How they rated

LIAM WILLIAMS

Some nice footwork at times, took a high ball and tried to make a mark. Spilled possession in the second half and couldn’t stop Ringrose scoring but saved try with last-ditch tackle on Beirne.

JOHNNY MCNICHOLL

One excellent restart take but all over the place in defence for Ireland’s second try, with Andrew Conway’s stop-start befuddling the Welsh rearguard. Few opportunities, whipped off on 62 minutes.

JOSH ADAMS

Is he a Test-class centre? As Amy Winehouse might have said… no, no, no. Yellow card put tin hat on day of woe. Adams never hid, but Pivac should consider him as a wing. End of.

NICK TOMPKINS

Wales’ best back. Immense in defence, with 19 tackles, one of which saw him wrap up Bundee Aki and cling to him like lagging.

Unable to do anything to prevent Ringrose’s try. But he did well overall.

LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT

Not at the races after hurting an ankle during the warm-up. Inauspicious start saw him shrugged off by Mack

Hansen in early seconds. No attacking chances and also threw two forward passes.

He’s better than this.

DAN BIGGAR

A couple of sliderule restarts early doors and one lovely kick that lifted pressure on Wales. Tried to galvanise players during his first game as captain, but it was an impossible task and he had no platform..

TOMOS WILLIAMS

Knocked on in a good attacking position but tackled well and one dink over the top might have caused Ireland problems. Made his tackles but had the very opposite of an armchair ride behind a pack that was second best by a long distance.

STAR MAN: TAINE BASHAM

On a day when Wales struggled, Basham sparkled. Refused to bow to adversity and put in 20 tackles, 13 carries and made 28 metres. It was an effort that underlined once again that Wales have a gem in the young Dragon.

A try crowned a valiant effort.

WYN JONES

Coughed up possession near Ireland’s 22. Scrum largely held up against Tadhg Furlong until conceding a penalty just before break.

There was the concession of a further penalty before

Jones was withdrawn from fray on 53 minutes.

RYAN ELIAS

Good Elias secured a turnover by diving on loose ball and tackled well enough. The not-so-clever version saw a couple of important lineouts picked off.

TOMAS FRANCIS

Performed well enough in the scrums in the first 40 without being rewarded by referee Jaco Peyper. There were also 10 tackles from the tight-head.

ADAM BEARD

Lots of effort and highlight on a day of few highlights for Wales was a maul turnover. Beard never gave up and did what he could to fight his corner, but the Welsh pack were routed.

WILL ROWLANDS

Piled up 17 hits and packed a presence at the breakdown, where he did his best to slow down

Irish ball. Conceded a penalty in build-up to second Irish try, but

Rowlands kept grafting and emerged in credit.

ELLIS JENKINS

Found it hard to put a major imprint on the game, with Ireland operating at pace and Wales seemingly powerless to do much about it. Jenkins usually packs a big breakdown presence but it didn’t happen here and he was subbed on 53 minutes. Could come under scrutiny for game with

Scotland.

AARON WAINWRIGHT

Conceded an early penalty at breakdown for not releasing. But Wainwright defended gamely and tried to take the ball forward.

All things considered, at the base of a pack that was