GORDON D’ARCY expects to see a “sting” in training this week following an unconvincing start to Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations title defence.

The Grand Slam champions toiled to victory over wooden spoon favourites Italy after losing all cohesion in an abysmal second half at Croke Park.

Tries from Jamie Heaslip and Tomas O’Leary, with Ronan O’Gara kicking 16 points, failed to gloss over a frustrating afternoon.

Ireland’s championship continues against France in Paris next Saturday and D’Arcy insists his team-mates will be determined to address any shortcomings.

“My own opinion is that there is 20% or 30% improvement to come from us. Everyone knows it,” said the Leinster centre.

“That could be the sting in the back of our minds when we start training on Monday.

“We’d have liked to have scored five, six or seven tries. We were capable of doing that but we didn’t so from that point of view we are a little bit frustrated. We just want to win the game.

“The strength of this team is that expectation is created by other people.

“We have our goals and standards.

“We didn’t live up to all of them against Italy but that’s for us to figure out.”