Four Ireland players who flopped against Italy - and who should replace them

“Got away with a horrid box-kick with under 60 seconds on the clock and very nearly threw an intercepted pass a few minutes later. Thankfully, he got better after that, with some typically brisk and accurate service. Saved Ireland’s skin with a cover tackle on 24th minutes to just about foil a sure five-pointer for the Azzurri, but was yellowed for a high tackle a few minute later, one in which he came off second best.”

“Started at scrum-half in place of Jamison Gibson-Park. His first box kick was below par but thankfully retained by Irish hands. Nearly threw an intercept in the opening stages and was fortunate to escape. Sent tumbling backwards in a tackle attempt after clattering head-to-head with Lorenzo Cannone, resulting in a trip to the sin bin and a bunker review.”

“Scratchy. A rare start in the no 9 shirt, Casey’s vaunted speed of pass was okay but too much of the rest of his game was a mixed bag. Some kicks were too short and there was a first-half yellow card for being too high in the tackle.”

“A torrid experience. Prendergast knew he had to be pitch-perfect. He wasn’t. Simple as that. The out-half missed easy conversions and under-clubbed one kick that led to a very dangerous counter-attack. A chastening afternoon.”

“There was plenty of discussion around Prendergast’s retention at fly-half after an underwhelming performance against France. A wide miss-pass was nearly intercepted by Louis Lynagh, who received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Missed conversions drew groans from the Ireland support, as Prendergast looked a step off the mark when Ireland were on the front foot. He winced in discomfort before being replaced by Jack Crowley.”

“Started the game well, with control and a range of passing that was giving trouble to the Italian defence, with Ireland unable to convert territory into points. After his missed conversion in front of the posts, nothing much went right for the Leinster man other than a couple of superb kick-offs. An erratic showing and missing two simple conversions was simply not good enough.”

“Hard to see him starting in Twickenham and his sheepish look as he left the field suggested he knows it too.”

“Beaten by Louis Lynagh in the air off a crosskick and it was to become a theme. Once Ireland’s tidest midfield operators, post-Lions Ringrose has become a bit of a hot mess. His pre-occupation with shooting out of the line is not paying off – often leaving Ireland’s defence dog-legged. The effort is there, but execution just looks off.”

“Beaten by Louis Lynagh in the air off a crosskick and it was to become a theme. Once Ireland’s tidest midfield operators, post-Lions Ringrose has become a bit of a hot mess. His pre-occupation with shooting out of the line is not paying off – often leaving Ireland’s defence dog-legged. The effort is there, but execution just looks off.”

“Selected to start despite Tadhg Furlong’s return to fitness. Won a scrum penalty in the fifth minute with a powerful shove but struggled as the half progressed, with Fischetti gaining the upper hand at a 36th-minute set-piece. Overzealous celebrations sparked a brief brawl.”

“Won an early scrum penalty and made an impressive nine tackles. However, the Italians started to turn the screw at set-piece and he was hooked off at half-time.”

“Had his work out against Danilo Fischetti but won a penalty off the first scrum. Then the dam started to creak and then burst towards the end of the half, with Clarkson holding on for dear life. Pulled at halftime.”

“Feeling the pressure, both from his opponent who was in top form as well as from the presence of fit-again Tadhg Furlong. It was to be a testing experience for the tighthead. Hooked at half-time.”