Numbers game - Italy show Ireland that only one stat matters

To look back on the statistics, Ireland's Guinness Women's Six Nations defeat to Italy bears an uncanny resemblance to their loss in Parma 12 months ago.

On a day when Ireland could have won twice over, they somehow conspired to lose.

Just as they did a year ago, Ireland dominated large portions of the game at the RDS yesterday, only to lose their composure when they got within touching distance of the Italian line.

Almost 70% of the game was played in the Italian half, with Ireland logging 170 carries in comparison to just 97 for the visitors. Bemand's side had more than double Italy's linebreaks, while the Italians missed 36 tackles.

The difference between the sides was that Giovanni Raineri's side made their chances count, scoring four tries to Ireland's three, and 27 points to 21.

The most damaging tally on the stats sheet from an Irish perspective will be the 27 handling errors and 17 turnovers conceded. Numbers like that will rarely win a Test match.

The Ireland coach pointed to that lack of composure in the immediate aftermath of the game, but as Ireland's players and management now turn towards their next outing against Wales in just under two weeks, they also looked to the positives.

If there is cause for optimism, is that there were signs of an attacking shape coming together. Against France last week, Ireland had little opportunity to move the ball, but on Sunday versus Italy there was a greater intent to get width into their game, and get both Beibhinn Parsons and Katie Corrigan into possession. Parsons, in particular, will look back with huge frustration on a simple knock-on early in the second half when it looked like a try was inevitable.

"If you look at time spent in the right area of the pitch and opportunities