Italy hosted Ireland on the final day of this year's Six Nations campaign at the Stadio Olimpico.
Both teams were looking to avoid the wooden spoon, so a win for either of these sides would guarantee that it is not them who finishes bottom of the pile.
The match may also have marked the occasion of Brian O'Driscoll's last-ever match for his country.
Ireland may still end up with the wooden spoon, as Italy surged to victory in Rome.
Read how it all unfolded below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Italy versus Ireland in the Six Nations.
What a day we have in store, and it's not all about what is going on in Cardiff. There is still plenty to play for, whether it is to avoid the wooden spoon, or to try to earn a place in the British & Irish Lions squad.
This could also prove to be what many believe is Brian O'Driscoll's last appearance for Ireland, with retirement on the horizon. For that reason alone, the Irish will be desperate to send the legend out in style.
Many also widely regard this as Declan Kidney's last match in charge of Ireland, having endured a miserable tournament. After holding out against Wales for victory in their opening match, the Irish have failed to win in their last three matches for the first time in their history. Many feel that Kidney's contract will not be extended, regardless of their result today, so this is a big game for him as well.
Italy have had a mixed bag so far in the tournament. They got off to a brilliant start with a win over France, and were unlucky to get nothing from Twickenham last weekend. However, defeats to Scotland and Wales see them again scrapping at the bottom.
Team news coming up....
Apologies for the delay, we'll start with Italy.
ITALY XV: 15-Andrea Masi, 14-Giovanbattista Venditti, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Gonzalo Garcia, 11-Luke McLean, 10-Luciano Orquera, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Andrea Lo Cicero, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Lorenzo Cittadini, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 5-Joshua Furno, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 7-Simone Favaro, 8-Sergio Parisse
ITALY REPLACEMENTS 16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Michele Rizzo, 18-Alberto De Marchi, 19-Antonio Pavanello, 20-Francesco Minto, 21-Paul Derbyshire, 22-Tobias Botes, 23-Tommaso Benvenuti
The Italians make three changes to the side that almost rocked England’s Grand Slam hopes at Twickenham with Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni suffering from a thigh injury and being replaced by Lorenzo Cittadini. Simone Favaro comes in for the injured Robert Barbieri, while the final change sees veteran Andrea Lo Cicero preferred to Alberto De Marchi at loose-head.
Both teams are out and ready for the national anthems. In the meantime, here is the Ireland lineup.
IRELAND XV: 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Craig Gilroy, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Luke Marshall, 11-Keith Earls, 10-Paddy Jackson, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Cian Healy, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Mike McCarthy, 5-Donnacha Ryan, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip.
IRELAND REPLACEMENTS: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-David Kilcoyne, 18-Stephen Archer, 19-Devin Toner, 20-Iain Henderson, 21-Paul Marshall, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Luke Fitzgerald
So O'Driscoll starts what could be his last appearance for Ireland. Today marks his 125th cap.
Ireland have won their last 17 matches against the Italians, including all 13 previous Six Nations clashes. Italy's last win against Ireland was a 37-22 victory in Bologna back in December 1997. They have never beaten the Irish in Rome.
The start is imminent...
And we're off!
Ireland get the first lineout of the match and safely retain the ball as they look to build ground forward.
Ireland are awarded an early penalty of the halfway as Italy as found guilty of holding. Paddy Jackson's kick puts the away side in the Azzurri 22.
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Ireland waste the lineout. Best's throw beats everyone, and Italy try to break. They are thwarted on arrival into the Irish half. Ireland now have their own chance to drive forward.
Ireland are awarded a penalty as the advantage is pulled back for an earlier knock on. This should be easy points for Paddy Jackson, it's about 20 metres out.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 0-3 Ireland (Paddy Jackson)
Easy for Jackson. It's a great start for Ireland, they are in front early on.
Ireland are awarded a penalty from the scrum after Italy are punished for early engagement. The Irish work it forward towards the Italy posts, but Luke McLean managers to clear the danger.
Ireland put a good kick into touch, high up into the Italy half. Te Azzurri will have the lineout about 10 yards from their own posts.
