Ireland overcame a sloppy start and a nervous finish in Rome to keep alive their hopes of retaining the Guinness Six Nations title with an unconvincing 22-17 bonus-point win over Italy.
Backed by an estimated 30,000 travelling fans, Ireland ran out at a sold-out Stadio Olimpico requiring a resounding win to put pressure on their title rivals following last week’s humiliation on home soil.
Ireland gave farewell cameos to retiring centurions both Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray, with Cian Healy also calling time on a glittering career from the sidelines.
Ireland now require England to slip up away to Wales and tournament favourites France to lose at home to Scotland tonight.
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