Six Nations: the deciding day for England, France and Ireland – in pictures

Regardless of the result at the end of the day, these England fans are going to enjoy themselves at the game in Rome Photograph: Gregorio Borgia/AP

After both sides trade early penalties England score the first try of the game. The visitors turn over an Italian lineout after some excellent pressure from the forwards. They break down the left side with Burrell standing firm in the tackle before releasing Brown. There are plenty of Italian players around the full-back but he evades them all to cross the line in the corner. Owen Farrell notches the conversion to give England a 3-10 lead Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Just after the half-hour mark England win a lineout and swing the ball out to the right and then to the left. They try to bulldoze their way across the line and the ball spins back to Farrell, who skips and slips his way past the defence to touch down under the posts. He slams the conversion between the posts. Italy 6-17 England Photograph: Gregorio Borgia/AP

Brown goes over for his second try just before half-time. The initial break through the Italian ranks was by Farrell but Brown’s searing pace and power saw him end it. Farrell converts. Half-time score: Italy 6-24 England Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Jack Nowell, right, jumps for the ball with Mick Brown. Early in the second half the England youngster gets his first try for England. A few simple runs and a few dummy passes open Italy up with the utmost of ease and all Nowell has to do is overlap and dive over the line in the corner on the left Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

England continue to dominate the second half as tries by Vunipola and Tuilagi widen the gap to Italy 6-45 England Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images

Italy's winger Leonardo Sarto pulled a try back in the closing stages when he intercepted a poor pass from Joe Launchbury and dashed down the left line and over the try line Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/AP

Robshaw dives over the line in the final minute and Farrell's trusty boot gives England a 11-52 victory. It looks like a two horse race for the title now as France need to beat Ireland by 72 points to take the Championship. The bars in Rome are going to be busy in a few hours time full of England fans cheering on the French Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

France v Ireland Brian O'Driscoll looks on ahead of his last match for Ireland Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Ireland's lock Paul O'Connell and France's hooker Guilhem Guirado jump for the ball. France get the first points on the board courtesy of two penalties from the boot of Machenaud Photograph: t/AFP/Getty Images

However it's Ireland who get the first try. Midway through the half, Henry, on the ground, has a nice offload near the flag on the right and into the hands of Jonathon Sexton. He dives over the line. Unfortunately he misses the conversion Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Three minutes later they get another. Brian O'Driscoll breaks through the French defence and offloads to Murray. The scrum-half zips inside, takes some French defenders with him and then spreads the ball out to Andrew Trimble, rushing through the middle. He dives under the line for the simplest of finishes. Sexton slots the conversion between the posts. It's France 6-12 Ireland Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

BOD attempts to prevent getting a shiner on his last appearance Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Dave Kearney, right, jumps for the ball with France's Yoann Huget Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

The French get back in the game ten minutes before half-time when up-and-under to the corner is punched back to Brice Dulin, by Yoann Huget, and the full-back crosses the line. Machenaud converts. Half-time score: France 13-12 Ireland Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Early in the second half, Ireland are under so much pressure from France they run the ball out of defence. Trimble does most of the work running the ball up the field and shrugging off a few tackles. About 10 meters out from the French line he offloads to BOD who drags the ball forward a few more meters before being dragged down ... Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

The ball is recycled into the hands of Sexton and he touches down. He also converts and then adds another penalty to his tally a few minutes later. France 13-22 Ireland Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

France continue to attack and Ireland can only hold them back for so long. A succession of French players drive towards the line but it is Szarzewski who does the final damage just under the posts. Machenaud adds the two points. France 20-22 Ireland Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Ireland's captain Paul O'Connell wins a lineout against Damien Chouly Photograph: Jeffroy Guy/Sipa/REX

Bad news for Ireland just after the hour mark as fly-half Jonathan Sexton lies on the ground out cold after Bastareaud landed on top of him. He is stretcherered off Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Ireland's lock Paul O'Connell vies for the ball with France's hooker Dimitri Szarzewski Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Ten minutes to go and Ireland are still just two points ahead, a precarious position. France wheel the Irish scrum around and win a penalty about 30 yards out just to the left of the posts. Jean-Marc Doussain, who has come on as sub, steps up … and misses! A big let-off for Ireland there Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Jamie Heaslip is stopped unceremoniously by Wenceslas Lauret Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

The Blues work towards the Irish line on the right but Ireland hold them up a few meters out. They then move the ball out to the right and they have men over! They must score a try! They do via Damian Chouly! This is heartbreak for Ireland. No wait. Hold on a moment. There looked to be a forward pass by Pascal Pape. The ref goes to the the TMO. There is an anxious wait. The replay shows it was forward and the TMO agrees. NO TRY! Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

The final whistle goes and Ireland have won a pulsating match and also the Six Nations Photograph: Xavier Laine/Getty Images

Cue delirium in the stands Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA

Paul O'Connell lifts the trophy as the team celebrate Photograph: Xavier Laine/Getty Images

And then the jubilating team are buried under a cascade of streamers Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

A contented looking O'Driscoll Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Man of the match Brian O'Driscoll takes it all in Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

The emotion of the day and the enormity of the victory hits Brian O'Driscoll as he is interviewed by Jill Douglas Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

France's hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, right, congratulates Ireland's fly-half Jonathan Sexton, centre, in the French dressing room after Ireland's victory Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images