They win it, and Orquera boots the ball into touch. Ireland have done well in the opening 10 minutes of this match.
Italy are awarded a penalty, giving them a chance to get out of their own half. Orquera hooks it into touch, and the Azzurri have the lineout of the halfway line.
Another huge kick from Orquera off that lineout. Italy enter the Ireland 22 for the first time. The Stadio Olimpico comes to life.
Italy win the lineout and drive the maul forward. They're fractions from the line!
Italy have a penalty after Ireland are deemed to not be letting go in the maul by English referee Wayne Barnes. This should draw the hosts level.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 3-3 Ireland (Luciano Orquera)
Routine kick for Orquera, Italy are level and right back in the match.
Ireland have a lineout, which they again give straight to Italy. The Italians are putting the Irish under real pressure in Rome. Ireland's lineouts have been poor so far.
Italy are awarded a penalty in the Ireland half. The hosts are going for the posts from the 10 metre.
It's off the post! Orquera comes so close. Huge let off for Ireland who can now attack.
The Italian national anthem is in full flow around the stadium. Orquera has the chance to put Italy ahead from another penalty.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 6-3 Ireland (Luciano Orquera)
Great kick from Orquera, it's two from three for him. And Italy lead for the first time.
Italy are really having a go at Ireland here. The visitors are on the ropes.
Ireland can breath a sigh of relief as they are awarded a penalty for a knock on. Italy drive forward and show neat hands as they smash their way to the 22. However, their passes along the line are of poor quality, and the Irish take the decision.
There is a break in play as Keith Earls is taken off in some pain. Could be a dislocated shoulder. Luke Fitzgerald is on in his place for the Irish.
The Ireland injuries keep on coming, and Luke Marshall isn't looking to happy at the moment. He is down as play goes on.
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Ireland are awarded a penalty just inside the Italy half. Marshall is heading off by the way, with Ian Madigan coming on.
Jackson is going for the points with this penalty.
Jackson's kick floats to the right of the posts. Not a great last few minutes for the Irish. Italy still lead 6-3.
SIN BIN! (Brian O'Driscoll)
The unthinkable has happened, as Mr. Ireland is given 10 minutes of the sidelines for knee his opponent while on the ground. Can't argue with the decision.
Italy are well on top, and with the extra man, have a great chance to go for the try before the break. Italy commit a forward pass as they drive forward.
Italy are pushing Ireland here, and they have numbers out wide, but it is dropped at a critical time and Ireland are given a penalty.
They're dropping like flies, as Luke Fitzgerald goes down in agony. It looks as if his calf is causing him grief. It is not going to plan for Declan Kidney.
Fitzgerald is going to carry on....the tough guy.
Italy win the scrum, and they could drive it forward here.
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Penalty to Italy! Ireland are overpowered by the Azzurri and concede the decision after collapsing the scrum. Orquera territory.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 9-3 Ireland (Gonzalo Garcia)
Garcia is given the nod for the kick, and he smashes it between the posts from near enough the halfway line. Brilliant from him, and Italy finally add to their lead.
Ireland are desperate for the half-time whistle. They have players all over the place, playing out of position due to injuries. O'Driscoll's return is close though.
Peter O'Mahony is temporarily down for Ireland as well. It just doesn't stop for them.
Ireland have been awarded a penalty after their was no advantage from the move. If they can reduce the deficit to three points with the last kick of the half, they would be delighted.
Jackson is going to take the kick. The crowd are incensed as Canale goes down clutching his face.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 9-6 Ireland (Paddy Jackson)
HALF TIME: Italy 9-6 Ireland
No mistake from Jackson as his kick is good. Massive coup for Ireland to get into the break just three behind. But with their injuries and other factors, they have been dominated in the first half.
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Italy will be very disappointed that they have failed to score a try. They have had the vast majority of the play, and have dominated in the scrum and lineouts.
The teams are back out here.
And we're back underway.
So Ireland have it all to do in this second half.
What a start for Italy. After winning an early lineout, Masi pumps a huge kick into the Ireland half, Kearney drops the catch into touch.
