Hooker Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick of tries as champions Ireland laboured to a 22-17 bonus-point victory over hosts Italy on Saturday to move top of the Six Nations table and retain a chance of winning the title.

Ireland has overcome Italy by a scrappy 22-17 at the Stadio Olimpico and finished the last day of the Six Nations where it started, in third place.

France overcame the injury loss of Antoine Dupont to blow open the Six Nations title race by extinguishing Ireland ’s grand slam dream with a crushing 42-27 win in Dublin. Les Bleus captain Dupont - arguably the world's best player - limped from the field in the 29th minute of an engrossing showdown at a sold-out Aviva Stadium.