Ireland have defeated Italy by 42-10 at Lansdowne Road in the Six Nations this afternoon.

Fly-halfs Tobie Botes and Jonathan Sexton traded penalties in the opening stages, before the latter converted Keith Earls's try to hand Ireland an early lead.

Sergio Parisse's late first-half try appeared to have set up Botes to level the score at the break, but the Irish struck back once again through Tommy Bowe.

Sexton's second successful conversion of the game meant that the home side took a seven-point lead into the interval.

The Irish fly-half added to their total after the restart by kicking another pair of penalties prior to the hour mark.

In minutes, Bowe powered through the Italian defence to add his second five of the afternoon, before Sexton's ensuing conversion gave them a 20-point lead.

Subtitute Tom Court and Andrew Trimble added another couple of scores in the final stages to seal the game for the home side.