Conor Murray: ‘We’re angry with ourselves and want to put things right’

It is not clear whether tomorrow’s mission to atone for defeat in Scotland has included a detailed analysis of Rome’s traffic management systems but Ireland’s players have certainly left Joe Schmidt in no doubt they are ready to make amends.

Whatever about the late arrival of the team bus to Murrayfield last Saturday on the opening day of the 2017 RBS 6 Nations, the entirely avoidable 27-22 defeat which followed has prompted an angry and frustrated week in the Irish camp which head coach Schmidt is banking on being translated into a ferocious performance against Italy tomorrow at Stadio Olimpico.

Ireland flew to the Italian capital last night in determined mood to right the wrongs perpetrated in Edinburgh, when the Scots ruthlessly exploited a desperate start by the visitors by scoring three tries in the first 28 minutes and then, having seen the men in green recover from 21-8 to a 22-21 lead, saw Schmidt’s side hand them victory with the concession of silly penalties in a sloppy final 10 minutes.