Liam Toland: Struggle to identify precious space still an issue for Ireland

To rewind or not rewind, that is my question. Three things caught my attention in the Aviva. Lineout tactics, white line fever and new faces but first the rewind.

Ireland scored eight tries but two plays in particular provoked interest. The first, Ireland's fourth try was scored by the brilliant (man of the match?) Keith Earls.

That it came off a turnover earned from a monster double hit by Jack McGrath on 34:40 aided by Dan Leavy on Italian openside Abraham Steyn was crucial to my point. McGrath did the damage but Leavy earned the ball. What should a player of any level do with a stolen turnover ball?

Jack Conan picked it and immediately passed it out; no look, no yard gained, no selfish contact; simply shipped the ball. Why? Because without even looking he'd have known that the turnover happened where Italy were honey potting over their ruck and hence the Italians were numbered up; so space exists wider out.

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Conan knew to get the ball away from there; most players, even elite players don't. Don't underestimate Conan's knowledge, as soon, Earls was to score. Conan hit Johnny Sexton who carried in both hands to fix Tommaso Allen before finding Bundee Aki. Again Sexton fixed and passed before contact; in other words from the turnover Ireland put two passes on the ball. This is crucial and something rarely seen.

Aki on receiving looked up and noted a three on three; odds against converting this? All just inside the Italian half so the beautiful sweet spot of 40 metres out. Ireland’s strongest attacking distance (remember for later).

I mentioned on Friday Tommaso Boni Italy’s hapless/hopeless defender at outside centre who once again got caught and ultimately did exactly what he’d done in Rome last week; made a very late defensive read and reacted by planting his heals and sitting waiting for the Irish flow.

Aki made a great read, like Sexton, carried in both hands slipped outside the unfortunate Italian hooker Luca Bigi and inside Boni and powered on. Now, a 3 v 3 became a 2 v 1 with Aki fixing Italian fullback and Earls scoring.

Yes the blindside was to some degree covered but with clever fixing of fatiguing defenders and clever shifting of feet through Conan once more, Murray started and finished that phase

Wonderful; from McGrath and Leavy but especially Conan who had the presence of mind to not take contact where so many others would. Boni contributed handsomely also but at the core was speed; speed of thought and speed of ‘natural’ actions – not preordained plays.

When Ireland kept speed on their game life was easy. But from 50 minutes onwards that speed declined with Italy scoring three tries; all of which were scored when Boni had left the pitch.

Kick-off strategy

I understand the challenges Italy face as an elite rugby nation; the restructuring, the selection challenges in an effort to unlock future international calibre players that don’t exist in this current side. But I was disappointed with aspects of their game (ditto Ireland).

The first kick-off was Italy’s and they kicked off long, into Earls’s corner. Ireland exited as they do; with patience, concentrating on possession while awaiting cracks to appear, which they did. In fact Italy kicked off nine times in Dublin and every time they went into Earls’ corner – each time with real pressure coming back. Why not vary that kick-off strategy?

Because the other try of interest was Ireland's second on 13:16 when Conor Murray touched down. It came from Italy's restart from the first try which again went to Earls. After the measured breakout and foot rush off Sergio Parisse's Hail Mary pass Ireland continued left to the touch line before Rob Kearney carried infield (not passing). Ireland continued the same way through Andrew Porter before rewinding down the blindside. Why? Because that's where the Irish numbers were. Yes the blindside was to some degree covered but with clever fixing of fatiguing defenders and clever shifting of feet through Conan once more, Murray started and finished that phase.

I make this point because when Ireland were flying in the opening quarter this balance for space was much harder to find. Ireland stole an Italian lineout on 07:04 and built phases going from the left touchline across the field. On reaching the right touchline they rewound left and went open.

Perversely, Italy would have survived better if they conceded field position right back inside their 22 where Ireland over time and over the Six Nations really struggle to find space

Then on reaching the far touchline went back right again setting up in midfield through Porter. Then Aki received going the same way. When he hit the deck, 20m from the right touchline, creating the eighth breakdown in the multiphase Italy had lost a lineout, been shifted three widths of the pitch and put through eight rucks.

Crucially the pace of the recycle was improving; why? Italy were tiring from this multiphase. So where should Ireland attack? Where the fatiguing Italians were weakest; the blindside and a 3 v 2. But Murray (with no second pivot) chose to rewind back into midfield; where the fatigued Italians were corralled. It ended with Leavy carrying into a massive wall of blue. Yes, Ireland earned a penalty but missed the well-earned space; which happens too often.

Perversely Italy would have survived better if they conceded field position right back inside their 22 where Ireland over time and over the Six Nations really struggle to find space, electing for one out carries. Teams know this and better teams can combat same. Even Italy at times managed to thwart this tactic and score three wonderful tries.

Finally; lineout tactics, white line fever and new faces will have to wait for Friday but nearly 50 per cent of all tries conceded in the second half of last year’s championship were by Italy who themselves are the only team to score most of their tries in the first half. Italy managed to reverse this trend in Dublin. This is a concern allied to costly Irish injuries but from which a second pivot may arise; food for thought?

liamtoland@yahoo.com