Ireland keep Six Nations title hopes alive as focus switches to Cardiff and Paris
Reigning champions Ireland were left to watch and wait to see if they would win an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title after fulfilling their part of the bargain with a hard-fought, bonus-point 22-17 victory away to Italy.
Success in the opening match of the championship's concluding Super Saturday took Ireland top of the table on 19 points, three points clear of France and four ahead of England.
Italy took the lead at the Stadio Olimpico through Monty Ioane's 12th-minute try but the Azzurri played more than half the match at least a man down after Michele Lamoro and Giacomo Nicotera were yellow-carded, while No 8 Ross Vintcent was shown a 20th-minute red card for a head-on-head challenge.
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick of tries, with full-back Hugo Keenan also crossing Italy's line.
"Happy with five points, we probably needed a bit more points difference," Sheehan told ITV.
"Fair play to Italy, I thought their game-plan worked well and they put us under pressure. We got five points and it's up to the other teams now."
The destiny of the title does indeed remain in France's hands.
A bonus-point victory at home to Scotland will be enough to take France to 21 points, with 20 the most England can manage if they beat Wales heavily in Cardiff in the second game of the day.
Another factor in favour of France, who scuppered Ireland's bid for a Grand Slam with a dominant 42-27 win in Dublin last weekend, is they are currently 86 points better off than England on points difference.
The only surprise is that after three thumping wins -- including 43-0 and 73-24 routs of Wales and Italy -- France are not on course for a Grand Slam of their own.
That dream died with an error-strewn display in a 26-25 second-round loss away to England, when France squandered several clear try-scoring opportunities.
But they have been in commanding form since that Twickenham reverse and even the loss early on against Ireland of inspirational captain Antoine Dupont to a knee injury that has ruled the outstanding scrum-half out of the Scotland game failed to derail their progress.
- 'Maturing France' -
Stand-in skipper Gregory Alldritt said Dupont's absence this weekend had "changed nothing" in terms of the team's overall approach.
"We're at the end of a Six Nations, the system has been in place since the start," Alldritt told reporters on Friday. "We've continued with what we've been working on for seven weeks."
The No 8 added: "We've progressed little by little. We've matured, become more consistent and I hope we'll prove that once again on Saturday night."
Scotland co-captain Finn Russell, who spent five years playing for Paris-based club Racing 92, is well aware of the task facing his side.
"They (France) have got everything to play for," said the fly-half. "Hopefully, we can disrupt it. I know it's going to be a massive challenge tomorrow night."
England will be favourites to beat a Wales side on a 16-Test losing streak.
- 'Aggressive' -
But they would not be the first Red Rose team to be undone by the raucous atmosphere of a capacity Principality Stadium crowd, with England captain Maro Itoje saying it is vital his side hit the ground running.
"Whenever you play Wales, but particularly in Cardiff, you need to be aggressive," Itoje said.
The 30-year-old lock, a veteran of 92 England caps added: "The atmosphere is obviously great, it is a stadium you want to play in and I don't see it as intimidating at all...I have played very badly in Cardiff. I have played well in Cardiff, so I draw on all of those experiences."
Saturday's match will be Matt Sherratt's third and last as caretaker Wales boss since the Englishman took over mid-tournament following the end of Warren Gatland's unsuccessful second stint in charge.
bur-jdg/dj
-
Ireland beat Italy to keep faint title hopes alive
Ireland hold 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.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Ireland overcomes Italy 22-17 in Rome to keep alive Six Nations title hopes
Ireland kept alive its Six Nations title hopes by overcoming Italy 22-17 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. The scrappy bonus-point win ensured France and England had to win their later matches ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Ireland's title hopes end despite bonus-point win in Italy
Ireland's reign as Six Nations champions ends despite a bonus-point win over Italy as England hammer Wales.BBC News - 4h -
'Wounded Ireland aim to end Six Nations on a high'
Following a humbling defeat by France, wounded Ireland approach Six Nations Super Saturday with only slim hopes of winning the title.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Ireland squeeze past Italy to stay in Six Nations title hunt
Ireland remained in the Six Nations title hunt with a thrilling 22-17 win over Italy which moved Simon Easterby's team top of the championship.Gonzalo Quesada's side remain fifth, two points above ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Ireland eye unlikely Six Nations title against uncertain Italy
Ireland have a glimmer of hope that they can retain their Six Nations crown on Saturday when they take on Italy in Rome, looking to bounce back from a painful defeat to title favourites France.But ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
France overpower Scotland to win Six Nations title
France secured the Six Nations championship with a flourish - and quashed England's hopes - by ultimately overpowering a dogged Scotland in Paris.BBC News - 55m -
France take Six Nations title race to the wire with thumping win over Ireland
Ireland 27-42 France France run in five tries in Dublin to set up grand finale This was not just a game of two halves, it was a story of two games. In the first you were counting yourself lucky ...The Guardian - Mar. 8 -
France takes over Six Nations lead after crushing Ireland 42-27 in Dublin
France has replaced Ireland’s hand on the Six Nations rugby trophy after a momentous 42-27 win in DublinABC News - Mar. 8
More from Yahoo Sports
-
France overpower Scotland in Paris to deny England the Six Nations title
France did not quite hit the heights of their Dublin demolition last weekend, but Les Bleus did enough on a nervy night in Paris to clinch a second Six Nations title in four years – and kill off ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Long balls, pitching dominance help FSU finish sweep of BC in doubleheader
FSU dominated with a run-rule blowout and then a pitching gem to close out a sweep of Boston College Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Athletic Club star left out of squad for Sevilla clash
A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga outfit Athletic Club has been left out of the club’s squad for their upcoming meeting with Sevilla.The player in question? Aitor Paredes.Ernesto ...Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Clayton scores 22 as No. 4 Florida beats No. 5 Alabama 104-82 in SEC semis
Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Florida Gators men's basketball advances to SEC Tournament title game with blowout of Bama
Things started off competitive, but the Florida Gators ran away with it in the second half of an SEC Tournament semifinal matchup against Alabama.Yahoo Sports - 32m
More in Sports
-
Injured Arkansas star Boogie Fland cleared to resume basketball activities, could return for NCAA Tournament
Fland, a potential first-round pick, has been out since mid-January with a hand injuryCBS Sports - 28m -
2025 NASCAR Las Vegas race this week predictions, odds: Model that hit 19 winners gives Pennzoil 400 picks
SportsLine simulated the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 10,000 times. Use its projected leaderboard for NASCAR picks at sites like PrizePicks, DraftKings, and FanDuelCBS Sports - 29m -
France overpower Scotland in Paris to deny England the Six Nations title
France did not quite hit the heights of their Dublin demolition last weekend, but Les Bleus did enough on a nervy night in Paris to clinch a second Six Nations title in four years – and kill off ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Duke vs. Louisville prediction, odds, time: 2025 ACC Tournament championship picks from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Louisville Cardinals vs. Duke Blue Devils in the 2025 ACC Tournament championship matchup on Saturday 10,000 times with Cooper Flagg (ankle) outCBS Sports - 30m -
Long balls, pitching dominance help FSU finish sweep of BC in doubleheader
FSU dominated with a run-rule blowout and then a pitching gem to close out a sweep of Boston College Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 31m