Preview: Refreshed Ireland look set to throw the shackles off against Italy

The wait from Round 2 to 3 in the Six Nations always feels longer off the back of a defeat.

Ireland's loss to France in Paris a fortnight ago wasn't necessarily heartbreaking or season-defining; aside from the few days of hysterics around whether or not they should have attacked the tryline rather than called for the tee with that 72nd-minute penalty, the analysis that followed was largely balanced.

On one side of the scales there were some promising individual performances, notably Mack Hansen, Joey Carbery, Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan, as well as Ireland's ability to stick with their game plan and find alternative routes to the French tryline in spite of their lack of power.

The other side of the scales - the one that tipped the balance - contains an ill-disciplined first half and a scrum that struggled with the beefy French forwards. The negatives outweighed the positives, but enough was learned to render the trip to Paris worthwhile.

It was one of those nights and one of those finishes where the players would have been desperate to get back out onto the pitch for Round 3 last weekend.

The schedule has been kind to Ireland this year though.

With a week's rest following what will probably be their toughest physical challenge away to France, this weekend sees Italy (Aviva Stadium, 3pm) come to town before another week off leading into their other big away trip to Twickenham.

Having a week off either side of their two away trips, particularly when they are France and England, is a luxury that has afforded Andy Farrell the chance to rotate his squad.

It came as a surprise that he made six changes from the defeat in France, although some have been enforced.

An adductor issue for James Ryan has seen him drop out, while Bundee Aki