DONAL LENIHAN: Examination of character will stand to Ireland

So much for predictions of conservative rugby to open up the Six Nations championship.

Mon, 04 Feb, 2013 - 00:00

A rugby player, coach and manager during a glittering career with Munster, Ireland and the Lions and now a definitive voice in Irish rugby analysis and commentary.

Points galore, tries aplenty and the prospect of a cracking second round to look forward to in Dublin next Sunday. But the result of the weekend was undoubtedly in Rome where Italy were magnificent in victory against a French team thoroughly outplayed. It must rank as the best opening weekend to a championship in years.

Ireland will be thrilled to have escaped from Cardiff with a win that looked a foregone conclusion at one stage Full marks to Wales for never accepting the inevitable. How prophetic the words of George North on the eve of this Six Nations opener when he said his biggest concern was “being ambushed in the opening 20 minutes when Wales are guilty of not getting up to the speed and intensity of test rugby quickly enough”. On this occasion they were completely off the pace for the entire opening half and just couldn’t live with an Irish side whose tactical excellence left their hosts reeling. It was as close to the perfect performance as you will to see.