Late Seán Edogbo try keeps Ireland's Grand Slam dreams alive as they avert Italy shock

Ireland 23-22 Italy

A Seán Edogbo try on his U20 Six Nations debut saved Ireland's Grand Slam ambitions from a shock home defeat to Italy.

The younger brother of Munster rising star Edwin, who was watching on behind the Irish replacements, the Cobh man saved a potential Italian try on his introduction before racing clear to the corner for the 74th-minute winner.

His fellow Munster men Evan O'Connell and Ben O'Connor were the other try-scorers as Ireland didn't get within reach of a bonus point, leaving them a point behind England in second.

Visiting winger Marco Scalabrin gave a virtuoso performance with two tries profiting from Irish errors, an assist for the third, and a heroic covering tackle to prevent another.

That put Italy in a position to snatch a victory no one saw coming against the back-to-back Grand Slam champions, fresh off their victory away to France, up until Edogbo's intervention.

Even then, Italy, who lost their opener by 25 points to England, won a scrum penalty against the head as the clock ticked into the red. But with place-kickers Martino Pucciarello and Lorenzo Casilio off the pitch, they had to kick down the line and didn't chance a drop at goal.

In the end, Ireland just held on as Italy spilled the ball forward when they worked the ball wide.

The win, however slight, takes Ireland's run of Six Nations victories at this grade to 12, while their winning records over Italy and at home in Cork were both extended to 10 games.

The hosts showed a level of restraint and respect to their unfancied visitors when after some deliberation, Jack Murphy popped an easy three between the posts early on.

Before long, Murphy was kicking to the corner, although Italy's maul defence claimed a major turnover against a pack