The Azzurri crept 11-10 ahead in the 76th minute through a try from Luke McLean and one of the championship’s greatest upsets looked likely.

But Ireland, who started as overwhelming 1/8 favourites, hit back two minutes later when O’Gara was on target from in front of the posts.

A bullocking run from Denis Leamy signaled Ireland's intent for the second half and just three minutes in they raced ahead.

Earls carried the ball over the gainline and once Sexton had returned from a blind ally, play was swept left where O’Driscoll ignored an overlap and scampered over from close range.

Sexton nailed a tricky conversion and then placed Ireland deep in Azzurri territory with a towering touch-finder.

Earls and O’Driscoll made inroads before the Ireland skipper launched another wild pass that sailed into touch with the line beckoning McFadden for an easy run-in.

Italy were continuing to resist stubbornly, kept in the game by Irish errors at key moments as much as their own heroics with D’Arcy spilling the ball two metres out.

For all Ireland’s dazzle they were still only 10-6 ahead and, when Italy’s pack set off on a rolling maul that took them 10 metres short of the line, their position looked precarious.

The Azzurri were in their element as a series of scrums followed, before centre Gonzalo Canale was brought down on the crash with a shuddering hit.

Leamy was sin-binned for killing the ball and the drama continued when Italy continued to use their pack to batter the whitewash.

Sergio Parisse almost scampered through but they were not to be denied in the 76th minute when slick handling sent McLean in at the left corner.

Italy suffered the cruellest of blows with two minutes to go, however, when substitute Ronan O’Gara landed a drop goal to snatch victory.