Ireland defeat Italy: A laudable victory for adaptability and Joe Schmidt pragmatism

RBS Six Nations: Italy 3 Ireland 26: One down and four to go. Ireland are up but not quite running in the defence of their Six Nations title and with France coming to Dublin next Saturday, Joe Schmidt’s squad will know they are in a for hard week ahead of a much stiffer examination than the one provided by Italy in Rome.

That is not to say their performance at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday was not without merit. It was far from fluent, lacking in accuracy for long periods and not pretty on the eye. Yet given the context of an opening match away from home against stubborn opposition; of an inexperienced, injury-hit side and the loss of another key player, Sean O’Brien, just before kick-off, this was a victory borne of laudable adaptability and pragmatism.

After a narrow escape in Italy in 2011 and a miserable first Six Nations defeat here two years ago, Ireland finally got the job done. They asphyxiated the Italians by dominating their strongest assets at scrum and lineout, greedily chewing up possession and territory and exploiting the home side’s disciplinary weaknesses with faultless goal-kicking from Ian Keatley and the ruthless punishment of a second-half yellow card with tries from Conor Murray and Tommy O’Donnell.