Match Centre: Italy 20-34 Ireland

Italy 20-34 Ireland, Stadio Olimpico

Ireland managed to hold off a spirited Italian side as they sealed a 34-20 win in the third round of the Six Nations played in Rome on Saturday.

This is third win for Ireland in as many games as they maintain their chances of winning the Grand Slam while Italy despite a spirited show have now lost all their three matches.

Ireland thought they scored early in the game as a Josh van der Flier break allowed James Lowe to scramble in the corner but was denied as the TMO replay showed he had lost control of the ball while grounding.

Nevertheless, they soon got their opening points as Bundee Aki and Lowe combined to send skipper James Ryan over but Ross Byrne's conversion drifted wide. Italy responded almost immediately as Lorenzo Cannone breached the Irish defence with eventually Stephen Varney dotting down.

Paolo Garbisi kicked the conversion to make it 7-5 but the visitors seized the lead back with Aki once again being the centre stage with his pass allowing Hugo Keenan to crossover for their second try but this time Byrne kicked the extras to make it 7-12.

Garbisi with his first penalty kick at the end of the opening quarter helped Italy reduce the arrears before Aki scored a try of his own following good effort from van der Flier made it 10-19.

Ireland's bonus point came in the 34th minute as Stuart McCloskey teed up Mack Hansen in the corner but his effort was cancelled out when Pierre Bruno intercepted a pass from Aki to score as the opening half completed with a 17-24 scoreline.

Garbisi helped Italy get off the block first as he landed a three-pointer in the 55th minute to make it 20-24 before Byrne restored the seven point lead for Andy Farrell's men with a penalty kick off his own in the 64th minute.

Any chance of a comeback from Italy was put to rest as Caelan Doris and Conor Murray combined to help Hansen complete his second try with Byrne's conversion extending their winning margin to 14 points.

Team line up:

Italy: Capuozzo; Padovani, Brex, Menoncello, Bruno; Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt), Cannone.

Reserves: Bigi, Zani, Riccioni, Iachizzi, Pettinelli, Fusco, Morisi, Allan.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Aki, McCloskey, Lowe; R Byrne, Casey; Porter, Kelleher, Bealham; Henderson, Ryan (capt); Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.

Reserves: D Sheehan, Kilcoyne, O'Toole, Baird, O'Mahony, Murray, Crowley, O'Brien