SHEEHAN DOES THE TRICK FOR THE IRISH

DAN SHEEHAN scored a hat-trick as Ireland overcame a sloppy start to secure an unconvincing bonus-point success over Italy - but their hopes of retaining the Guinness Six Nations title were finally crushed.

- By Ed Elliot

England's victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium lifted them above Simon Easterby’s side.

Seven days on from having their Grand Slam dream crushed by a 42-27 Dublin drubbing at the hands of France - and backed by an estimated 30,000 travelling fans - Ireland only just scraped to victory in Rome.