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. Postpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Brilliant from Mack Hansen! He finds a gap and manages to stretch his legs after a neat move from Robbie Henshaw.

    He pops it off to Garry Ringrose, who charges into the Irish 22 but the final pass is loose and Dan Sheehan can't gather the ball with the try line gaping.

  2. Postpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    It's a scrappy line out and Ireland win possession.

    A kick is sent high and Lowe manages to knock it backwards, and Ireland look to go again just inside the Italian half.

  3. Postpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Ireland move it through the hands off the back of the scrum and manage to get up to halfway before Keenan is swallowed up.

    Gibson-Park, who has been a bit off his usual high standards, tries to fling a pass out wide to James Lowe but he puts too much on it and Italy have the throw.

    Jamison Gibson-ParkImage source, Getty
  4. Postpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Italy win the throw and look to get things moving, but a pass to Ignacio Brex is deemed to be forward and Ireland will have the scrum on the edge of their own 22.

  5. Postpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Italy win the first penalty of the half after some Irish runners impeded the chasing Italian pack.

    Tommaso Allan sends a superb kick deep into the Irish half.

    Remember, Italy start the half with 14 players after Lamaro's moment of madness. He has seven minutes left on the sidelines.

  6. Kick-offpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    The final 40 minutes for Italy and Ireland in this year's Six Nations.

    Off we go!

  7. 'That will be a concern for Italy'published at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Brian O'Driscoll
    Former Ireland captain on ITV1

    We know it's a 23 man game. When you look at the bench for Ireland, they've got fresh legs to come on and that will be a concern for Italy

    The next 10 minutes of the second half is all-important.

  8. 'Ireland have the fire-power to go up another gear'published at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Jonny Bell
    Former Ulster and Ireland centre on BBC Radio Ulster

    Some little mistakes and frustrations are hindering Ireland.

    They have a bit of momentum with a try just before half time.

    There's also a bench that can bring a lot of energy.

    I firmly believe Ireland have the fire-power to come out as a different team and get the four tries they need for the bonus point.

  9. Postpublished at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    As the players return to the pitch, who wants a reminder of the permutations on this 'Super Saturday'? Ireland must win in Rome, and well, and hope both England and France lose later on if they are to retain their title.

    Full focus on the second half in Rome for now, and the rest will look after itself later on.

  10. Postpublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Remember Matt mentioned the Irish coaching box in Rome? This pretty much sums up their mood in the first half.

    The Irish coaching boxImage source, Getty Images
  11. 'Ireland's attack looks disjointed'published at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Claire Small
    Ireland international on BBC Radio Ulster

    Ireland have looked a bit blunt and disjointed in attack and it might be a hangover from the France game.

    Their shape just doesn't look quite right.

    They're not firing on all cylinders and it's frustrating for them so I'm sure there'll be words said in the team-talk as they need to go up a gear or two.

  12. Postpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Thanks for tuning in wherever you are in the world, by the way.

    A special shoutout to Caroline, who is stuck at the airport after planning to watch the match with her daughter.

    Hopefully Dan Sheehan's try makes up for the flight delay!

  13. 'Sluggish first half from Ireland'published at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Chris Henry
    Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Radio Ulster

    I think Ireland will be going in very disappointed after a sluggish start.

    Their attack hasn't clicked, they've had slow ball and it has made it a really nip and tuck game.

    Ireland are a better team on paper but they haven't shown it this afternoon.

    The missed conversion for the second try could cost Ireland and Italy are still very much in this game.

  14. Postpublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    It was some start from Italy.

    Monty Ioane celebrates a tryImage source, Getty Images

    But Ireland hit back.

    Dan Sheehan gets ready to score a tryImage source, Getty Images
  15. Bloodgate - Sport's Strangest Crimespublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 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.

  16. Postpublished at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    I know Ireland's chances of the title are slim, but there are greater concerns about getting the win this afternoon.

    If it wasn't for Lamaro's yellow card they would have been behind at the break.

  17. Postpublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time

    HT: Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Matt Gault
    BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

    Ireland, somehow, will lead at half-time and Italy only have themselves to blame. Azzurri captain Michele Lamaro was dropped for this game, remember. He won't be in Gonzalo Quesada's good books after that.

    And Jack Crowley would like that kick back, by the way.

    Jack CrowleyImage source, Getty Images
  18. Half-timepublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-12 Ireland

    Jack Crowley in actionImage source, Getty Images

    It looked like Italy would lead in Rome at half-time until Michele Lamaro's moment of madness right before the break.

    He's in the bin, and Ireland immediately capitalised.

  19. try

    Try - Italy 10-12 Irelandpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time

    Dan Sheehan

    Clinical. Italy are punished.

    Ireland win the line out and the maul rolls towards the line.

    Dan Sheehan does what he does best to finish it off.

    Jack Crowley sends it miles wide from the conversion. That will be that.

  20. Sin-binpublished at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    It's dropped and Luke Pearce awards the scrum for Italy, but he's going to the TMO as 'something didn't look right'.

    His instincts are correct. Michele Lamaro definitely put his hands out as Jamison Gibson-Park lifted the ball.

    That was silly from the Italian captain, and he's furious with himself as he's sent to the bin.

    It's sent into the corner.