Rob Kearney 7
And he’s only getting started. Didn’t really attack the Welsh like he would in a full metal jacket affair but was his usual dominant self in the air. More to come.
Dave Kearney 7
He may not be of the world class standard of Tommy Bowe but his catch over Jamie Roberts head and a couple of half breaks was enough to make Joe Schmidt’s 31-man panel. The coach signalled him out afterwards.
Luke Fitzgerald 6
It’s not so much what he did, more what he didn’t do. The briefest flashes of quality were overshadowed by a “glute” injury which could be a recurrence of the abdominal/groin problem that’s plagued his career. If so, he’s a risky selection.
Robbie Henshaw 7
His size is absolutely crucial to Ireland’s game plan. Mixed it up where possible with the Welsh midfield and smashed into their big number eight Toby Fatelau but couldn’t do much with the slow ball he got.
Keith Earls 6
Nightmare. Knocked out trying to nail George North. It looked really serious but Schmidt reduced it to concussion. If the cheekbone can mend he should still travel.
Johnny Sexton 6
Again, the victim of really poor ball. Blame the magnificence of Justin Tipuric. Put two kicks out on the full and was inaccurate with several cross-fielders for the wingers. No worries, the cobwebs are gone now.
Conor Murray 6
Another satisfactory performance but that won’t be enough for a man of his high standards. Will be interesting to see if Schmidt rolls him and Sexton out at Twickenham or wraps them up until Canada on September 19th.
Jack McGrath 5
The scrum wheel was nothing to do with him. Carried into red numbers without making the type of headway only Cian Healy can. Still a crucial cog in this machine.
Richardt Strauss 6
Had a cracking start; matching Tipuric at the breakdown with two turnovers any openside would be proud of. Then he “rolled” his ankle.
It may damage his chances of usurping Sean Cronin as Rory Best’s understudy.
Nathan White 5
Apologised to Joe Schmidt when replaced by Tadhg Furlong after Craig Joubert penalised him at least twice in the scrum. Schmidt exonerated him of any blame afterwards. But still.
Iain Henderson 8
The main man all of a sudden. No harm giving him a run at blindside flanker in Twickenham this Saturday to keep Peter O’Mahony as much on his toes as Devin Toner most surely is right now.
Paul O’Connell 6
Still exposes himself, through honest endeavour, to isolation. The Welsh lined him up as they always do. Toby Faletau cut him in two when he carried ball that should have been trucked up by a younger backrower.
Peter O’Mahony 5
Injured? Not that it matters to him. The Munster captain will be disappointed with an opposing flanker having such a dominant afternoon. The Tipuric lesson must not be allowed happen again, especially when Sean O'Brien is hors-de-combat.
Jordi Murphy 5
Disappointing. Much like Dave Kearney, this was a real chance for him to make statement, to chance the coach’s mind, to unsettle the established order. Did some decent things but the other number seven was the best player on the field.
Jamie Heaslip 7
Most players form dips and rises but this man has one gear, like all the best sports cars it’s automatic. Automatically excellent. Every single game.
Bench 6
Sean O’Brien immediately got down to work, as did Sean Cronin, Eoin Reddan upped the tempo when Ireland had possession while Tadhg Furlong did a few decent things on his special day.
Coach 8
The playbook gathered dust all last week. Schmidt showed nothing to those peering in. And why would he? The beauty of this defeat is the amount of time he can spend trawling over it to point out the flaws.
There’s value in that.
