Ireland held off a spirited Italy to secure a bonus-point win in Rome and keep alive their faint hopes of winning a third consecutive Six Nations. Hugo Keenan’s first-half score and Dan Sheehan’s hat-trick ensured a win that took Ireland to 19 points in the table, three clear of France and four ahead of England. Italy scored tries through Monty Ioane and Stephen Varney, but ultimately paid the price for ill discipline.
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Rampant France took control of the Six Nations title race as they scored 34 unanswered points to thrash Ireland in Dublin and end the home side’s Grand Slam hopes. Despite losing captain Antoine Dupont to a suspected “serious” knee injury after 30 minutes, France scored three second-half tries to move two points clear of Ireland at the top and avenge last year’s defeat in Marseille.
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Ireland veterans Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray have confirmed they will all retire from international rugby after this year’s Six Nations. While O’Mahony and Healy, Ireland’s most capped player, will step away from club and country at the end of the club season, Murray will head overseas in the summer. All three players have won over 100 caps for Ireland and won five Six Nations titles including two Grand Slams.
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Munster have turned to New Zealand in their search for their next permanent head coach with Chiefs boss Clayton McMillan taking the reins as Graham Rowntree’s successor next season on a three-year contract. Current attack coach Mike Prendergast will step up to the role of senior coach under a new team management structure while interim head coach Ian Costello will become general manager.
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Ireland clinched their 14th Triple Crown and remain on course for a record third successive Six Nations title after beating a resurgent Wales in a thrilling game in Cardiff. The visitors shrugged off a 20 minute red card and recovered from an 18-10 deficit, scoring tries through Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne, with fly-half Sam Prendergast kicking 17 points.
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