Ireland coach Declan Kidney has admitted that this season's Six Nations tournament has been frustrating for his side since the opening-day win over Wales.

Kidney blamed the lack of a cutting edge rather than injuries as the reason that his side have been unable to press on since the win in Cardiff.

"Frustration is the word," Sky Sports News quotes Kidney as saying.

"We are knocking on the door at being contenders but it is just about taking your chances which makes the difference at this level."

Ireland face Italy in Rome on Saturday in their last game of the tournament.