Les Bleus will be far less forgiving

CALL it ring rust, opening-night nerves or over-eagerness but whatever the cause, Ireland have plenty to put right after this error-laden performance in Rome.

And quickly.

Grand Slam winners France visit Dublin in six days and they will be far less lenient than Italy of the sloppy handling, misjudged passing and penalty-conceding traits displayed by the Irish in this opening Six Nations fixture, a narrow and barely deserved victory at Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.