Eddie O'Sullivan has warned his Irish charges not to underestimate Italy in their penultimate game of the Six Nations championship at Lansdowne Road tomorrow. Ireland have been revitalised since their victory over Scotland and England's defeat to France, and a high-scoring win for Ireland would set themselves up nicely to face the French in Paris in two weeks' time with a share of the championship at stake.
O'Sullivan admitted: "Ultimately performance is the key issue here. You have got to get the bread and butter just right before you apply the jam. I know there has been a lot of talk of putting up a big score which has clouded the water somewhat. We have to make sure we start well and play in their half. If we don't play well it's going to be very difficult for us. People tend to talk about the Italians in a disparaging way but they are two years down the track since we last met them. Their set-pieces are generally solid and I expect them to give us a bit of a run for our money in the line-out. We are still having difficulties there but we are improving all the time. If you keep on working on your weaknesses that's how problems eventually get solved."
O'Sullivan is under no illusions about the threat posed by Italy fly-half Diego Dominguez. He stressed: "He certainly brings a better balance to their side and without doubt has proved to be the best kicker in the championship so far. Often in defending the game line players get sloppy and we have to be extremely careful in that department given the calibre of his goal-kicking.
Filed by Shane Murray
