Looking at the Ireland team under performing at Murrayfield last Saturday against a Scotland team that, in contrast, has exceeded all expectations, the sense of disappointment was acute.

I would go further and state that not alone was Ireland's performance disappointing it was frustrating.

When Ireland defeated Wales in Wembley over a month ago, a psychological barrier had been crashed by this Ireland side.

They had ended a two-year spell without a win in the Five Nations series. That win coming on the back of the good performance against France suggested that Ireland would at least achieve the objective of the coach Warren Gatland, a minimum of two wins from the four Championship matches. Gatland and his management colleagues Donal Lenihan and Philip Danaher will be well aware that, far from building on the win in Wembley, this team has gone backwards since then.

On the overall balance of the season and compared to last season the team has I believe improved, but basically only in the play of the pack. There was one win this season compared with none last season, but in fact in terms of points scored and points conceded there has been little difference. Last season Ireland scored 70 and conceded 100, this season Ireland scored 66 and conceded 90. The inability to use possession and the number of unforced errors last Saturday are areas that must be improved considerably if any kind of consistency is to be attained. There was a lack of belief in that Ireland performance last Saturday.

The inability to score tries is a very worrying trend. Ireland scored three this season compared to six last season. The tries this season came from a penalty try, a very creative try from Keith Wood against Wales and a block down in the match against Wales. The lack of penetration and pace in the Ireland back line must be addressed.

There was some very entertaining rugby played last Saturday, most of it by the Scots. The initial stage of the match was beset with errors and both sides were guilty of those. But the Scots had the ability to overcome theirs, Ireland compounded their problems by some dreadfully bad decisions.

The Scots played throughout like a team whose fate depended on the result, Ireland like a team that feared its fate. What made this less understandable was that Ireland got a dream start, with just a minute and a half gone and seven points on the board. You cannot ask for a better start than that on your opponents ground. Here was the ideal incentive. The Scots were in no way disconcerted by that. They scored a try in the eighth minute and were ahead by the midway point of the first half and never surrendered the lead.

Warren Gatland's comments after the match emphasised the positive from an Irish perspective to a surprising degree.

This was Ireland's worst performance in the championship. Collectively the team was poor, individually there were few performances of real quality and tactically there were deficiencies. The Scots revealed much more tactical awareness and read the Irish readily. Ireland's performance was depressing and a championship that promised so much after the display against France and the win in Wembley deteriorated to an all to familiar degree.

Any team must play the game in the circumstances as they find them and the Scots did just that capitalising on the latitude given them by referee Derek Bevan. No better team to take advantage of a referee whose failure to apply the off side law in particular was certainly frustrating for the Ireland team.

The positives from the Irish perspective were the displays by Dion O'Cuinneagain and David Humphreys and Rob Henderson did very well when he came on. Keith Wood gave his all but the Scots had done their homework on him. Too often he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Peter Clohessy also worked very hard, but the pack as a unit just did not perform.

Paul Wallace is a player very badly in need of a rest. The line out yet again was not good and there was a tired look about some of the players and a collective lethargy. The Scots were infinitely sharper.

FRANKLY, I think some of the Ireland players are in the comfort zone and need to be shaken out of it especially in the back line.

There is a total inability to capitalise on good attacking positions and to make pressure pay the required dividend. The number of times Ireland turned the ball over was truly dreadful and indeed three of Scotland's tries came as a result of this abject failure. The decision by Conor McGuinness to run the ball from a penalty almost in front of the Scotland posts just before half-time with the score at 15-10 was decision taking of the worst kind. Looking back on what happened it seemed as if the Irish players did not know what any one of the others was supposed to do in that situation. If a move is called then it is imperative that the players know what is on.

There were problems exposed over the Championship and the management must address them as a matter of urgency. But in fairness to the management they have been constrained by the lack of quality available for some positions, most notably behind the scrum.

But some of those chosen have not performed and it is time to look elsewhere. The game at this level is not about loyalty it is about pragmatism. Maybe the Ireland management has been too loyal to some of the squad and it has not been repaid.

It was always likely that the management would use the match against Italy to have a look at some of the younger players. That now takes on a more urgent dimension of necessity.

The back line needs major remedial action. There is a strong case for bringing Shane Horgan into the centre and playing Rob Henderson as his partner. Changes are also needed at scrum half and full back. I would select Girvan Dempsey at full back and Ciaran Scally is likely to come in at scrum half. Peter Stringer is a fine young player who has done exceptionally well for the under-21 team. But it may be just a little too early for him. Moving Jonathan Bell to the wing is an option and so too is playing Darragh O'Mahony on the wing. Eric Elwood will come in for David Hunphreys and Paul Wallace should be rested with Peter Clohessy moved to the tight side and Justin Fitzpatrick at loose head. With Miller ruled out, then the time may have come for the return of David Corkery and Andy Ward has lost his edge.

The Ireland management has some profound thinking to do before the match against Italy and changes to make in the team.