Ireland has overcome Italy by a scrappy 22-17 at the Stadio Olimpico and finished the last day of the Six Nations where it started, in third place.

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 travel to Italy with the slimmest of chances to secure a third Six Nations title in a row. To achieve that goal they need to beat Italy with a bonus point and hope both France and England fail to win against Scotland and Wales respectively.