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 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    Ireland look to go down the blindside from the line-out by Dan Sheehan is chopped down.

    It's recycled quickly and Ireland are on the fringes of the 22, but Italy are holding firm.

  2. Postpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    Italy are finding so much space in Rome and Mauel Zuliani charges forward.

    James Lowe goes for the intercept after play was spread wide, but he can't get his hands on it and it's knocked forward.

    Italy play through the advantage, but immediately give away the penalty for holding onto the ball as Caelan Doris tried to get his hands on it.

    Caelan Doris and Jack ConanImage source, Getty Images
  3. Postpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    Five to go in the first half. A rare misstep from Italy as Garbisi sends a kick too long and Hugo Keenan calls for the mark.

  4. 'Italy deserve the lead'published at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    Chris Henry
    Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Radio Ulster

    The high standards we've come to expect from this Ireland side are not there at the minute.

    There have been too many uncharacteristic errors from Ireland but full credit to Italy for forcing some of those mistakes and putting them under pressure.

    Italy causing quite a lot of damage with their first-phase attack and Ireland will be concerned with the sloppy defence at times which has made it too easy for the Italians.

  5. Postpublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    It's safe to say Matt's view point has been spotted on TV as well, with Simon Easterby looking more and more exasperated the longer this half has progressed.

    It won't be helped by Ireland giving away another penalty, this time after working their way into a decent position as Tadhg Beirne gets in the way of an Italian tackler as Caelan Doris charged forward.

    Caelan DorisImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 10-7 Ireland

    Matt Gault
    BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

    The Irish coaches' box is about 10 or 12 rows in front of us. Suffice to say, there have been a lot of heads in hands and quizzical looks so far.

  7. Penalty - Italy 10-7 Irelandpublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tommaso Allan

    Forget bend it like Beckham, it's bend it like Allan.

    It looked like his kick drifted wide but it curled inside the post at the last second.

    Great kick, and Italy lead once more.

  8. Postpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    Garry Ringrose lets his intrusive thoughts win as the ball pops out off the back of a ruck. He had come back from an offside position, but he couldn't help himself and he picked up the loose ball.

    That's a silly penalty to give away and Italy point to the posts.

  9. Postpublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    It's brilliant from Martin Page-Relo, who spotted a gap off the back of the scrum and he makes 20 metres.

    He's a rapid wee fella and he put Italy in a great position.

    They work it wide and it's kicked forward, but Jack Crowley is there to touch down behind his line.

  10. Postpublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    Matt Gault
    BBC Sport NI at Stadio Olimpico

    In 2023, Ireland scored their bonus-point try here after 35 minutes.

    That's not going to happen this afternoon. They have their work cut out against this spirited and flowing Azzurri unit.

    Good game this, albeit a frustrating watch for Ireland fans.

  11. Replacementspublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    This is awful for Italy.

    They are forced into two more changes as Sebastian Negri and Lorenzo Cannone are forced off with injuries.

    Ross Vintcent and Michele Lamaro are on in their place.

    That's three injuries in the opening half hour.

  12. Postpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    Italy have the ball and are looking to work their way back into the Irish 22.

    There's a risky passes as Ioane passes right into the hands of James Lowe, but Italy escape as James Ryan can't hold onto the wing's offload.

  13. 'Beautiful execution from Ireland for their try, but Italy made them work for it'published at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    Chris Henry
    Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Radio Ulster

    Beautiful execution for the try.

    Really well timed from Jack Crowley finding a gap and feeding Hugo Keenan on the openside.

    The scrum provided a solid platform.

    Ireland deserve their try but maybe should have scored a few minutes earlier. Italy really made them work for it and they need to be more ruthless when they get their chances.

  14. Postpublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    Hansen v Ioane part II happens seconds later as the pair go for a box kick, and the Ireland wing knocks the ball on as he challenged for the ball.

    Italy will have the scrum on halfway.

  15. Postpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    Mack Hansen is clattered by Monty Ioane as he gathered the ball.

    Timed to perfection and he folded Hansen like a deck chair.

  16. Postpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    We've played 25 minutes in Rome, by the way.

    This one is flying by.

  17. Postpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-7 Ireland

    That's a mega clearing kick from Gibson-Park, who clears from his own 22 right up to 10 metres into the Italian half.

  18. try

    Converted Try - Italy 7-7 Irelandpublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time

    Hugo Keenan (con Crowley)

    This one will count! Hugo Keenan sprints over!

    Jack Crowley drags in two players off the back of the scrum and that opens up the space for Keenan, who gets on the end of his pass to score.

    Crowley converts, and we're level.

    Hugo KeenaImage source, Getty Images
  19. 'Really frustrating for Ireland'published at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-0 Ireland

    Chris Henry
    Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Radio Ulster

    Ireland have started to go up a gear but they need to be more efficient when they get into the danger zone.

    There's plenty of pressure at the minute but they will need to vary it a bit close to the line because Italy are soaking up the attack.

    Ireland need to capitalise here to set the game alight.

  20. Postpublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time

    Italy 7-0 Ireland

    Ireland are pummelling the Italian line but Finlay Bealham's pass is knocked forward by a man in blue as he made the tackle.

    They'll have the scrum on the fie metre line, but Ireland are really having to work for this.