Ireland’s head coach, Scott Bemand, conveyed his disappointment following his team’s 21-27 loss to Italy in the Six Nations, attributing their defeat to a lack of clinical accuracy.
Bemand underscored the team’s challenges in transforming possession and territory into points, underscoring the imperative of enhancing their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities while under pressure. Despite mounting a late comeback and securing a losing bonus point, Ireland was unable to clinch a victory, marking their second consecutive defeat in the tournament.
The match witnessed Ireland initially taking the lead with a penalty try, only to have Italy assume control with a commanding advantage. Although Ireland managed to narrow the gap with a late try, Italy ultimately retained the victory.
Bemand acknowledged the need for improvement in various areas, including discipline, handling errors, and breakdown, expressing the team’s determination to demonstrate their potential and persist in their pursuit of improvement.
Captain Sam Monaghan, who made a comeback from injury, acknowledged the team’s frustration at falling short in their comeback attempt. Despite their resilience, Monaghan acknowledged the necessity for greater composure in pivotal moments and emphasized the significance of addressing handling errors ahead of their next match against Wales.
Ireland’s resilient performance in the face of adversity was evident throughout the game, with Bemand and Monaghan expressing their resolve to learn from their deficiencies and elevate their performance in future matches.