Dublin : Ireland has eased to a 29-11 win over Italy despite a below-par performance in the opening game of its Six Nations title defence.
Ireland never looked like being beaten at Croke Park yesterday, but showed only flashes of its best, mostly from captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Jamie Heaslip and Tomas O'Leary touched down to take the home side to a 23-8 halftime lead, with Italy's only try coming from an uncharacteristic error by Ireland fullback Rob Kearney.
Ronan O'Gara kicked 16 points but was forced off because of injury, leaving replacement Paddy Wallace to kick the remaining three.
With O'Gara spending the last few minutes with his thigh strapped on the bench and Jonathan Sexton already out injured, Wallace may stay in the side that takes on tournament favourite France next weekend.
Ability to surprise
Meanwhile, Sean Lamont believes Scotland can turn the Six Nations form book upside down by sabotaging France's Grand Slam dream at Murrayfield today.
The Scots have spent much of the last decade battling to avoid the wooden spoon but a November defeat of Australia has lifted confidence levels and Scarlets wing Lamont sees no reason why this year should not see them battling at the top end of the championship table.
"We've got to start with a win tomorrow [Sunday]," the 29-year-old said. "You can only win all of them if you win your first. If we play to the top of our game, we're targeting all five. You don't come into the tournament targeting one win, two wins, because then you get one win, two wins. It's down to us being at the top of our game, doing everything right, attack and defence."
Recent Six Nations tournaments have been unpredictable but surprises such as Ireland's Grand Slam last season and the 2005 clean sweep by Wales would be comfortably surpassed if Scotland were to emerge from the doldrums in the way Lamont envisages.
Lamont admits that France's open style suits him. "Their willingness to throw the ball around and the flair that they have, that helps," he said.
"It can create a broken game. A set defence can make it a damn sight harder."
