Italian Job: Kicking into gear from the off is Ireland's call 

Iain Henderson, captain for the day here, will admit that a slick first 80 makes for “a big ask” in early August but feels it is one put to them because Farrell and his assistants believe the players and the collective are capable of achieving it.

SLICK 80 MINUTES: Ireland's coaching staff will be looking for the team to hit the ground running once the whistle goes against Italy. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Scrappy. Too many handling errors. A lot to work on. The words of Scotland coach Gregor Townsend and his out-half Ben Healy after their unimpressive start to the season against Italy in Murrayfield last Saturday.

Players and coaches around the world and back through time have uttered similar laments in the foothills of a season but Ireland have targeted a peak performance from the off tonight as they get their own World Cup warm-up schedule underway in Dublin.