Ex-Ireland and Ulster back-row Stephen Ferris believes there is a fear of making mistakes evident in the Irish team at present.
Speaking to Off The Ball tonight alongside The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley, he wants to see more offloading when attacking.
"I really hope we see a bit more free-flowing. If there's a 50:50, give it instead of [being] scared of giving that and I really want to see them go out and attack and attack and attack because we haven't been scoring tries and we need to score them," he said.
"I think it's a fear of 'if you make a mistake, you might lose your position'. That was never the case when I was playing for Ireland if you threw a 50:50 and if it had've went to hand, you would have got in behind a team, then it was worth throwing it, whereas I think the guys now are slightly scared to make mistakes".
Meanwhile, he believes Simon Zebo provides that bit more of an X-Factor in attack from full-back in comparison to long-time incumbent Rob Kearney.
Ulster's Jared Payne, who has played at centre internationally, is another player tipped for the full-back position for Ireland and is someone Ferris sees as "outstanding" when fielded there at provincial and European level.
"You ask [Jared] what his preferred position is and he says 'I don't really mind, I like playing 13 when I play 13 and 15 when I play 15'. But every Ulster fan wants to see him play 15 for Ireland. However, I like Simon Zebo. I thought he was fantastic against Wales. He has a bit more of an attacking threat, he has a lot of pace about him and when he gets the ball, he just goes straight at the defensive line and he looks very dangerous . And I think that's what Rob Kearney has been lacking. Yes, he's so solid, he's one of the most solid players out there but does Simon Zebo give you that little bit more of an X-Factor? For me, he probably does," said Ferris.
Ireland's Stuart McCloskey and Andrew Trimble with Mike Brown of England ©INPHO/James Crombie
He also gave his take on the centre situation with Payne and Stuart McCloskey among the options
"I would love to see McCloskey get another run," he said.
"But I think Robbie Henshaw has been the most consistent back over the last number of weeks and I think him and Jared Payne in the centre is what Joe trusts and what he's probably going to go with."
Ferris also wants to see a bench that will improve things when changes need to be made.
"For me, Fergus McFadden doesn't make the team better, Stuart McCloskey does and I would have him on the bench," he said.
On the need for wins in the final two Six Nations games against Italy and Scotland, he feels "it would be an average Six Nations if they win the last two games", adding that it would be "disastrous" if a wooden spoon were the result.
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