Players know they must cut out defensive lapses, declares Les Kiss

Three weeks ago, the chief question being asked of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland ahead of the World Cup was whether they could inject some zing into what has been a solid rather than spectacular attacking game this last two seasons.

Now, in the wake of six tries conceded and a litany of missed tackles against Wales and Scotland, the focus has turned to a previously impressive defence that had leaked just three tries in five games when retaining their Six Nations title.

Les Kiss’s abilities as a defence coach have been praised by players during the Declan Kidney and Schmidt eras, but the Australian revealed that there was little he needed to say to players all too painfully aware of where they had fallen short in recent weeks.

“Well, I didn’t have to give that (message), that’s for sure ,” said Kiss. “They did it themselves. There were some disappointing parts of it, that’s for sure.

“It wasn’t just missed tackles, but there were system things as well. We looked at all areas of our game and we know there are areas that we’d like to improve in.

“We’d like to think we’re a lot better than that. We are. The players know that they are and even speaking to Matt Taylor, Scotland’s defence coach, he came away with the same thing that we were going to have the longest night in the video room because they weren’t happy with their defence either.”

Ireland’s defensive difficulties have coincided with an upsurge in fortunes by the French, who made England look somewhere between ordinary and awful in Paris on Saturday, the resultant omission of out-half Francois Trinh-Duc from their tournament squad only testifying to their strength in depth.

The reliance on the unpredictable Frederic Michalak may yet prove unwise, but Kiss has been impressed by what he termed a “more committed France” side which is apparently benefiting from the extra time together and lack of Top 14 interruptions as is the case during the Six Nations.

The talk is of a French team that will be unrecognisable from that which has failed to beat Ireland in the Six Nations during this World Cup cycle, though Kiss pointed out that they have always ‘turned up’ in their head-to-heads, like in 2014 in Paris when the visitors just about clung on.

“That day it was a massive battle and, while we were good enough to ‘get the money’ (win in Paris in 2014), we know it will always be a tough gig against them.

“Whether they will peak for the World Cup, I am not quite sure. Our contests against them are some of my favourite contests.

“They’re a tough team to coach against, on a number of fronts, and the scariest front is that they’re such a dangerous attacking team from anywhere on the pitch, and throughout my time over seven years you’re inevitably going to get bitten here or there by that flair they have.

“Hopefully we’re in a good position when we do meet them.”