The manner in which 1997 ended for the Ireland team was, to say the least, disappointing, with that inept display in Bologna. One can only hope that the new year will prove to be more fruitful for the Ireland side than the year gone by. For that to happen, players and management must absorb and act upon the lessons administered by Italy.

The year started for Ireland on January 4th with a match at Lansdowne Road against Italy, who were in no way flattered in winning 37-29. Only the accurate kicking of outside half Paul Burke kept Ireland in contention as he kicked eight penalty goals and the Italians outscored Ireland by four tries to one. That was Ireland's third defeat in the space of nine weeks as they had lost to both Australia and Western Samoa in November. That losing sequence culminated in the departure of the Ireland coach Murray Kidd.

Last Saturday, the year ended as it had begun and yet again the Italians exposed the severe limitations in the Ireland team as constituted in this match and yet again the Italians scored 37 points and outscored Ireland by three tries to one. One must hope that the performance last Saturday does not set the trend for the coming championship.

Without wishing in any way to detract from the merit of Italy's win - they played Ireland off the field in the second half - Ireland will face examinations of an even more stern nature in the months ahead notably against such as England and France, and perhaps Wales and Scotland as well.

Ireland last Saturday fielded a team most of whom are highly paid professional rugby players, 11 of whom are playing in the much vaunted English League. I have yet to be convinced that playing in that particular arena has done anything to improve the Ireland team. Indeed, the evidence on results is to the contrary. I would also make the point that Ireland's performance, especially in the second half, last Saturday was quite candidly unacceptable.

The Ireland management trio of manager Pat Whelan, coach Brian Ashton and selector Donal Lenihan should sit down with the Ireland players who played last Saturday and take a long and detailed look at the video of the match. They would do well not take refuge in mitigating factors. There were some and Ireland should have gone in at the interval with a lead.

They were as unlucky not to have scored a try just before half-time as the Italians were fortunate not to have conceded a penalty try. It is true too that the Italians are well versed in the art of obstruction and of killing the ball and conceding the professional fouls. I also thought that referee Didier Mene had an appalling match. It was certainly the thin edge of the wedge for Ireland from Mene.

All those points having been made, however, was there not enough experience in this Ireland team to deal with the Italians in at least some of those areas. The Italians looked a team infinitely more streetwise.

The Italians dominated the second-half and had the pace, perception and craft behind the scrum that were of a different dimension to Ireland's pedestrian efforts at moving the ball with effect behind the scrum. The creative instincts were very evident in the execution of Italy's three tries. Ireland just did not have that kind of flair nor a player on the field of the quality of Italy's outside half Diego Dominguez. The one piece of ingenuity and flair produced by Ireland resulted in a try by Darragh O'Mahony. He was by some way the best of the Ireland three-quarter line.

Maybe our selectorial trio will take note of the fact that he was not an original selection. Indeed, the manager went on record at the team announcement as stating O'Mahony was not even considered. I must say I found that statement astonishing. We are not exactly blessed with many wings of quality.

Furthermore O'Mahony played extremely well for the Ireland Development side against Canada in Ravenhill. How the selectors could have opted for Kevin Maggs ahead of O'Mahony is hard to fathom when the team was originally selected. Circumstances, the withdrawal of Robert Henderson brought O'Mahony into the team and decreed that Maggs was moved to centre.

The Ireland three-quarter line as constituted at the moment is not going to offer a serious threat in the Five Nations Championship. Ashton may want to play an expansive game. But have we the players available behind the scrum to play it? I harbour serious doubts. You therefore trim your tactics to play a game best suited to the talent at your disposal. That in Ireland's case is limited in the three-quarter line. One break by David Humphreys and O'Mahony's try were just about the only occasions the Italian defence was troubled by a bit of creativity.

The Ireland back row was an unbalanced unit and ineffective particularly in the second-half. Our best back row player in that period was Niall Hogan. In fact Hogan played very well and he, too, would not have been selected had Conor McGuinness been available. David Corkery and Eddie Halvey are both better players than David Erskine and Dylan O'Grady. Halvey certainly does not get anything like a protracted run in the side and rarely two matches back to back. Then there is Alan Quinlan, who played so well in the European Cup.

Some of the more hopeful and promising aspects of the performance against the All Blacks and even against Canada did not find expression last Saturday in what was a truly dreadful second half performance. Disappointment is supposed to have the effect of sharpening the senses. Management and players would need to take due note. It is true that Ireland had not been able to select from a full squad of players. The sooner we get the injured back or least some of them the better. Remedial action needs to be taken after what was produced last Saturday.

The Italians have every reason to feel that they should be brought into the Five Nations Championship. Contrary to some reports, no decision has as yet been taken about Italy's entry as I understand the position. That will be on the agenda when the Five Nations Committee meets in Dublin next month. But even then I would not imagine a final decision will be taken. Ireland will certainly find it difficult to justify any opposition to Italy joining the fold.

The Ireland management trio must turn their thoughts now to, and Ashton must prepare the team for, the opening match in the championship against Scotland on 7th February. There is a great deal of work and soul searching to be done in the interim. Time is short and, as we saw last Saturday, an urgent case has been presented.

The Irish selectors have already chosen nine new caps this season. At least four of the nine, quite candidly, are not up to international standard. And in conclusion no marks whatsoever to the IRFU for the announcement last Thursday that Conor McGuinness and Alan Quinlan have been offered contracts. They both deserve them. But bearing in mind that two of the men who played against Italy, Kevin Nowlan and Reg Corrigan had not been given contracts, surely it was insensitive in the extreme to make the announcement on contracts last Thursday.