How they rated

LIAM WILLIAMS

Look elsewhere for reasons as to why Wales lost. Defused several bombs, turned opposition ball over and tried to run, also scored a try. Harshly yellow-carded.

JOSH ADAMS

Nice footwork and some progress with ball in hand. One ball spillage, but clean in defence. A steady effort, then.

GEORGE NORTH JOE HAWKINS RIO DYER DAN BIGGAR TOMOS WILLIAMS

Tried to pick up tempo but couldn’t come up with a decisive card. In fairness, he had a poor platform to work off.

REPLACEMENTS IRELAND REFEREE

Karl Dickson (ENG)

TMO: Tom Foley (ENG).

7 6

On the scene for one Welsh turnover and a charge took him close to Ireland’s line – but not close enough. Worked hard but saw too many Irish ball-carriers pass him; held up by Sexton and van der Flier.

5

One carry highlighted that the youngster has power to go with his footballing skills.

There were missed tackles as well, but also a lovely pass in build-up to Liam Williams’ try. Pace of game did seem to catch up with him towards end.

6

Bounce of the ball didn’t help when hacking on towards Ireland’s line – but Hugo Keenan’s pace settled the argument, anyway. Ran up a blind alley later on. Did get involved and made metres, but failed to take a potential intercept.

5

Pushed the pass that was picked off by James Lowe for

Ireland’s third try, then nailed deep in Ireland’s 22.

Some good work with kicks over the top, but hit into next week by Ringrose.

5 5 GARETH THOMAS

Shut up shop impressively in defence and did try to carry, albeit he found it hard to make ground.

KEN OWENS (C)

The skipper tried to lead by example, putting in a monstrous 19 tackles, but one dart flew over the Welsh line-out, another wasn’t straight five metres from Irish line. Big moments have to be converted.

TOMAS FRANCIS

5 ADAM BEARD

Gave away a silly penalty, couldn’t turn the tide in the physical battle, with Ireland utterly dominant.

ALUN WYN JONES JAC MORGAN 5 JUSTIN TIPURIC 6 TAULUPE FALETAU

Touch judges: Angus Gardner (AUS) & Luke Pearce (ENG)

5 6

One hit on Sexton shook the fly-half from head to toe, while Francis also won a penalty. On the debit side, he didn’t get his hands on ball once. Picked up a bump, replaced at half-time

5 5

One lovely offload, many decent tackles, was in double figures for carries.

But Ireland were dynamic when the game was won and lost in the opening half.

5

Held up by Porter on

Ireland’s line, kept grafting in defence, one surge down the line. Finished with 20 tackles and made more metres than any Welsh forward.

Lots of tackles but untypical creases in his game, including the concession of a turnover near Ireland’s line and a pass that didn’t go to hand. Replaced on 54 minutes.

Indisciplined early on, with three penalties coughed up in opening 30 minutes.

Tackled himself to a standstill but couldn’t make an impact going forward.

Dillon Lewis: 5 Incurred the wrath of the referee within minutes of coming on, then gave away another penalty. Lively, but it wasn’t to be. 5

Rhys Carre: 5 Gave away a penalty but atoned with a great steal. Couldn’t stop late try.

Scott Baldwin: 5 Radar off beam early on, sought to make up for it with carrying, but the green tide was too strong.

Tommy Reffell: 6 One great tackle, visible at rucks.

Rhys Webb: 6 Did well to scrag Casey, gave it a go.

Owen Williams: 5 Looked to create; it didn’t really happen.

Alex Cuthbert: 7 Won a restart, carried, saved a try with brilliant work at end. Should have started.

Dafydd Jenkins: 6 One strong carry.

Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Murray; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, Doris, van der Flier.

Replacements: Herring, Healy, O’Toole, Henderson, Conan, Casey, R Byrne, Aki.