After the positive effort against Australia we had expected a much fuller performance against Italy, and we certainly didn’t get it

AS I exited Croke Park for the third-last time I was a little unsure where to place Ireland’s 18-point win over Italy. Then I bumped into 10 Italians. They were pretty dejected, admitting that over the years they expected defeats but were now getting very tired of the continued struggle. Conversely we have come to expect the opposite. In a sense we were both disappointed. High up in the Cusack Stand pre match, the Italians were in a very jovial and optimistic mood even joining in with our “terrifying” anthem, Ireland’s Call.

The Six Nations brings with it so many varied styles. On Saturday, Ireland successfully negotiated the Italian Job and deserve credit. However, many will be miffed by the spread of 18 points.

With France and England up next it was all too evident Declan Kidney and his men kept several aspects of Ireland’s play in the locker. We had expected a much fuller performance, which would have involved the backrow interplaying with the Ireland backs and the back three looking to counter attack.

Rob Kearney was outstanding against the Springboks in November, when he gelled the 14 players in front of him. This style was ignored. To counter that, the energy levels of Tommy Bowe and co were brimming. Unfortunately they didn’t get into the game.

With eight minutes remaining and deep inside his own half, John Hayes stole another Italian misfire in the lineout and rumbled on for a few metres. Paddy Wallace’s subsequent cut-out pass landed into Brian O’Driscolls hands and as he did on three previous occasions, he fired an excellent wiper kick deep inside the Italian 22.

It was 35 minutes since Ireland’s second try. It may seem harsh to criticise this play but I think back to Ireland’s draw against Australia in the autumn. Their first lineout on their 10-metre line Ireland launched an intricate attack. It failed but at least they tried. I wonder how bonus points would have affected Ireland’s second-half tactics.

The Italians opened with some creative play deep inside the Ireland 22. They managed to stretch the Irish by varying their point of attack, going blind before attacking the open. Unfortunately as the clock ticked past six minutes, French referee Romain Poite penalised the Italians at the break down. Ronan O’Gara cleared his lines and apart from Kearney’s gift for Kaine Robertson’s try, Italy remained neutered.

They clearly had a game plan to combat the Grand Slam champions that involved delaying at every possible juncture.

The Ireland lineout maul proved a nice restart for the Irish middle five. Ireland cut their second lineout short and put David Wallace and Kevin McLaughlin into the midfield. On several occasions Tomás O’Leary orchestrated a peel away from the rumbling maul to link with loose forwards. It didn’t work this time but it was an insight into the potential interplay between backs and forwards. Wallace was full of running, as was McLaughlin, but just couldn’t get on the ball.

Did his performance secure the number six jersey for Paris? Having watched him specifically for long periods on Saturday it’s easy to see why he got selected in the first place but Stade de France will demand more. He continued to offer himself at the first receiver slot but on four occasions in the first half the ball was pulled behind him to a waiting back.

Backrow balance is crucial and he does add enormously to the tail of the lineout. He also gets to dozens of rucks but he’ll need to carry and develop offensive tackles. His field positioning remains solid and but for Kearney ignoring him prior to the Jamie Heaslip try he would have been under the posts for a debut try. Enough will be said about Kearney’s lazy kicking but on Saturday he did miss a number of offload opportunities.

Hardly a move into the future for the number six jersey but Alan Quinlan may add more Stephen Ferris dog in Paris. O’Gara built on his excellent game management and deserves to stay put. However, by Paddy Wallace’s arrival the game had loosened up so his style of carrying in two hands into space afforded huge opportunities for support runners.

Again further debate will surround the number 10 jersey along with number six and ahead of them with Leo Cullen’s mighty match you can include the number four jersey.

As you would expect from professional sport there are many areas for improvement over the coming weeks. The tail of the lineout defence is one such area. At the death Italy finally gained an “off the top” lineout which quickly found its way to Craig Gower at outhalf, who carried slowly towards Paddy Wallace before popping into blindside wing Mirco Bergamasco.

He scorched around the tail and cantered for 30 clean metres. His brother and openside Mauro was brilliantly on hand to take the pass. If that ruck had been clean it was a certain seven points (29 points to 18). It was far too slow and the chance was gone. Italy created two chances and scored from neither. France will have a higher strike rate.

The next two matches will bring many challenges, with Stade de France the next hurdle. In a sense we expect to be beaten in Paris but we’ve become accustomed to victories in Twickenham. For that reason this will be our major test of the two.

Take a little look at last season’s Six Nations table and you’ll see the English had the best score differential, best defence, best try count, hammered France and Scotland and crucially lost to Ireland in Croke Park by only one point.

Our Six Nations run depended hugely on England losing at home to Wales on Saturday and with France’s revolving door of players England could be crowned champions!