Ireland are aiming to win the Six Nations for the first time in four years and begin the tournament against the defending champions in Dublin on Saturday.
2018 was the last time that Ireland were crowned champions, but they are among the favourites to win the competition this year.
Joe Schmidt's side won the Grand Slam back then after defeating all other five countries, the last of those wins coming against England at Twickenham.
The Boys in Green's most recent Six Nations campaign was derailed by a costly red card in their opener against Wales in Cardiff and Simon Easterby admits discipline is at the forefront of Ireland’s mind this year.
The Irish were on the back foot just 14 minutes into the 2021 championship following Peter O’Mahony’s damaging dismissal in the 21-16 defeat to eventual winners Wales in Cardiff.
Title aspirations evaporated with a narrow 15-13 loss to France a week later but Andy Farrell’s in-form side have not been beaten since.
Ireland once again begin the tournament against the Welsh and Easterby says it is critical players remain in control and within the law.
“Yeah, it’s crucial,” he said, ahead of Saturday’s sold-out clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
“I think every team would see discipline as being right at the top of the agenda in terms of getting it right yourselves, forcing opposition to give you field position or chances to kick points through their indiscipline, so it’s certainly at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
“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 guys having to do things outside of normal.
“Those mistakes and those unfortunate times when a player gets his tackle entry wrong, or clean out entry wrong, or there’s a challenge in the air, players and coaches try as much as we can to educate and try to mitigate and try to reduce the amount of chances of those things coming back to bite you.
“It’s certainly at the forefront of everyone’s mind.”
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