Ireland have extended their lead at the top of the Six Nations table with a 46-7 victory over Italy at the Aviva Stadium.

The hosts got off to the perfect start with seven minutes played. Jonny Sexton collected a Brian O'Driscoll pass before sprinting away from opposition players and crossing the line for the opening try.

Sexton kicked the extras for the Irish to extend the lead, but bottom-of-the-table Italy ensured it would not be all one-way traffic in the opening stages.

Leonardo Sarto spotted a gap down the line to force a try for the visiting side, while Luciano Orquera added the extras to level the contest in Dublin.

However, Sexton's successful penalty and Andrew Trimble's 39th-minute try was enough to give Ireland a half-time lead, with Trimble darting inside after collecting a pass from O'Driscoll to cross the line and add five points before the interval.

The tournament leaders upped their game further following the break, and Cian Healy's try on 53 minutes extended Ireland's lead further, as he powered his way over the white line when Paul O'Connell was stopped short.

The resulting conversion was missed by Sexton, but O'Driscoll ensured it was to count little as he dashed towards the line and found Jamie Heaslip, who in turn passed it on to Sexton to add his second try of the afternoon.

In a frantic finale, Sean Cronin added to the tally after charging over, before Fergus McFadden and Jack McGrath rounded off the scoring to add Ireland's sixth and seventh tries of the contest respectively, extending their lead at the top of the table in style.