How they rated

CAMERON WINNETT 8

One of Wales’ best players. Took an excellent up and under in the early stages of the second half, while he looked dangerous with ball in hand, cutting straight through Ireland’s defensive line late in the game. Winnett has taken to

Test rugby like a duck takes to water and has a huge future at this level. A class act.

JOSH ADAMS 5

Didn’t get many opportunities to show his class with ball in hand, but there were a few aimless kicks and he missed a tackle on Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan in the first half. Worked hard during the second half but it wasn’t his day.

GEORGE NORTH 6

North put in a good defensive shift and looked dangerous whenever he had the ball but Wales struggled to put him in space.

NICK TOMPKINS 6

Tompkins worked his socks off defensively putting in 16 tackles, while he did his best to spark Wales’ attack.

RIO DYER 6

His work rate can never be questioned with the Dragons wing doing his best to spark Wales. Didn’t get much space to make many dents with ball in hand but put in a tremendous try-saving tackle on Calvin Nash.

SAM COSTELOW 6

This was his best game in a Wales jersey but he still has much to learn. On a couple of occasions he perhaps put boot to ball when it should have been kept in hand, and his game management isn’t quite there yet. Defensively the 23-year-old put in an impressive 16 tackles and he kept his cool throughout.

TOMOS WILLIAMS 8

Williams has now nailed down the No. 9 jersey. The Cardiff scrum-half controlled the game very well and he was a threat with ball in hand.

GARETH THOMAS 6

Worked very hard around the park by putting in seven tackles while one big hit on Joe McCarthy won his side a penalty. But the Ospreys man was part of Wales’ first-half scrum problems.

ELLIOT DEE 6

Found his man at the line-out and worked hard around the park, but like so many of his team-mates he struggled to make a dent with his carrying.

KEIRON ASSIRATTI 5

Got put through the ringer at scrum time where Andrew Porter got away with murder, but Assiratti was shoved backwards at a rate of knots at times. This was a tough day at the office but he will be better for it in the long run

DAFYDD JENKINS (C) 7

Jenkins is really growing into his role as Wales captain and he is beginning to dominate both in the tight and around the park. His line-out work was very good and he put in 17 tackles.

ADAM BEARD 5

Wales’ pack lost the physical confrontation during the first half and Beard didn’t offer himself enough as a carrier. Deserves credit for Wales’ line-out but will come under pressure for his place from Will Rowlands.

ALEX MANN 6

This was undoubtedly the toughest challenge the 21-year-old has faced to date at Test level. The Cardiff blindside didn’t let his side down, putting in a host of tackles and threw everything at Ireland. Is still developing physically and will be better for this performance

TOMMY REFFELL 7

There were not the trademark turnovers but the Leicester Tigers man went through a mountain of work in defence, putting in 21 tackles, the most of anyone on the pitch.

AARON WAINWRIGHT 8

Worked so hard in defence and cleared up some poor ball off the back of a retreating scrum. Was also Wales’ main source of line-out ball. Wainwright is someone who would hit the heights in a stronger pack and is a front runner for next year’s Lions squad if he carries on like this.

REPLACEMENTS

Ryan Elias 5: Overthrew one key line-out but carried hard.

Corey Domachowski 5: Scrummaged well when on the park, and carried strongly

Dillon Lewis 7: Did a good job at fixing Wales’ scrum issues while he carried very well during his time on the park. May have done enough to start against France. Will Rowlands 6: Offered himself as a carrier and was one of the only Wales players who got over the gain-line.

Mackenzie Martin 5: Gave a decent account of himself on his Wales debut and tried his best to get his side some front-foot ball.

Kieran Hardy 6: Made one strong break up the touchline while his service was good.

Ioan Lloyd 5: Not on for long enough to make a difference but didn’t put a foot wrong.

Mason Grady 5: Replaced Josh Adams on 55 minutes, and while he was solid enough he didn’t get an opportunity to show his attacking prowess.