I start where I left off on Friday – patient play with green grass field position in mind, allied to Italy's non-engagement in the breakdown, will provide opportunities and turnovers, and then it's up to Ireland's outhalf to spot where their fatties are and attack. When Conor Murray fired out to Ian Madigan, the score stood 19-3 in Ireland's favour. Sixty-six minutes and 29 seconds had elapsed and the great warrior Martin Castrogiovanni was in no man's land.

Three minutes earlier, Ireland’s patience and field position had got Murray across the line after several white-line fever moments had spoiled good build ups in the previous hour. With that breakthrough and much of the heavy lifting done, the shackles came off and Ireland showed glimpses of what may be coming down the track as their confidence and momentum builds. But for the first concerted time, Ireland aligned deeper with more ambition and utilised their own half in attack.

Huge step

Whereas Wales and England approached their game with a ‘what must we do to win’ mentality, Ireland appeared intent on not losing to Italy. Clearly this is an obvious ambition but it did stifle their play, as they opted for patience and position. Which, with a new outhalf, made perfect sense. The

Six Nations

table will be decided on points differentials and beating Italy is a huge step – doing so without Seán O’Brien and our star outhalf an added bonus. However, when other teams capitalise on how poor Italy have become, a 3-26 win may not be enough.

Those three minutes after Murray's try brought indicators of potential. I don't know what Madigan had spotted as his excellent loosehead Jack McGrath carried into heavy traffic off Murray. But he realigned into first receiver, while Murray collected off McGrath. Madigan got both Jordi Murphy and Tommy O'Donnell into deeper positions, before he took relatively flat off Murray. Castrogiovanni had been loitering in midfield and on some form of exhausted autopilot came out of the line and went for Madigan, leaving a monster hole for Ireland's backrow to enter. The consummate skill in Madigan's play is his ability to spot the weakness and put the right player through the hole.

In many ways, it's up to the ball receiver to find the hole and for the ball carrier to make the appropriate pass. This Madigan did and in doing so ignored the less well positioned Murphy for the flying O'Donnell. On the periphery of the hole were Italian outhalf Kelly Haimona and first centre Luca Morisi, neither of whom look fit enough for this level. Behind them, fullback Andrea Masi looked worse. Still, it was beautiful play from Madigan and outstanding line selection, ball carrying and stiff-arm fending from O'Donnell.

Body language

Ireland then drifted back into their shell, almost relieved their tough opening game had been negotiated and they were off and running. But England, Wales (and France, mood depending) will put huge scores on this creaking Italian team. Body language tells a lot and the Italian coach looked tired from it all.

His outhalf looked unfit and tired too and on 12 minutes carried in contact for the first time. It was an insight into the trials Italy will face. He had no options and created none either. Madigan had the ability to organise his loose forwards and they in turn the ability to maximise the opportunity. On this occasion, Haimona simply ran into traffic, became swallowed up and turned over. The pity; moments before his captain Sergio Parisse ran an awesome line to really test Ian Keatley’s defence. But the turnover from Haimona doomed a great Parisse carry.

Parisse battled throughout, especially going forward and deserved the disallowed try for sheer effort but he's not making the impact of yore and needs more from his half backs. Their best play of the day came from a stolen lineout on 22 minutes deep in Irish territory. Castrogiovanni carried before Haimona fired out wide and with Ireland in trouble, Simon Zebo stepped in to take man and ball in a decisive act that will certainly not go unnoticed by his coach. It was a big read by Zebo and excellent execution with seven points on offer for Italy.

Terrible decision

As the recycle swung back left, their outhalf couldn’t help himself and his terrible decision to cross kick towards Parisse was easily managed by

Tommy Bowe

.

So it was down to a successful game plan – don’t lose to Italy and as such Ireland elected for green grass, patience and narrow targets. In that sense, they achieved their objective, which is a great start to the Six Nations. However, the offloads count of Italy 12, Ireland five, concerns me with the big guns looming.

Friday's piece was centred on the key Italian men – Castrogiovanni, Haimona and Masi – and it is to the great Italian prop that I sign off today. Italy had a superb exit from a five-metre defensive lineout on 27minutes. They shortened the numbers to get Parisse running at Irish backs with a most majestic offload in traffic, before Michele Campagnaro cleared to the half way line. Bowe, sensing opportunity, fired it to Rob Kearney, who countered at speed across the half way and who was there to smash him to deck? Castrogiovanni. liamtoland@yahoo.com