WAYNE’S WORLD…

IRELAND have now lost on seven of the 10 occasions Wayne Barnes has refereed them in the Six Nations, Friday night’s result meaning Wales have won four of the halfdozen Welsh-Irish matches he has controlled.

Curiously, in the 10 encounters, Ireland have only come out the wrong side of the penalty count twice and they were again the better behaved team in Cardiff, the penalty count weighted 4-10 against the Welsh, the lowest ever conceded by Ireland in a Barnes-reffed match.

Ireland have also suffered fewer yellow cards with Barnes on duty, the overall tally standing at seven sin-binnings to nine. However, Johnny Sexton’s temporary suspension on Friday night was costly, Wales scoring 10 points in his absence.

FRIDAY: Ireland 9 (4 penalties conceded, 1 yellow card) Wales 22 (10 penalties conceded);

MAR 2015: Ireland 16 (11 pens) Wales 23 (13 pens, YC);

FEB 2015: Ireland 18 (11 pens, 1YC) France 11 (14 pens, 1YC);

FEB 2014: Ireland 26 (9 pens) Wales 3 (16 pens, 1YC);

MAR 2013: Ireland 15 (12 pens, 3YC) Italy 22 (12 pens, 1YC);

FEB 2013: Ireland 8 (13 pens) Scotland 12 (16 pens, 1YC);

FEB 2012: Ireland 21 (6 pens, 1YC) Wales 23 (7 pens, 1YC);

FEB 2010: Ireland 10 (11 pens, 1YC) France 33 (7 pens);

MAR 2009: Ireland 17 (15 pens) Wales 15 (5 pens);

MAR 2008: Ireland 12 (7 pens) Wales 16 (10 pens, 2YC).