Wales vs Ireland LIVE: Hosts hammer visitors to claim 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam
Here's how the final day of the Six Nations championship played out
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Wales thrashed Ireland 25-7 to win the Six Nations Grand Slam.
Hadleigh Parkes' try inside just 70 seconds set the tone before fly-half Gareth Anscombe took over from the tee to add a further 20 points as the hosts hit the front and never looked back.
Ireland scored with the final play of the game to avoid being left scoreless but it was a day to forget for them in Cardiff.
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Six Nations Grand Slam Saturday, with Wales, Ireland and England all battling it out for championship glory.
We start the day in Rome where Italy are looking to salvage a positive from what has been a disappointing campaign, given that Conor O'Shea's side have already guaranteed themselves the Wooden Spoon and set a new unwanted record for 21 straight Six Nations losses. They can end on a high though against an out-of-sorts France, who are looking to claim their second win of the championship. Kick-off is at 12:30pm.
Next, it's to the big one in Cardiff as Wales take on Celtic rivals Ireland knowing that victory would seal the Grand Slam in what is Warren Gatland's final Six Nations campaign with the team. Having already beaten France, Italy, England and Scotland, Wales are just 80 minutes away from a third clean sweep under Gatland in the space of 11 years. However, Ireland can still win the title themselves, and by beating the Welsh they would blow the championship wide open, taking matters to Twickenham...
...which is where we'll be for the day's finale as England take on the Auld Enemy in Scotland. After kast year's painful Calcutta Cup defeat at Murrayfield, Eddie Jones' side will be determined to gain revenge no matter what, but they will know by the time they kick-off whether the title is still up for grabs. If Ireland do them a favour and beat Wales, England will likely win the championship as long as they see off the depleted Scots.
Our full coverage will begin at 11am as we look ahead to a bumper day of Six Nations action, so stay with us throughout the day for all the latest on what should be a drama-filled eight hours.
The final day of the 2019 Six Nations is here!
And what a day it should be...
And it all starts in Rome, the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy up for grabs in a game perhaps without the high stakes of our latter two contest, but one of considerable intrigue nonetheless.
For French coach Jacques Brunel, this may be do-or-die. Solid victory over Scotland aside his team have had a wretched tournament, and it would plunge to new lows should they fail to win at the Stadio Olimpico today.
For Italy, therefore, today presents an excellent opportunity. Brow-beaten rather by England last time out, it has otherwise been a campaign characterised by grit and real battling spirit, and Conor O'Shea's side has the quality to cause an upset this afternoon.
Once proceedings have concluded in Rome, attention shifts to the game of the day in Cardiff.
It is a huge day for Wales, though that rather goes without saying. Warren Gatland's team were rather handed the opener by France but haven't looked back since. 80 minutes at the Principality Stadium is all that separates the Welsh from a first Grand Slam since 2012.
But it will be a tough 80 minutes. Ireland have rebuilt their confidence and form after a first week misstep against England and will test Wales to their breaking point. Joe Schmidt's side still harbour outside hopes of their own Six Nations championship, and with the roof open, it's sure to be a wet and wild ride.
And finally the eyes of the rugby world will look to Twickenham.
England will know how the land lies. Wales win and the championship is gone; lose and the door is wide open.
A win would be enough to usurp the Welsh at the top of the table, and with a battered and bruised Scotland in town, Eddie Jones will be in a quietly confident mood.
But perhaps that is a little hasty. This is, of course, not a dissimilar Scotland side to that which so impressively triumphed at Murrayfield last year. Injuries have rather handicapped Gregor Townsend's campaign, but there remains considerably quality in the ranks and a couple of key returnees in the back-row add real bite.
The Calcutta Cup is rarely contested limply...
Team News - Italy vs France
Affairs get underway in Rome in just about an hour, so let's have a gander at the teams selected by Conor O'Shea and Jacques Brunel.
The hosts make five changes from their ignominious defeat at Twickenham, four of which come in the pack. In come lock David Sisi, front-rowers with contrasting levels of experience in ex-Leicester pair Leonardo Ghiraldini and Tiziano Pasquali, and most excitingly the fit-again Jake Polledri, bombastic in the carry, ferocious in the tackle.
The final change comes at 13, where there is a debut for Treviso centre Marco Zanon in Michele Campagnaro's absence.
Team News - France vs Italy
France one-up Italy with six changes to their starting lineup.
Etienne Falgoux mans the loosehead with Jefferson Poirot stricken, Paul Willemse adds bulk in the second row and it is a new-look flanker pairing, Gregory Alldritt and Yacouba Camara beneficiaries of the French misfire in Dublin.
Wesley Fofana was selected at inside centre but the Clermont man has, frustratingly for a player so blighted by injury issues, pulled out late, with Geoffrey Doumayrou called in to the midfield. And finally it is Toulouse for Toulouse at full-back: Thomas Ramos to the bench, Maxime Medard into the run-on side, with Romain Ntamack presumably taking the added responsibility with the tee.
Brunel's kingdom in ruin...
France have already lost one head coach in this World Cup cycle, and Jacques Brunel has failed to produce the anticipated uptick in results since replacing Guy Noves ahead of last year's Six Nations.
The veteran coach, who spent five years in charge of Italy, has had a reign characterised by muddled selection decisions and a poor on-field product, with just four wins from the 15 games France have played since Brunel took over.
With the World Cup fast approaching, France are likely to be reticent to move on from the 65-year-old at this late stage, but a loss to Italy today might just have Brunel planning his own Flight to Varennes.
If Italy are to triumph today, their back row may be key.
It is an area of real strength for Conor O'Shea's team. Braam Steyn has enjoyed a breakout tournament and emerged as a real force, while the returning Jake Polledri has been one of Gloucester's best players over the last couple of season with a freakish ability to breach contact and get over the gainline.
Seb Negri is a similarly exciting talent held in reserve, while old-stager Sergio Parisse plays what may well be his final Six Nations game, captaining the side from the back of the scrum.
All four are powerful carriers, and if the game is tight, they will come to the fore, partuicularly matching up against a France group who have not played together before.
While Storm Gareth pillories into the British Isles, it is a gorgeous Spring afternoon in Rome, 16 degrees celsius the current temperature. Balmy.
England's Matthew Carley is the referee this afternoon, with his first job officiating the toss of the coin.
The French will get things underway in about half-an-hour...
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