Liam Toland Analysis: In late 1942 General Friedrich Paulus, while commanding the Sixth German Army, attacked and surrounded Stalingrad.

The famous victory was short-lived, for in January 1943 the Russians themselves surrounded Paulus. A stalemate of sorts ensued, and the Sixth Army eventually surrendered on January 31st, 1943. In surrendering, Paulus defied German military doctrine by simply doing nothing. The point is that as the final whistle sounded on Saturday, it was clear to all in Section 705 of the Cusack Stand that something major must be done.

On Saturday morning the Italians were 500 to 1 to become Grand Slam champions, the Irish 16 to 1. Last year's corresponding Six Nations fixture produced eight tries for Ireland, who were pipped for the overall title by France.

Both sides squandered opportunities on Saturday. With Ireland it was a matter of selection; with Italy it was the penalty and conversion that would have given them a well deserved result - one that, worryingly, many in the Irish crowd would have welcomed. Put simply, if Ronan O'Gara had been wearing a blue shirt Italy would have won at a canter.

Several ideological issues need immediate attention. The Ireland side selected for Saturday was incapable of playing high-tempo, off-the-deck rugby. The front five, with the exception of Donncha O'Callaghan, did not provide suitable go-forward ball to allow the outstanding Eoin Reddan display his full array of skills.

Therefore the hard-working but unfit Rory Best must be replaced by the dynamic Bernard Jackman. Huge pressure was placed on Best's technique at the lineout, and in the opening quarter the Irish lineout failed to provide quality possession.

And for all his technical brilliance, Simon Easterby must make way at six for Denis Leamy, with Jamie Heaslip playing at eight.

The backrow continues to flex its muscles but in a disjointed manner.

At Twickenham, Martyn Williams was at the beating heart of Wales's second-half revival. The subtleties of his support play must be replicated by an Irish backrower. His simple positional play and hands for Mike Philips's killer try were perfect.

At the risk of repeating myself, Keith Gleeson is the only man in Ireland who can mimic Williams. If he's considered not up to it, then his style is required.

The net result of Ireland's play was far too many rucks and an inability to dictate the pace of the game - the outstanding Italian pack doing the dictating.

My backrow would be Leamy, Gleeson and Heaslip, with Wallace on the bench.

So how can I suggest more dynamic ball carriers are required and omit the world-class Wallace? It comes back to ideology. If Eddie O'Sullivan continues with the same backrow, he must banish the ruck, because opponents will continue to copy Georgia and slow the game to a snail's pace.

As the coach himself said, "Italy managed to slow down our ruck ball and it became very difficult to get quick ball back from the breakdown." Solution: avoid rucking.

Whatever backrowers are selected for the France game, however, they need to be recalibrated to Reddan's tune.

Reddan spots a gap, Reddan goes through gap, Reddan runs 20 metres, Reddan dies with ball. Reddan needs support. We know he makes lightning breaks, so it shouldn't come as a surprise.

The lineout continues to malfunction, which casts further doubt over the need to carry Easterby at the tail. It needs radical work but in particular at maul time.

Italy have an outstanding maul, which allowed them to dictate play, marching the Irish backward at will. Munster have blossomed without O'Connell, but Ireland need him back pronto.

The video nerd is going to punish Ireland defensively and very soon. All too often John Hayes and Marcus Horan loitered in the midfield defensively. It was crying out to be exposed, but the inexperienced Italian halves failed to spot them - more wasted opportunities by Italy.

For all of Horan's undoubted talents and deft handling, the team requires go-forward, power carries from him - not a third centre.

To his credit, Tony Buckley did great work when he finally arrived. Though with only a handful of Munster starts and much still to learn he may continue to be drip fed into games. But he has real fire in the belly, and his mauling and all-round energy may prove Ireland's trump card.

Rob Kearney did more than enough to justify a start in Paris, as did Tommy Bowe last Friday night at Welford Road.

For all their effort, the Italians failed to threaten the Irish outside channel. They insisted on deep, complicated back-line plays that Brian O'Driscoll defended with ease. Their halfbacks failed time and again to spot weaknesses in Ireland's play, the outhalf Andrea Masi following his instincts as a converted centre.

The Italian defence, at times stretched, was outstanding as the Irish settled for O'Gara punts left, right and centre - one of which proved the difference between the teams. Mauro Bergamasco nearly wiped out the Irish back line himself with two monster hits on the midfield, including that one on O'Driscoll nearing half-time.

But the most impressive player on the pitch was the number eight Sergio Parisse. The Stade Français man has the full array of skills, bulk and carrying ability. The Irish pack needs his ilk.

The real challenge for O'Sullivan is handling the transition from "we're all in this together" to "actually, some of you aren't anymore".

By the way, what happened to General Paulus? On January 30th, 1943, Hitler promoted him to the rank of field marshal, after the Sixth Army's fate was sealed. Since no German field marshal in history had ever surrendered, the implication was clear.

But Paulus himself said, "I have no intention of shooting myself for that Bohemian corporal."

The following day he simply surrendered.