Mack Hansen double helps Ireland hold off Italy to maintain grand slam bid

Mack Hansen scored two tries as Ireland held off a spirited challenge from Italy in Rome to claim a bonus-point victory in the Six Nations and stay on course for a grand slam.

Ireland, who top the Six Nations table with 15 points from three matches, looked as though they would run riot after four tries in the first 35 minutes, with James Ryan, Hugo Keenan and the centre Bundee Aki the other scorers.

Italy took the game to their opponents though and ran the ball from all positions, sometimes naively, as they scored tries through the scrum-half Stephen Varney and the wing Pierre Bruno, but they could not convert when well-placed in the second half.

Ireland led 24-17 at half-time but the game tightened up after the break with the Italy fly-half Paolo Garbisi superb in controlling the tempo for the home side, who continue to impress despite another defeat in this year’s competition.

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