NOT pretty, but then we never expected it would be. Games involving the Italians don't tend to win marks for artistic impression and when the wind blows, you're guaranteed a scrappy spectacle. When the wind blows like it did at Lansdowne Road yesterday, it gets plain ugly. Ireland may not have improved their points difference as much as they would have liked but they would have been relieved just to get this one out of the way with nearly everyone intact. Keith Gleeson is the exception ? x-rays last night revealed the flanker has a broken forearm, which means it's certain the backrow will be rejigged for Saturday's game against Scotland.

With England defeating Wales 31-21, the summit of Ireland's ambition is to win the Triple Crown at the same venue next weekend. A simplistic reading of today's game has Shane Horgan wrapping up the win with Ireland's third try in the 52nd minute, after which the home team put themselves through an extended defensive practice session for the remainder of the contest. This would be harsh on the visitors, however. Not only were they furious that referee Kelvin Deaker had missed a blatant forward pass by Ronan O'Gara for Horgan's try, they were heartbroken when Denis Dallan spilled the ball over the Ireland line only minutes later.

That's effectively a 14-point swing, and one they can illafford ? after all, they have scored just one try in the championship so far (Fabio Ongaro's against Scotland) and even that was dodgy. They will also regret handing Malcolm O'Kelly a try in the first half.

That said, there is no doubt that Italy were the real beneficiaries of the conditions. For those of you who weren't at Lansdowne Road yesterday, it's necessary to explain just how violent, capricious and disruptive the wind was.

During the pre-match warm-up, loose tackle bags were blown about like tumble weed, corner flags were flattened and members of the Garda band were sent scurrying after their hats. The IRFU decided it would be hazardous to operate the giant video screen at the back of the terrace at the Lansdowne Road end and so it remained switched off.

In truth, the wind meant there weren't too many highlights to show anyway. The players can't be blamed ? in fact, in the circumstances, their temperament was exemplary. At times the game made a mockery of Shane Byrne's exemplary throwing technique, while passing was a lottery, especially with the wind ? Peter Stringer threw some real knuckle-balls during the first half. Kicking wasn't any easier and you could sense Roland de Marigny's fear whenever he had to get the ball from hand to feet.

It was not the sort of game that should suit Malcolm O'Kelly, yet he was outstanding for the second game in succession, not just in the air but as a ball-carrier, as a tackler, as a handler. O'Kelly even ran a dummy-scissors line for his skipper in the lead-up to O'Driscoll's try. Quite a performance for the man equalling Willie John McBride's record number of caps for a lock.

While there were some decent individual performances, the game lacked for rhythm, for ebb and flow. It had many oddities. Brian O'Driscoll, for example, tasted glory again as he again nudged himself ahead of Denis Hickie in the all-time try-scoring stakes (he is now on 24) but also experienced the ignominy of being sin-binned for a high tackle on Paul Griffen during the second half. O'Kelly's try at the front of the line-out, courtesy of sub Italian hooker Carlo Festuccia, was low farce ? Andrea Lo Cicero, the intended recipient, never turned for the catch, merely presenting Festuccia his not inconsiderable rump as a target.

And it was strange right from the start. In the most brazen statement of intent imaginable, de Marigny deliberately dribbled his kick-off only a couple of metres in order that his forwards be allowed take a pop at the Irish scrum as early as possible. The scrum collapsed and was reset a few times before Italian tight-head Martin Castrogiovanni was penalised. The net result was that the ball hadn't left the centre spot for the first three minutes of the game. More importantly, the Italians had gained no psychological advantage.

On the face of it, Ireland's 120 half-time lead came as a result of O'Kelly's opportunism and O'Driscoll's vision ? spotting that all Italy's grunters were to the blind side of the ruck, Ireland's skipper veered in that direction, skating outside Fabio Ongaro to score.

But in real terms, the architects of the lead were the Irish forwards. Not only did they withstand the vaunted Italian scrum, they proceeded to dominate it. Meanwhile, the Irish lineout maul was again one of the key factors in the result.

The wind made it easier for the Italians to disrupt Byrne's throw but once the maul got going, Italy were forced to collapse. Sure enough, O'Kelly's try came while the visitors were down to 14 men.

This was in the 27th minute, at a time when the Italians must have been happy with their job of disruption and frustration. It was frustrating for all of us. Ireland's outside chance of winning the championship may have receded further but it wasn't a day for racking up the points. Mission accomplished.