Hooker Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick of tries as champions Ireland labored to a 22-17 bonus-point victory over hosts Italy on Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico, moving to the top of the Six Nations table and keeping their title hopes alive.
With this triumph, Ireland secured 19 points from five matches, completing their campaign with four victories. They will now rely on Wales to upset England later today and Scotland to beat France, as they chase their third consecutive Six Nations crown.
Sheehan’s impressive performance, which brought his tournament tally to 13 tries, was complemented by another score from fullback Hugo Keenan. Ireland struggled to convert several entry points inside Italy's 22, showcasing some clumsiness. This match also marked the international rugby farewells for retiring players Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray, both of whom appeared off the bench.
Italy, who played more than half the game with 14 players due to discipline issues, found the end zone through winger Monty Ioane and scrumhalf Stephen Varney, showing tenacity throughout the encounter.
Despite losing key players to yellow cards, including Michele Lamaro and Giacomo Nicotera, as well as Ross Vintcent, who received a red card, Italy managed to keep the match competitive. Lamaro was sin-binned just before halftime for deliberately knocking the ball out of Jamison Gibson-Park's hands, but Italy's spirited performances from their dynamic backs kept them within touching distance of the Irish.
The matchup began dramatically, with Ioane scoring early for Italy after exceptional work from Tommaso Menoncello and Paolo Garbisi. This gave Italy an initial lead of 7-0, before Ireland responded with Keenan's try, courtesy of Jack Crowley's assist.
Another returnee, Garry Ringrose, though, failed to make the most of his comeback, as he was penalized for offside moments later, allowing Tommaso Allan to convert and restore Italy’s lead at 10-7.
Ireland rebounded just before the break, exploiting Italy’s numerical disadvantage. After Lamaro's return to his bench, Sheehan scored Ireland's second, giving them the lead at halftime.
The second half saw Sheehan continue his rampage, scoring again off the back of another maul. With Vintcent carded for his high hit on Keenan, Ireland capitalized on the extra player, but Crowley’s struggles with the boot (missing three conversions) kept the game alive for Italy.
Varney’s score came after scrumhalf winger Ange Capuozzo orchestrated a swift attack, narrowing the gap for Italy, showcasing the team's determination. With the score tightened to 22-17, Ireland held onto their slim lead during the dying minutes of the game.
The game concluded with James Lowe having what appeared to be another try ruled out for Ireland, denied by the TMO for stepping out of bounds. This, along with Nicotera's late sin-bin for clear-out infractions, capped Italy's ending agony, as they suffered yet another close defeat to Ireland.
After the match, Sheehan, the man of the match, emphasized Italy's determination, stating, “I think Italy went after our breakdown quite well. Fair play to Italy, they put us under massive pressure.” Sheehan reflected on the season's title permutations, knowing Ireland still had hope of clinching the Six Nations crown pending results of other matches.
Ireland's final game of the tournament kept alive their aspirations for the championship but exposed several flaws within their lineup. While the team achieved its objective of winning and gaining bonus points, they left fans questioning their championship pedigree after such a jittery display.
Both teams displayed tenacity through injuries and discipline woes, making this match memorable for more reasons than just its outcome.
With several players bidding farewell and remaining matches stirring excitement, the Six Nations 2025 season is set for thrilling conclusions.