FULL TIME: Ireland win for the fourth successive trip to Rome, but they had by far their hardest win against a fired-up Italian side.

80 mins +1 O'Driscoll is helped off after injuring his hamstring in a tackle situation leading up to Italy's score.

80 mins: TRY A great final driving maul by Italy allows Martin Castrogiovanni to barge over for a deserved try for Italy.
b>Italy 17-28 Ireland

77 mins: Ireland bring on Eric Miller and Donnacha O'Callaghan for Anthony Foley and Paul O'Connell.

76 mins: TRY An Irish turnover by Leamy sees Hickie take a flick pass from Murphy to sprint 30 metres in at the posts for O'Gara to convert.
Italy 12-28 Ireland

72 mins: PENALTY O'Gara fires over his third penalty after Italy had pulled down a driving maul from a line-out.
Italy 12-21 Ireland

70 mins: Gonzalo Canale troops off and is replaced by Kiwi-born Paul Robinson.

69 mins: O'Kelly manages a great steal at a ruck and Stringer bangs the ball 70 metres dwon the field to give the Irish some welcome relief.

68 mins: Italy put Ireland under tremendous pressure near their own line but a drop goal attempt by Marigny drift wide of the uprights.

66 mins: A neat kick by Troncon saw Hickie and Murphy dither to allow Nitoglia to go for the line but he knocked on during the process of touching down.

65 mins: Another Ireland move breaks down and Micro Bergamasco kick ahead but Denis Hickie to trails back and clears his lines.

63 mins: An Ireland threequarter line move breaks through, but Murphy unable to feed O'Driscoll on his inside.

61 mins: Marcus Horan comes into the action in place of Corrigan.

60 mins: PENALTY Marigny is again spot on with the long-range penalty to keep the pressure on Ireland.
Italy 12-18 Ireland

59 mins: O'Driscoll covers up kick ahead by Marigny but is turned over and Ireland are penalised at a ruck.

58 mins: Italy continue to show no fear as they chase the game by putting Ireland's defence on the back foot again.

57 mins: An interception by Hayes and a great clearance kick by Murphy averts the danger.

56 mins: A flowing back-line move by Italy has the Ireland defence in trouble.

53 mins: PENALTY Italy penalised at a ruck 45 metres out and O'Gara rifles over a beautiful kick to stretch Ireland's lead.
Italy 9-18 Ireland

49 mins: TRY O'Driscoll again makes an all-important break to feed Horgan, who fires the ball over his shoulder for Peter Stringer to collect and score with O'Gara converting.
Italy 9-15 Ireland

48 mins: Ireland attempt to play a territorial game, but Italy stop any threats and keep the visitors out of range.

44 mins: Italy attempt to give the ball some width but Mirco Bergamasco knocks-on to end a promising attack.

43 mins: PENALTY Ireland penalised at a ruck just outside their ''22'' and Marigny puts over his second kick to give Italy the lead.
Italy 9-8 Ireland

42 mins: Horgan makes a half-break but O'Driscoll is hampered as he tries to get on to his shoulder by Andrea Masi.

41 mins: O'Gara starts the second half with a long kick to the Italian ''22''.

Half-time: Ireland hold a slender lead after coming under the cosh by the Italian pack.

38 mins: Promising move by Ireland spoiled by a knock-on by Horgan.

36 mins: Italy penalised at a driving maul by Ireland and O'Gara pushes the ball into the right-hand corner.

33 mins: PENALTY Ireland penalised again and this time full-back Roland de Marigny bangs over a long-range effort.
Italy 6-8 Ireland

31 mins: Ireland flanker Denis Leamy penalised at a ruck but Orquera again fails to find the target.

28 mins: D'Arcy is helped off the field with a hamstring injury and is replaced by Girvan Dempsey who takes over on the wing with Horgan moving into the centre.

26 mins: TRY Murphy slides in at the corner after a brilliant midfield break by O'Driscoll with referee Paddy O'Brien going upstairs before awarding the try.
Italy 3-8 Ireland

25 mins: Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll dazed in an accidental clash of heads with his centre partner D'Arcy. O'Driscoll continues after treatment.

24 mins: Murphy caught on his 10-metre line and turned over but O'Kelly makes a fine cover tackle to stop a counter attack.

22 mins: Murphy again looks very solid under the high ball to clear the danger again from an Italian up and under.

21 mins: PENALTY Italy penalised in the middle of the park and O'Gara strokes over the equalising penalty from 30 metres.
Italy 3-3 Ireland

20 mins: Ireland finally orchestrate their first positive move of the game when Shane Horgan breaks down the right wing.

16 mins: Ireland still finding problems getting out of their own half as the Italians are playing with a lot of confidence.

14 mins: Murphy penalised for holding on in the tackle but Orquera fails to find the target from 45 metres.

10 mins: Ronan O'Gara continues to fail to find his touch again as Italy carry on their purple patch in the Ireland dagner area.

9 mins: Geordan Murphy has to look sharp to cover another Italian move down the right touchline.

8 mins: Ireland nervously clear their line as Italy continue to apply the pressure.

6 mins: PENALTY Ireland penalised at a scrum and this time Orquera finds the target to give Italy the lead.
Italy 3-0 Ireland

4 mins: Ireland penalised at a ruck but Orquera pushes his kick wide of the posts from 22 metres.

3 mins: More Italy pressure and a line-out drive takes them to within five metres of the Ireland line.

1 min: Lively start by Italy and Gordon D'Arcy had to look lively to get back to clear up the danger.

1430 GMT: Italian fly-half Luciano Orquera gets the game underway in perfect conditions for rugby.

Tight-head prop John Hayes will win his 50th cap for Ireland and leads the team out into the Stadio Flaminio.

Prop Reggie Corrigan has overcome a knee problem to take his place in the Ireland front row.

It it is a special day for lock Malcolm O'Kelly who will win his 69th cap, equalling Mike Gibson's record for Test appearances made by an Irishman.

Italy: R De Marigny, Mirco Bergamasco, G Canale, A Masi, L Nitoglia, L Orquera, A Troncon; A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro or G Intoppa, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape, M Bortolami (capt), A Persico, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse.
Replacements: S Perugini, G Intoppa or C Festuccia, C A Del Fava, D Dal Maso, P Griffen or P Travagli, W Pozzebon, K Robertson.

Ireland: G Murphy; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, D Hickie; R O'Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, M O'Kelly, P O'Connell, S Easterby, D Leamy, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, M Horan, D O'Callaghan, E Miller, G Easterby, D Humphreys, G Dempsey.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand).