The Rugby Paper

PLAYER WATCH...

- by Brendan Gallagher

IRELAND 1. CIAN HEALY

Will have loved his fourth Test match try. 16 carries. Very strong game Rating: 8 out of 10

2. RORY BEST (C)

Good contest with Lions colleague Ken Owens. Reliable as ever Rating: 7

3. ANDREW PORTER

Formidably talented young powerhouse prop. Looks born to play Test rugby Rating: 7

4. JAMES RYAN

Another one of these ultra talented young Ireland forwards. Went well Rating: 7

5. DEVIN TONER

Good in the lineout four wins - and useful contributi­on in the loose Rating: 7

6. PETER O’MAHONY

Not as prominent as usual but couple of decent line outs Rating: 7

7. DAN LEAVY

On paper he’s Sean O’Brien’s stand-in. Some deputy, outstandin­g game. 12 tackles Rating: 8

8. CJ STANDER

Not getting so much space but the hard yards maestro still made 21 carries Rating: 7.5

9. CONOR MURRAY

His normal bog standard world class display at 9. So consistent Rating: 8

10. JONATHAN SEXTON

Goal kicking radar was off but some gorgeous touches ball in hand Rating: 7

11. JACOB STOCKDALE

Try-scoring machine from Ulster, another two yesterday. Carried for 78 metres Rating: 8

12. BUNDEE AKI

Took his try really well and always kept oppositon defence busy Rating: 7

13. CHRIS FARRELL

Where do Ireland keep finding these centres? Exceptiona­l MOM performanc­e Rating: 8.5

14. KEITH EARLS

Superb contributi­on, strong runs, competes for the high ball, in his pomp Rating: 8

15. ROB KEARNEY

Mixed bag, strong running -75 metres - but carelessly leaked important penalty Rating: 7

REPLACEMEN­TS

16. Sean Cronin

– for Best 71 – good gas 7

17. Jack McGrath

– for Healy 64 – solid contributi­on 6

18. John Ryan

– for Porter 67 – useful cameo 6

19. Quinn Roux

– for Toner 74 – big scrummage 6

20. Jack Conan

– for O’Mahony 67 – did well 7

21. Kieran Marmion

– Not used

22. Joey Carbery

– for Sexton 77 - no time

23. Fergus McFadden

– for Earls 64 – saw game out 6

WALES 1. ROB EVANS

Not as prominent ball in hand as usual, failed to exert pressure on Porter Rating: 5.5 out of 10 2. KEN OWENS Accurate at lineout time but not his usual presence around the field Rating: 6

3. SAMSON LEE

Like Evans little presence around the field, sound defence, workmanlik­e Rating: 6

4. CORY HILL

Grafted very hard but not quite the presence of opening two game Rating: 7

5. ALUN WYN JONES (C)

Solid defence and physicalit­y but just one lineout as Wales struggled Rating: 7

6. AARON SHINGLER

Continued his excellent Six Nations, took his try well Rating: 7

7. JOSH NAVIDI

Always at the thick of the battle, 17 tackles, nice assist for Evans try Rating: 6

8. ROSS MORIARTY

Very physical but not quite back to where he was 12 months ago pre-injury Rating: 6

9. GARETH DAVIES

Superbly taken try. There would have been words had he messed up mind! Rating: 7

10. DAN BIGGAR

Some very good moments but unsurprisi­ngly not always fluent after his lay off Rating: 6

11. STEFF EVANS

Looks a proper Test animal. Great try, 61 metres made. Very impressive Rating: 8

12. HADLEIGH PARKES

Very competent as ever although not a huge amount of ball to work with Rating: 7

13. SCOTT WILLIAMS

Big important tackle on Kearney, involved in the Steff Evans try Rating: 7

14. LIAM WILLIAMS

Looked like a man short of a game, which is exactly what he is. Rating: 6

15. LEIGH HALFPENNY

In decent nick on his return, brave in defence, kicking in very good shape Rating: 7

REPLACEMEN­TS

16. Elliot Dee

– for Owens 56 – good shift 6.5

17. Wyn Jones

– for Evans 56 – showed up well 6.5

18. Tomas Francis

– for Lee 56 – improved scrum 6.5

19. Bradley Davies

– for Hill 64 – added physicalit­y 6.5

20. Justin Tipuric

– for Moriarty 64 – very good 7.5

21. Aled Davies

– Not used

22. Gareth Anscombe

– for Biggar 64 – nice touches 7

23. George North

– for Williams 64 – superb cameo 8

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom