Ireland must start better against Italy, admits Sean O'Brien

Sean O'Brien believes Ireland's frustration will ensure they start better against Italy next weekend after losing 27-22 to Scotland in their Six Nations opener on Saturday.

Ireland conceded three tries to be 21-5 down inside the opening 29 minutes at Murrayfield and while they fought back to lead 22-21, two late Greig Laidlaw penalties gave Scotland victory.

Joe Schmidt's men face Italy in Rome next Saturday knowing another defeat will all but end their title dreams and O'Brien is expecting a tough review.

"We have to make sure our frustration ensures that we don't repeat the slow start," said O'Brien.

"I'm sure that will be the case - because we'll be well reminded of it on Monday when we review this game.

"Scotland put us under a lot of pressure too now, they are a tough side and you have to give them credit but our standards weren't where they should have been."

Ireland were 15 minutes late arriving at Murrayfield on Saturday and Schmidt then admitted his side failed to turn up in the first-half in Edinburgh.

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg ran in two tries and, after Keith Earls had crossed for the visitors, centre Alex Dunbar coasted in from a lineout ruse as Ireland were caught cold.

Tries by Iain Henderson and Paddy Jackson gave Ireland a slender of lead heading into the final 10 minutes, but they couldn't hold on as Scotland secured their first opening day victory since 2006.

"It is unusual for us to start like that, yeah," O'Brien added.

"We were making a few poor decisions in defence and sitting off them a little bit. We probably gave them a little bit too much respect early on, so that's what we've got to put right.

"We lost a few collisions and gave them front-foot ball, we didn't start well. They were slowing our ball, whether legally or illegally, but we've got to sort that out.

"We did sort that in the second-half and there were some positives. We had opportunities to score more tries out there and a few good line breaks.

"We just didn't convert some of the stuff we did create when we did get back into the game. At this level if you give any international side a lead and momentum like that, they start to come back.

"The championship is still on for us, of course it is - and that's the mindset and what we have to be going after.

"We'll pull ourselves together this week, regroup and put in a performance next weekend.

"We need to be a little more urgent in attack, it was a little bit lethargic on both sides of the ball in that first 20 minutes. That's what let us down."

All 10 games of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand will be shown live on Sky Sports, starting June 3 2017.