Ireland bounced back with a 20-13 victory over Italy at the Aviva Stadium, addressing issues from the France defeat and reinforcing their dominance in the fixture.
Ireland bounced back from their opening defeat with a 20-13 win over Italy at the Aviva Stadium — their first Six Nations victory of the campaign and the 35th test win against Italy since the two sides first met on 31 December 1988.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective: tidy set pieces, crisper decision-making inside the 22, and a cleaner defensive shape when it mattered.
Quick reset, clearer focus
After the stinging loss in Paris, Andy Farrell and the senior players cut straight to what needed fixing.
Training sessions during the week were short, sharp and practical: lineout and scrum stability, quicker choices close to the try-line, and tighter defensive alignment. The message from the camp was simple — fewer mistakes, smarter execution.
What happened on the day
Ireland controlled the tempo in the areas they’d targeted.
Lineouts held up, turnovers were down, and kick-chase coordination improved. Players were careful with their words afterwards — proud of the process rather than celebrating early — while Italy acknowledged a resilient Irish performance and a few missed chances of their own.
Key turning points and how the squad adjusted
Garry Ringrose described the review process as a mix of unit-level scrutiny and team-wide alignment. Backs and forwards dissected role-specific actions before coming together to agree on contact points, aerial duties and finishing patterns. That tighter clarity of roles paid dividends in the red zone.
Coaches flagged three problem areas from the Paris game: inconsistent decision-making inside the 22, intermittent coordination on kicks and chases, and defensive lapses around turnovers. The fix was practical: two-phase finishing drills, repeated contested high-ball work, and clearly defined kick-chase lanes so everyone knows who is doing what.
Defence — numbers and next steps
Defensively, there’s progress but room to grow. Ireland posted an 83.4% tackle completion rate but still missed 35 tackles; 28 of those led to offloads and one directly to a penalty. They conceded four penalties in defensive phases. So the week’s work zeroed in on tackle technique, line speed, ruck arrivals and decision-making under fatigue.
What that looked like on the training field: short, intense tackle blocks with immediate video feedback, lateral-shift rehearsals with communication cues, and ruck-scenario drills designed to replicate late-game tiredness. The targets are concrete — fewer missed tackles, fewer penalties, and cleaner contesting at the breakdown. There’s even a measurable goal: a 20% drop in missed tackles over the coming month.
Attacking clarity inside the 22
Red-zone issues were handled the same way: simplify, rehearse, repeat. Coaches stripped plays back to the essentials so players can execute without overthinking. The backs worked on timing, inside-out running lines and decisive short kicking options from around 50 metres. The idea: convert pressure into points rather than letting phases stall.
Practical changes include a quick three-sentence attack summary before each sequence, labelled primary/secondary finishing options in the playbook, and weekly walkthroughs of red-zone scenarios. The aim is a clear uptick in try conversion from inside the 22 and fewer turnovers in scoring positions.
Culture, ownership and moving forward
Beyond tactics, the week reinforced an accountability culture. Leadership rotated responsibilities, players came to review meetings prepared with suggestions, and unit owners were given metrics to track. Training now alternates skill days with scenario sessions so execution under pressure becomes the baseline, not the exception.
Quick reset, clearer focus
After the stinging loss in Paris, Andy Farrell and the senior players cut straight to what needed fixing. Training sessions during the week were short, sharp and practical: lineout and scrum stability, quicker choices close to the try-line, and tighter defensive alignment. The message from the camp was simple — fewer mistakes, smarter execution.0
