Foley: Things can only get better after Roman grueller

FEW will be surprised that the new tackle law was a major topic of conversation over the weekend.

As one of the most experienced members of the Irish team, Anthony Foley had a big role to play in organising the side to cope with its demands but he looked just as perplexed as anybody by the end of yesterday's victory over Italy.

Indeed, he went so far as to suggest that nothing has really changed, while most would accept that Paddy O'Brien didn't penalise anybody unduly yesterday. It's just that the game's administrators come out with these edicts from time to time and after an early flurry of controversy and argument, things gradually settle down and things carry on as ever.