Italian job now must-win fixture

As the Irish party made the retreat from the now ritualistic biannual stuffing in Edinburgh, you got the impression that the last thing they wanted to see again for some time was a rugby ball. The forthcoming Italian match is fully three weeks away.

The Irish management had planned to take a slightly experimental approach to the game given that opportunities for looking at fringe contenders in a Testmatch arena prior to the World Cup are rapidly running out. Tests in Australia are less fertile territory for such experimentation.

However, this approach has been undermined to a degree by the disconcerting defeat to the Scots. The Italian match could now be described as a must-win fixture.

There are a few injury scares, with Eric Miller, Dion O'Cuinneagain and Paul Wallace all falling into this category. Miller is the biggest of them, having aggravated a persistently troublesome ankle ligament problem.

"The X-ray was clear," confirmed Irish manager Donal Lenihan, but he added: "we are concerned about this, because this is the third or fourth time he's gone over on the same ankle. Maybe he needs to get it cleared out or maybe he needs to have the ligaments strengthened."

"We need to get it medically checked out. If it's a question of him being sidelined for two months so as to get him right, then so be it. We hope to clarify the position this week when he has an MRI scan."

At least Miller is contracted to the IRFU, ensuring his first commitment is to the Irish management. By contrast, Wallace's recurring groin problems of the last 12 months are not helped by his commitments at Saracens, where the absence of another recognised tight-head has obliged him to be an ever-present for the last two seasons.

"For his own point of view he probably needs a couple of weeks off," said Lenihan, though Wallace himself is so concerned about the problem that he is seeking medical advice on a possible operation.

He tore his hamstring slightly about 15 minutes from time at Murrayfield, but due to the absence of any suitable replacement he was obliged to continue. Lenihan revealed that due to a bang O'Cuinneagain took on the head in the first half they were considering taking him off. However, the Sale flanker expects to play against Italy, although he may have to miss his club's next two outings.

The balance of the back-row clearly remains a concern, and the need for swifter decision-making and execution from midfield. Kieron Dawson, sidelined of late, is due to return next weekend, but at best that may only mean promotion to the A team.

Shane Horgan has been one of the few to impress from the series of A games and may now be tied in the centre. The notion of promoting Brian O'Driscoll, the gifted 19-year-old UCD centre-cum-out-half, isn't helped by his lack of exposure with Leinster in an injury disrupted season. If he is promoted from the successful under-21s, it's more likely to be to the A side with a view to bringing him to Australia.

However, the poor Irish A campaign has highlighted the lack of alternatives.

Although Warren Gatland put on a brave face at the post-match press conference, he has probably never been so dispirited by an Irish defeat.

"It is a very big setback for us, and for the development of the team," Gatland admitted yesterday, although England apart, he maintained that the gap amongst the other four is fairly close.

"There isn't a helluva lot of difference between ourselves, Wales, Scotland and France. The team with a couple of good decision-makers and [which] takes its opportunities is the team that wins."

Ireland's comparative lack of decision-making, and poor execution of chances created, were his concerns arising from Saturday's defeat. Furthermore, the development of a riskier, less structured strategy, has resulted in the defence being more exposed to attacks off turnovers. To that end, Gatland is hoping to bring the backs together for a one-day session early next week.

"All we can do is keep working harder."