Jones keen to turn dogged defence into attack against Italians

Sunday at the RDS v Italy presents a more nuanced challenge than Ireland's Six Nations opener against France.

ITALIAN JOB: Neve Jones releases a pass during a squad training session at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Blanchardstown this week. She relishes tackling, but will be hoping Ireland will have to less of it this weekend when they face Italy. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Ireland’s Six Nations opener in Le Mans last Saturday wouldn’t have been everyone’s idea of fun. The visitors knew they would be spending most of the day bailing out the trenches and that’s exactly what unfolded.

France scored five tries and made over 600 metres with ball in hand. They had 57% possession and a whopping 67% territory. Ireland made 166 tackles and the Gloucester-Hartpury hooker Neve Jones chipped in with 23 of them.