Six Nations 2024 - Ireland 36-0 Italy: We 'need to back ourselves a little bit more' - Farrell
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Six Nations: Watch all six tries as Ireland cruise past Italy
Andy Farrell says he is "happy enough" with Ireland's 36-0 win over Italy in the Six Nations but feels his team can continue to improve.
Farrell's side scored six tries as they kept the Italians to zero in Dublin.
Ireland are aiming to win back-to-back Grand Slams and the win over Italy came after the holders dismantled France in their opener.
"We got a bit clunky in parts but they are tricky enough to play against," head coach Farrell told ITV Sport.
After a superb win over France got their tournament off to the perfect start, Ireland were heavy favourites against an ever-improving Italy who pushed England all the way in their opener.
Jack Crowley touched down early on before Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan gave Ireland a comfortable 19-0 lead at half-time.
Sheehan touched down to secure the bonus point before James Lowe and Calvin Nash scored impressive tries to round out the bonus-point win, which leaves Ireland two points clear at the top of the Six Nations table after two rounds of fixtures.
"We're happy enough and we got what we wanted in the game with a bonus-point win," Farrell added. "Keeping them to zero is very pleasing and there were some nice tries out there and some nice performances by individuals.
"They (Italy) have changed the way that they play, they are a little more pragmatic so you have to find different ways of getting the ball back.
"I thought we were trying to be too tidy at times, just playing with shape when we broke them down with a bit of individual brilliance. We need to back ourselves a little bit more as far as that is concerned. We looked dangerous."
After a superb solo try, Lowe was named player of the match in only his second match after the World Cup because of a foot injury. Farrell was full of praise for the Leinster wing, and said plenty of players stood up as he made six changes from the team who defeated France.
"He played really well, didn't he? He looked very strong," Farrell added. "I think our scrum was man of the match, to be fair. It was a lovely weapon and we backed up our line-out performance from last week as well.
"It's good they are up and running. We keep the competition where it should be, but the competition only gets going from here on in."
After a week off from action, Ireland will look to take another step closer to a historic Grand Slam when Wales travel to Dublin on 24 February.
No team has ever achieved the feat of winning back-to-back Grand Slams since the introduction of the Six Nations in 2000.