left their mark on the team and on Irish rugby on the pitch, but internally they have had a real impact.

    "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.

    "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 Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray. That's the challenge."

  9. 'Sometimes you try too hard'published at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Jack Boyle is tackledImage source, Getty Images

    Ireland head coach Simon Easterby on if there was a hangover from France: "No, not really. We felt like the week had gone well. We turned the page and ironed out some of the things we didn't do as well in the French game. Sometimes, you are trying a bit too hard to make passes stick or one more pass at the line. Credit to Italy, they put us under pressure and we didn't deal with that as well as we should have done. We got the five points we needed, maybe not the scoreline we intended, but part of that is down to accuracy and trying to force things that went on."

  10. 'Five points that were needed'published at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland head coach Simon Easterby: "It's five points that we needed. There's a little bit of disappointment that we didn't play at our best today. 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."

  11. Postpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Simon Easterby and Caelan Doris have arrived for their post-match press conference at the Stadio Olimpico.

    Remember, you can watch it at the top of this page.

  12. Postpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Conor Murray and Peter O'MahonyImage source, Getty Images

    Waving goodbye to Ireland. Over and out.

    Pete O'Mahony, Cian Healy and COnor MurrayImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland's slim Six Nations title hopes are looking even more slim now.

    England have scored two tries in the opening 15 minutes through Maro Itoje and Tom Roebuck. Wales have had a score ruled out for a knock-on, too.

    You can follow that one here.

    Blair Murray has a try ruled outImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Jonny Bell
    Former Ulster and Ireland centre on BBC Radio Ulster

    Ireland will be disappointed they didn't finish today with a guaranteed championship, but they are still a very good side and they will move forward.

  15. Postpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Action is just underway in Cardiff as England look to move into top spot ahead of Ireland - with France to come later on.

    You can watch that one on BBC One NI and BBC iPlayer, but you can stay tuned here for the latest Irish reaction from Rome.

    We'll be streaming the press conference with Simon Easterby and Caelan Doris, so you can hear what they have to say as soon as they say it.

  16. Bloodgate - Sport's Strangest Crimespublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    BBC Sounds

    Tom Williams bloodgateImage source, Getty Images

    Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has said that Bloodgate, the scandal which rocked the rugby world in 2009, is on par with drug cheating.

    O’Driscoll played in the match for Leinster where Harlequins player Tom Williams was instructed to bite into a blood capsule to manipulate substitution rules, and has been reflecting on the saga in the Sport’s Strangest Crimes – Bloodgate podcast:

    "It's out and out cheating. And I think we're all – well - lots of people that, you know, I really try to push the laws, push the laws of what you can get away with on the field. But this just goes into a different sphere. Same as drugs. Like I personally could never have lived with myself. The knowledge, if I had taken something and one, it just wouldn't be the same achievement."

    You can listen to Sport’s Strangest Crimes – Bloodgate on BBC Sounds.

  17. 'We maybe didn't play our best game today'published at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast speaking on ITV about his first Six Nations: "It's been a mixed bag I think for for me and the team.

    "We had some really good highs as a group, winning the Triple Crown, but also some lows like last week.

    "We maybe didn't play our best game today.

    "A lot of learnings but a lot of great memories along the way."

    Sam PrendergastImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Rory Best
    Former Ireland captain on ITV1

    I think it's probably going to end up with England and France both winning. That would leave Ireland third. But to win four games and finish third, it shows you how strong the Six Nations is.

  19. Postpublished at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Peter O'MahonyImage source, Getty Images

    Last, but by no means least, Peter O'Mahony lined out in green for the final time today.

    A man you love to hate if he doesn't play for you, but love to love him if he does.

    That's the biggest compliment you can give him.

  20. Postpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 17-22 Ireland

    Conor MurrayImage source, Getty Images

    Conor Murray made his 125th and final Ireland appearance this afternoon.

    Was integral to Ireland's success, particularity under Joe Schmidt, and it will be strange to see an Ireland side without him going forward.