Six Nations 2014: Warren Gatland asks for scrum 'clarification'

Wales coach Warren Gatland says he has asked referees chief Joel Jutge for "clarification" about the penalties awarded against the Welsh scrum during the 23-15 Six Nations win over Italy.

Gatland is unhappy with the decisions made by Irishman John Lacey.

"We were disappointed with a couple of early penalties against us and we have had a look at it," said Gatland.

The New Zealander added that the decisions stopped Wales building "a bit of momentum" in the first half.

Gatland, who has watched the match again, said prop Paul James had been "pretty unlucky" to get penalised.

"We had a couple of line-out penalties against us for guys coming in at the side and we felt they were legitimate as well," he said. "So we just want a bit of clarification."

James has been replaced by Gethin Jenkins for Saturday's game against Ireland in Dublin.

Gatland admits the Wales scrum was not as dominant as he expected against Italy but insisted his squad had worked to improve that part of their game.

He added that he is under no illusions about the challenge facing his Wales side against an Ireland outfit fresh from a convincing 28-6 win against Scotland.

New Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who won the Heineken Cup twice with Irish province Leinster, has built his side around the Dublin-based outfit.

But Gatland says he is looking at how George North's current club Northampton Saints beat Leinster in the Heineken Cup.

Leinster thumped the Saints 40-7 at Franklin's Gardens in December before North and company recorded a rare 18-9 victory in Dublin in the return fixture.

"If you are looking at any blueprints to play Ireland, I am looking at a club game," said Gatland.

"Northampton were embarrassed at home by Leinster. They turned it around the next week, being direct and physical. It's a reasonable blueprint for us to follow in terms of the way we need to play Ireland."