'We need to have both': Ireland must play with discipline and intent says Caelan Doris

Striking the right balance between the two has been one of the central themes of this week’s preparation for Saturday afternoon’s visit of Italy to Aviva Stadium.

INTENT AND DISCIPLINE: Caelan Doris during an Ireland Rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Caelan Doris has warned Ireland not to sacrifice good discipline against Italy on Saturday in the race to regain the physical intensity his side lacked against France in their Guinness Six Nations opener nine days ago.

Ireland’s high penalty counts and cards conceded soared last November with their loss against world champions South Africa coming on the back of a 20-minute red card, four yellows and 18 penalties.

That was cleaned up in Paris last Thursday week, with just six penalties conceded and no cards but the price was a high one as Irish passivity allowed France to exploit soft shoulders and take a 29-0 lead inside 50 minutes before eventually winning 36-14.

Striking the right balance between discipline and intent has been one of the central themes of this week’s preparation for Saturday afternoon’s visit of Italy to Aviva Stadium.

"It's been a message throughout the week,” Doris said on Friday.

“There's an awareness that one can't go up and the other comes down. We need to have both and that comes from building the right habits in training, being disciplined during the week, and hopefully that will pay off tomorrow.

"It is something we're aware of, the lack of intent last week but pretty good discipline, and it can't be the reverse tomorrow. We need both.”

Head coach Andy Farrell had bemoaned the lack of grunt on display from his players at Stade de France and his promotion of lock James Ryan and No.8 Jack Conan following strong showings off the bench in round one as well as the inclusions of Cormac Izuchukwu at blindside flanker and debutant lock Edwin Edogbo among the replacements is an indication the Ireland boss means business in the physicality stakes against a strong Italian pack.

Conan’s inclusion at No.8 has seen Doris switched to openside flanker in the number seven jersey and the Ireland skipper welcomed his Leinster team-mate’s inclusion from the start.

"He had some of the intent that I'm talking about. If you saw his punch on the ball, getting off the line in D, there were a few moments. Himself and James Ryan, and Nick Timoney as well, I thought the three of them in particular had proper intent, they wanted to make a difference.

“You could see in small, subtle things but just their taking the line on, with the ball in hand, and equally getting off the line in defence. And it has an infectious feeling around you, it makes you feel good.” 

Conan, Doris said, was a welcome vocal presence to play alongside.

"He's a good communicator, good micro-comms. It's the micro-communication around hold-fold, around setting each other up in attack. It does make a difference and more of us need to do that.”

The Ireland captain set out clear objectives for his team to deliver in their performance on home soil against Italy as a reaction to their poor outing in France last time out.

"It's definitely important to get us back on track. I think Thursday can’t derail us too much, and that has been a bit of a message during the week.

“There's obviously an awareness that it was poor and it wasn't good enough from us, but equally there were some signs of some very good intent in training, prior to France and again through the week this week.

“So yeah, we're hoping to set a marker straight and being back at home as well, it makes it even more important.”