Outhalf Paddy Jackson’s unexpectedly early introduction to Test rugby, which culminated in a first ever Irish defeat to Italy yesterday, has been a steep learning curve.
The Ulster outhalf debuted against Scotland on week three of the Six Nations, after Jonny Sexton injured his hamstring in the 12-6 defeat to England in Dublin, and started the two games - the 13-13 draw with France and then the 22-15 defeat in Rome.
At the Stadio Olimpico, injury thinned the Irish ranks again, when it struck early in the second quarter. Wing Keith Earls and centre Luke Marshall departed with a shoulder injury and concussion in quick succession, and were soon joined on the sidelines by Luke Fitzgerald after the substitute wing incurred a knee problem.
Uncapped scrumhalf Paul Marshall was left as the only available three-quarter replacement, so coach Declan Kidney opted to shift flanker Peter O’Mahony to the left wing.
Further hindering their chances of avoiding a first Six Nations loss to Italy was the sin-binning of Brian O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan and Conor Murray as Ireland imploded on multiple fronts.
Along with Rob Kearney and Craig Gilroy, Jackson was a back who managed to complete the 80 minutes amid rapidly shifting sands at the Stadio Olimpico.
“The amount of guys we lost didn’t help and Italy are a very strong team. The number of penalties we gave away killed us,” Jackson said afterwards. “Those injuries were something I’ve never experienced before. I looked around and both Lukes were gone, Brian was in the bin and Pete O’Mahony was on the wing.
“I wanted to calm things down by kicking for territory but our kick-chase wasn’t so strong. It was about striking a happy medium between keeping the ball and securing territory, but those penalties killed us.”
It was a chastening afternoon for Ireland and arguably their lowest point of the championship since Italy joined in 2000. The lineout was a disaster, their defence uncharacteristically fragile, indiscipline was rife and they were comprehensively outmuscled by the Italian pack.
Yet for all their shortcomings, they remained in touch on the scoreboard through the superb place kicking of Jackson, who landed five from six penalty attempts, three of them arriving while Sergio Parisse was in the sin-bin.
But Italy, roared on by a noisy capacity crowd at the Stadio Olimpico and inspired by Parisse and retiring prop Andrea Lo Cicero, were irrepressible and were more comfortable winners than the scoreline suggests.
“It’s not great to be part of the first team to lose to Italy, so we’re very disappointed. But Italy played well,” Jackson said. “The young guys are chuffed to have got our chances, but we haven’t got a win yet. This has been the biggest learning period I’ve had in my career so far. The last three weeks have been up and down.”
O’Mahony was as surprised as anyone when he was asked to play over half of the game on the wing.
“It was a mad one all right, I certainly never saw myself playing 50 minutes on the wing for Ireland in a Six Nations game,” the Munster backrow said. “But these things happen and at least we’ve blooded a lot of players in this Six Nations. It’s been a huge learning curve.”
O’Driscoll, meanwhile, will learn by tomorrow afternoon whether he will face disciplinary proceedings for his stamp on Simone Favaro.
Citing commissioner Aurwel Morgan of the Welsh Rugby Union has until 2.30pm to decide if the offence, which saw O’Driscoll sent to the sin-bin on the half-hour mark, warrants further action.
O’Driscoll lifted his right leg and brought it down on to the chest the Italy openside.
