James Ryan: 'Our defence is going to have to hugely step up from where it was on the weekend'

DEFENSIVE SET UP: Ireland will have to reduce avoidable penalties and their defence when they face Italy in the final game of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

In an ideal world, James Ryan can sit back after his day’s work at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday safe in the knowledge Ireland have delivered a performance of which his team be proud.

Yet the frustrations experienced across the Irish squad this week following a humbling Guinness Six Nations defeat at home to France last Saturday means that perfect scenario will require the righting of an awful lot of wrongs for Ryan and his team-mates in their final-round clash with Italy.

Ireland will go into the last day of the 2025 championship still searching for that 80-minute performance which has eluded them in the first four matches. Against England, Scotland and Wales the concern of opponents enjoying prolonged purple patches was papered over by successive victories as the Irish delivered a Triple Crown to maintain course for a second Grand Slam in three seasons and a first three-peat of titles in Six Nations history.

The illusion was exposed, however, by a rampant France in Dublin, the 42-27 defeat at Aviva Stadium bringing Ireland’s ambitions to emphatic end.

It leaves Ryan, one of six new faces in the starting line-up from last Saturday, and his team-mates with little option but to rebuild confidence and produce the 80 minutes against Italy in the opening game of the day that they believe better reflects their ability to finish the championship in style and give themselves a chance, however slim, of retaining the championship. It will still require a big helping hand from Wales and Scotland respectively to upset the odds against second-placed England in Cardiff, and in Paris against new title favourites France but Ryan said. “Hopefully we'll be able to put the feet up and enjoy the two games, if we put in the performance that we're happy with.

“I think we'll always be frustrated probably with the performance (last) weekend, but it is what it is now and it's about trying to turn the page a little bit.

“We know ourselves we were a little bit off on Saturday and they were unbelievably good on the day and the outcome sort of looked after itself.” 

There has been a long list of issues to address from that game against France, who took advantage of Ireland’s inability to translate first-quarter possession and territory into any points, and then exploited a home yellow card either side of half-time to make hay and put the contest beyond the defending champions.

Improving discipline, both in terms of penalty count and cards, was a pre-championship objective following a less than stellar November and while Ireland only conceded six penalties against the French but going a man down twice cost them dearly and Ryan admitted it was not easy to walk the tightrope between the Irish aim to play on the edge and minimising visits to the sin bin.

“It is difficult to strike the balance I suppose. Look, we pride ourselves on being sort of a smart team, but it's the difference between those unavoidable penalties and the avoidable ones.

“We're always trying to limit the amount of avoidable penalties that we give away, and I think by and large we've been okay with that. And then sometimes there's just unavoidable ones as well that you give away by playing on the edge and wanting to be aggressive and get after teams.

“So it is always a balance we're trying to strike. A team like France, you don't want to be giving them too much access into the game and Italy will be the same this week. So it's something we're definitely aware of.” 

Italy, whose motivation will be trying to avoid the wooden spoon with a victory to guard against a possible Welsh win over the English later on Saturday evening, remain a potent threat as far as Ireland and Ryan are concerned.

“I think they're a very good attacking side, their attack has really evolved and so our defence is going to have to hugely step up from where it was on the weekend.

“Counter-attack, I think our kick-chase, our connections are huge, you saw on the weekend they've got guys like (Ange) Capuozzo, if you're not building connections and you're not defending in twos and threes your defence can come under real pressure.

“So I'd say that's probably a big one for us, stepping up in that area.”