There was little to shout about in Lansdowne Road as Ireland contested the Six Nations curtain raiser with perennial whipping boys Italy, only to find that this year the underdogs had other plans. Eddie O'Sullivan talked about the importance of momentum in staging a title challenge and there was no better opener to ignite ambition.

Now, however, rather than facing France on Saturday with a handsome victory in the bank they must travel to Paris with confidence severely dented.

Recent Heieneken Cup wins from Leinster and Munster and the return of Lions Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell, had contributed to a pre-tournament swagger about the Irish side.  Today in front of a packed Lansdowne Road there was an enormous reality check.

Up front they could only gain parity with the Italian pack and they never fired in the backs with the visitors' aggressive high line in defence leaving them rattled.

Italy, who on this evidence have a great chance of avoiding the wooden spoon, produced a far more varied game than expected and moved the ball wide to good effect, scoring a fine try through Mirco Bergamasco.

The Azzurri cause was not helped by referee David Pearson who allowed a Tommy Bowe try to stand even though the Ulster winger did not appear to ground the ball.

Pearson awarded the try immediately but suspicions that Bowe had been held up by Mauro Bergamasco were confirmed by replays and the referee's decision not to consult the television match official was a very poor one.

Pearson could have consulted the video-referee earlier when hooker Jerry Flannery, making his full debut in a pack containing six Munstermen, ran in Ireland's opening try while the boot of Ronan O'Gara supplied the rest of the points and closed the game down.

Gonzalo Canale provided the initial threat as he burst through the midfield before the ball was spun left where neat handling from Marco Bortolami released Ludovico Nitoglia.

The Calvisano winger was quickly bundled into the touch but Italy's desire to move the ball wide had put Ireland under early pressure. Italy were soon back on the offensive showing plenty of invention with a tidy backs move that saw the ball swept right and then left.

Griffin took possession and slipped a grubber behind Shane Horgan who conceded a penalty for not releasing and Ramiro Pez drew first blood with the kick at goal.

Some thunderous defence prevented Ireland from building any momentum when they attacked, although Stoica was lucky not to be punished for a late tackle on Murphy.

Italy's defence was carved open in the 22nd minute though, when a long pass from O'Gara found Murphy bursting into the line from full back and the Leicester ace drew Stoica and fed Bowe. With only 15 metres to the line Bowe should have finished the chance but a stunning cover tackle from Pablo Canavosio saved Italy.

Horgan nearly barged his way over on the right after Flannery and Wallace combined to create the chance but Ireland could not be denied in the next move.

O'Connell stole a line-out on Italy's throw and the Irish pack surged forward, eating up the 10 yards to the whitewash before barging Flannery over the line. O'Gara converted but the Azzurri hit back in the 28th minute when Pez ran dummied O’Gara and D’Arcy before finding Mirco Bergamasco.

The Stade Francais centre rode O'Driscoll's despairing tackle and touched down with his outstretched arm. Pez converted for a 10-7 lead.

O'Gara slotted a penalty to level the scores and Italy's problems deepened with Pez being sent to the sin bin for a third late hit.

Despite opening the second half without Pez Italy nearly crossed with Canavosio wriggling his way past several tackles before being stopped just short. Pearson awarded another penalty and this time they opted for goal with Griffin, who had taken over the kicking duties from the yellow carded Pez, making no mistake.

Ireland hit back in the 48th minute but there was an air of controversy about the try as Bowe did not appear to ground the ball properly. O'Gara found Bowe with a well flighted kick out wide. The winger slipped inside Stoica's tackle, rode a challenge from Mauro Bergamasco and crashed over the line.

But excellent work from Bergamasco meant Bowe was not able to touch down and amazingly for such a tight call, Pearson did not consult the television match official. O'Gara converted and then added his second penalty to give Ireland a 20-13 lead going into the final quarter.

Pez and O'Gara swapped penalties before Italy threatened in the right corner only for Sergio Parisse to knock on at the crucial moment.

O'Gara booted another three points as Ireland 10 points pulled clear but the performance has left coach Eddie O'Sullivan with plenty to consider ahead of Saturday's trip to Paris.