Ireland needs narrow victory to stay in Six Nations title contention
- Ireland's win against Italy was critical to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive after a disappointing previous match against France.
- Dan Sheehan's hat-trick and a crucial try from Hugo Keenan propelled Ireland to a narrow victory while Italy's indiscipline posed challenges.
- Despite their win, Ireland remains under pressure as they await the outcomes of other matches to determine their fate in the tournament.
In Rome, Italy faced Ireland in a crucial Six Nations match on March 15, 2025. Ireland had their back against the wall after suffering a heavy defeat by France the previous week, which dashed their hopes for a Grand Slam. They needed a win to keep their championship aspirations alive and started the match with approximately 30,000 traveling fans supporting them. Ireland took to the field with some changes, notably Jack Crowley making his first start of the tournament while several other key players returned from injuries. Meanwhile, Italy was aiming to avoid the wooden spoon despite having only one prior win in the tournament. As the match kicked off, Italy surprised many by scoring first. Monty Ioane managed to exploit gaps in the Irish defense, touching down early in the match. This led to a tense atmosphere as Ireland struggled to find their rhythm. Ireland equalized through a try by Hugo Keenan, only to see Italy regain the lead with a penalty from Tommaso Allan. The first half ended with Ireland narrowly ahead 12-10 thanks to a quick try by Dan Sheehan following a yellow card against Italy captain Michele Lamaro. Despite their challenges, Ireland managed to end the half in a position of slight advantage. The second half saw Ireland capitalize on their opportunities, with Dan Sheehan scoring two more tries, bringing his total to a hat-trick. However, they faced growing tension as Italy kept the pressure on with resolute defense. The match took a turn when Ross Vintcent was red-carded, leaving Italy to play with only 14 men. Yet, despite being short-handed, Italy managed to push back, with Stephen Varney scoring a try that narrowed the margin. As the game drew to a close, Ireland held on for the win but could not securely improve their point difference. Ultimately, Ireland's unconvincing display kept their championship hopes flickering but left questions about their performance. The victory moved them temporarily to the top of the table, yet failure by other teams later in the day would ultimately end their title quest. The match showcased both the team's determination to overcome recent setbacks but also highlighted flaws that could be problematic in higher-stakes situations.