Beware French counter-attack

Ireland decided to front upagainst the Italians but had the visitors had a kicker, it could have ended disastrously.

Their South African-born out-half Tobias Botes is a shocking kicker at all levels, never mind international, and his strike rate of 25% was a real frustration to the Italian pack. He wouldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat and for Italy to avoid the wooden spoon they need to find a 75% man quickly.

The game started at a very slow pace and the tackles stats showed Ireland made 70 and Italy made 125, which is well below the norms expected from a game at this level.