Talking balls in Montrose as Irish optimism flags in Rome

TV View: Isn't sport a fickle thing all the same? Optimism can turn to pessimism almost as quickly as the air can be released from a rugby ball and, for a long time yesterday, much of the talk in the television studios was of balls. Of what a balls Ireland were making of their start to the Six Nations, and of the ball that the players in this year's campaign have been asked to use.

"Wouldn't you think that in this multi-billion industry you could get one ball," wondered George Hook in the RTÉ studio as the half-time discussion focused around the ball that was proving to be as unruly as a roguish schoolboy, while the BBC's interval showed Keith Wood standing pitchside in Rome with the ball-in-question in his hands explaining how the Mitre ball was different in size and shape and texture to the one players normally used in competition.

Thing is, both teams were using the same ball and one thing is for sure with these rugby bods and that is that they aren't afraid to put the boot in with their analysis.

Rather than blaming the ball, Ireland's insipid start to the championship produced worried brows from Hookie and Brent O'Pope who, in his pre-match preamble, showed the Kiwi has been truly converted to the Irish cause by fervently believing that Ireland would perform the job at hand.

"The old adage of (Ireland) going in as the underdog is gone . . . this team knows they can win, they're going to win, and they will win," said Brent to nods all round from his fellow-pundits in the studio, with George going on about the five Riverdancers in the Irish back line.

One of those Riverdancers, aka Geordan Murphy, was interviewed and - pertinently, as it turned out - warned of the dangers of Irish arrogance or over-confidence going into this match, adding: "Being Irish and a humble race, that won't be a problem."

By half-time, though, the optimism that had prevailed in the Montrose studio prior to the game had been deflated somewhat.

Worried brows and concerned looks all around, and the observation that Ireland were indeed fortunate to be leading but with Hook reminding us that "this is a five-lap race, not a one-lap".

With half a lap gone, however, it seemed as if the Irish forwards were seriously out of puff and there was a danger of them not going the distance.

Indeed, so concerned were the studio experts that midway through the second-half - when asked for their opinions by match commentator Ryle Nugent - both Pope and Hook were critical of the Irish pack.

Pope told of how the Irish were not getting the numbers to help at rucks and Hook pulled no punches in condemning how slow the Irish pack were.

"Way below international level," he said.

In the BBC studio at the end of the match, presenter Craig Doyle couldn't hide his relief that Ireland had actually managed to escape from Rome with a victory, even if he didn't get much solace from studio guest Jonathan Davies.

"The Irish pack was comprehensively beaten," said the Welshman. "With that pack and no centres (assuming the injuries to Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll) going to Murrayfield, it may be interesting."

Back in Montrose, things were threatening to get hot and heavy as anchorman Tom McGuirk suggested that Ireland had underestimated Italy but, on that performance, the Italians should really be rated as the second or third best team in the championship.

Which was like waving a red rag to Hook.

"Hold on Tom!!! Italy are Italy, Ireland are Ireland. Ireland are among the favourites to win a Grand Slam and going to Italy, I don't care what the score is, it is how they played.

"The backrow were outplayed, the scrum was very ordinary . . . the forwards were one paced, (and) Eddie (O'Sullivan) has no bench from which to spring players. The answer is this is not a good day for Ireland."

And Brent wasn't too happy with Tom either, seeming to believe that building up Italy after the match was in some way belittling them.

"Hold on Tom!!!" said Brent, in what was becoming a new catchphrase for the two pundits. "You're turning around and running the Italians down."

Yet, all were singing from the same hymn sheet in anticipating the weeks ahead - with or without O'Driscoll or Darcy - and indicating that all the fancy talk of Grand Slam aspirations needed to be dampened down just a little.

Indeed.