Ireland kept alive its Six Nations title hopes by overcoming Italy 22-17 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. The scrappy bonus-point win ensured France and England had to win their later matches to snuff out Ireland's slim hopes of a historic third consecutive title.

Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick as Ireland overcame a sloppy start to keep alive their hopes of retaining the Guinness Six Nations title with a unconvincing 22-17 bonus-point success over Italy. Seven days on from having their Grand Slam dream crushed by a 42-27 Dublin drubbing at the hands of France,

Ireland travel to the Stadio Olympic to face Italy on Saturday, with their title defense in the balance after last weekend's humbling at the hands of France. Last Saturday's defeat to Les Bleus in Dublin ended the Grand Slam hopes of the Boys in Green,