Italy build from the lineout and pass it swiftly along the line. However, Ireland are awarded the lineout following an Italy knock on.
Italy win the lineout and are just metres from the try line. Massive chance for the hosts here.
Orquera's grubber kick causes havoc in the Ireland end zone, but Kearney touched it down which results in a five-metre scrum.
Italy are ridiculously close here. Must be a score.
There is a pile of bodies on the line as the referee blows his whistle. It's going to the TV.
TRY! Italy 14-6 Ireland (Giovanbattista Venditti)
It's given and it's the right call. Venditti is the man who scored it, finally the breakthrough for the Italians.
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL! Italy 16-6 Ireland (Luciano Orquera)
Easy for Orquera, and Italy have a 10-point lead.
SIN BIN! (Sergio Parisse)
Parisse is shown the yellow for tripping. Penalty to Ireland.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 16-9 Ireland (Paddy Jackson)
Frantic few minutes in Rome. Jackson does it again through for Ireland.
Ireland are awarded another penalty. They will go for the posts from the halfway line. Jackson scored twice from this range last weekend.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 16-12 Ireland (Paddy Jackson)
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They are right back in it now! Cool, calm and collected, Jackson places the ball in between the sticks from miles out. Superb.
Italy still have Parisse off remember, Ireland have a huge chance here.
Ireland take a free kick quickly, they are keen to make the most of the time they have left with an extra man.
This is better from Ireland, they are into the Italy 22, with O'Driscoll, Madigan and Jackson making huge strides forward.
We're into the 17th phase. Italy holding out for a turnover.
Italy concede a penalty but will be delighted to have kept out the Irish. Brilliant defending from them, as Gori is offside and gifts Ireland the penalty. Difficult decision for the Irish here.
Parisse is back on the field. Ireland will go for the posts with this penalty.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 16-15 Ireland (Paddy Jackson)
Just a point in this now, no mistake from Jackson.
Andrea Lo Cicero comes off for Italy. The Azzurri's record appearance holder has tears in his eyes as he comes off the field in his final match for the Italians.
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Edoardo Gori is taken out accidentally in the air. It looks horrendous, very, very painful one. He is on his feet, though.
Italy have a penalty and it will be Gonzalo Garcia, who landed a huge kick in the first half, to take it.
It's short and wide to the right. Still just one point in it.
What a tense final 12 minutes we are going to have.
Italy have been given a penalty, Orquera is back on kicking duty.
SIN BIN! (Donnacha Ryan)
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 19-15 Ireland (Luciano Orquera)
Awesome penalty from Orquera. Not sure why Ryan was sin binned for Ireland but they now have a mountain the climb.
Italy have been awarded another penalty following the scrum, they will put the ball out of touch and build ground.
Remember, should Ireland lose then they could end up with the wooden spoon. All depending on France's battle with Scotland later.
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Just seen that Ryan was shown the yellow card for a horribly late challenge. They could do with him now, as the teams prepare to scrum it down.
After a good scrum Murray clears inside his 22. But it screws off his left boot and Italy have a lineout just inside their opponents' half. They win that set piece. Another wild pass from Parisse is knocked on. He's not had his best performance today. Nowhere near the heights of last weekend, anyway.
Just three minutes for Ireland to rescue this.
SIN BIN! (Conor Murray)
Murray is sent to sin bin for tripping an Italian when trying to retrieve the ball. Ireland down to 13.
Italy put the ball into touch and look to shut the game out from the lineout.
Ryan's sin bin time is up, Ireland back to 14 men but that surely won't be enough.
Penalty to Italy! It's inside the 22, and that looks to be it. Surely a second home win of the Six Nations for Italy and a first-ever win in this competition over Ireland.
PENALTY SCORED! Italy 22-15 Ireland (Luciano Orquera)
FULL TIME: Italy 22-15 Ireland
That's it, Italy win and thoroughly deserve it. That could be the last time we see O'Driscoll in the green of Ireland, and maybe the last time we see Declan Kidney is charge.
Thanks for joining me, be sure to stick with Sports Mole as we have Wales versus England in just a moment.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
