Simon Easterby admits that discipline is at the front of Ireland players' mind after the disastrous start to last year's Six Nations.
Peter O'Mahony's red card for an illegal ruck cleanout after only 14 minutes of the championship opener in Cardiff put favourites Ireland on the back foot and they got off to a losing start.
Ireland subsequently lost to France but haven't been beaten since.
With new game laws to take account of as well ahead of tomorrow's championship opener against Wales the Aviva Stadium, defence coach Easterby confessed that discipline was on the minds of all in Ireland's camp.
"Yeah, it's crucial," he said.
"I think every team would see discipline as being right at the top of the agenda in terms of getting right themselves and forcing the opposition to give you field position or chances to kick points through their indiscipline.
"So yeah, it's certainly at the forefront of everyone minds.
"We have to work with the officials, players have a responsibility to do things in a legal manner.
"The game is tough enough these days without the guys having to do things outside of normal.
"So there are those mistakes and those unfortunate times when a player gets his tackle entry wrong or clean out wrong, there's a challenge in the air...we try, as much as we can, try to educate them as players and coaches and mitigate, and to try to reduce the chances of those things coming back to bite you.
"It's certainly at the forefront of everyone's mind."
The key for any team, especially in this championship, is marrying physicality with discipline.
Easterby, who confirmed that Andy Farrell has no late injury issues to deal with ahead of tomorrow's encounter, added: "I think it's about being really accurate, good habits that you perform in training.
"It's making sure that we work hard at our techniques, in the ruck in particular, with the kick-chase and with the intensity there's always going to be clashes in rugby.
"It's a contact sport and guys are moving left and right and forward and there will be times when the player gets caught out.
"I think those things are unavoidable but the more that we can work hard in training to mitigate those opportunities to go against it then the better we'll be when it comes to getting on the right side of the ball with the referee."
The headline selection for the Welsh was Wayne Pivac's decision to switch Josh Adams from his usual wing role to outside centre.
Easterby insisted that has not caused Ireland to make a late readjustment, with experienced pair Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki trusted to deal with the visitors' exciting midfield combination.
"No, not at all," he stated.
"Josh is a brilliant strike runner, he's done incredibly well for them on the wing, he played at 13 for Cardiff against Toulouse a couple of months back.
"So yeah, it's a change they feel can add to their game and it doesn't change too much from our perspective.
"We know they've got a number of strike runners, Josh included, in their back line that can do damage if we're not smart in our defence in trying to get the ball back.
"So it's a big challenge for us in midfield but one that the lads are really keen to embrace."
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