Aoife Wafer display one of few positives for Ireland in loss to Italy

Two games and two defeats into a new Six Nations era under Scott Bemand, Ireland have plenty of work-ons.

A respectable loss to France and a game against Italy in which they had more than enough possession and chances to register a first championship win in two years have sown some seeds of hope but frustration at the amount of basic errors that cost them dearly will be the overwhelming emotion in camp.

The 27-21 defeat wasn't pretty.

Ireland missed 16 tackles to Italy's 36, conceded two fewer penalties, broke the line more than twice as many times as their opponents and had much the better possession (56%) and territory (69%), yet they still couldn't close the deal, thanks largely to an incredible 28 handling errors.

In fact, had their late drive yielded a converted try it would have been unfair on the visitors, who deserved their win.

However, in Aoife Wafer, Ireland have a star in the making.

The Leinster back row was named at openside but packed down at the back of Ireland's attacking scrums.

She made 17 carries, beat four defenders, making over 81 metres with ball in hand; there were two linebreaks and two offloads among all that.

Result to one side for a moment, the Wexford native (below) is enjoying getting her hands on the ball.

"It's always a nice one when you get to run a few metres and bash a few backs off the back of a scrum," Wafer, who won her fourth cap, told reporters after the match,

On the decision to go to 8 at the set-piece, she said: "It was Scott's call.

"We’re very honest with ourselves as a team and we know what our super-strengths are.

"So we know that Brit [Brittany Hogan] is an absolute menace when it comes to breakdown work. She’s class on the flank and when we get that ruck ball she’s in there like