ROME (Reuters) - Hooker Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick of tries as champions Ireland laboured to a 22-17 bonus-point victory over hosts Italy on Saturday to move top of the Six Nations table and retain a chance of winning the title.

Ireland stand-in coach Simon Easterby was left frustrated by his side’s inability to kill off the match in their 22-17 Six Nations victory over Italy in Rome on Saturday, and admits it has been a mixed campaign for the defending champions.

There are two changes in the pack, where James Ryan replaces Joe McCarthy in the second row and Jack Conan starts at blindside flanker in place of Peter O’Mahony, who along with Conor Murray is poised to earn his final Ireland cap off the bench this weekend. Fellow imminent retiree Cian Healy isn’t in the squad.