Conor O'Shea A mixed tour. More potent than most in punching through for two tries. Didn't hit line effectively in Tests, though rarely given chance. Still prone to missed tackles and mistakes, though kicked well in first Test. Club form hints at more in the green jersey.

Ciaran Clarke Still we await the resurrection of the old Clarke. Flying in pre-tour training, but injury on arrival (achilles tendon) limited him to one complete performance, when showing some counter-attacking flair against North West Districts. Pro contract makes for interesting season ahead.

Justin Bishop Inspired choice. Late call-up who came out in rich vein of form and confidence, and it showed. Effervescent, Geoghegan-like presence. Good work-rate, willing tackler and chaser of high balls - witness excellently taken try in first test.

Denis Hickie Fittingly grim overnight finale in hospital with fractured jaw. Didn't seem switched on like in Twickenham and perhaps distracted by contractual negotiations. Playing nadir was obviously first Test. Pace under-utilised but at least that hasn't gone away.

Richard Wallace Came out low on confidence after being dropped by Saracens, relegated to midweek team and the harder he tried, the worse he got. Credit to him for extracting big performance against North West Districts, with typical penchant for spectacular try. Needs to tackle bigger.

Kevin Maggs Back of the tour. Invaluable tourist, sub on right-wing, one game on left wing and three at centre. Reckoned to have improved by 20 per cent. High point first Test, when rarely has a centre punched so many holes in Bok midfield. If he can improve skill level like Gatland says he can, Maggs could yet solve problem position.

Mark McCall Passing skills with London Irish rarely used but has made most of pro move and, typically, mowed down plenty of big Afrikaaners. Doesn't have strength or pace to take that key half-chance.

Rob Henderson Mixed tour for big Wasps centre. Used one-dimensionally and was potent ball carrier up the middle in three starts, while defensively sound in otherwise porous cause against Griquas but then too impulsive again against North West Districts. Needs to curb this tendency.

Killian Keane Never fulfilled promise of sub appearance against Boland (when, significantly, like Humphreys, he produced his best display in settled, more organised "test" team). Then again, never got much chance to thereafter.

Eric Elwood A pity he missed Western Province quagmire (which would have suited him) through injury and was battered in second Test. But high-class Elwoodesque performances against Boland and in first Test, which perhaps showed benefits of concentrated international rugby away from AIL second division.

David Humphreys Place-kicking excellent (45 points constituting Irish tour record) and showed glimpses of running ability, though his talents in this regard were not utilised. Defensively sound against Western Province, mixed in next two games. Either heading into comfort zone back home or will reemerge a happier, better player a la Costello. Intriguing, as ever.

Conor McGuinness A bridge too far for the little man after an excellent but long rookie international season. Like all scrum-halves on tour, wasn't clearing ball away quickly enough from rucks, box kicking radar was askew and made few breaks. But he's still going to be a big player for Ireland.

Brian O'Meara Made little impact in two starts, being substituted in second against North West Districts, and thus never put McGuinness under pressure despite McGuinness not playing well. Technically talented, but still doesn't take on enough responsibility.

Derek Hegarty Developmental tourist who did as much as could be expected in difficult sole start against Griquas and as sub against North West Districts, when he showed plenty of guts and good temperament. Needs to improve pass and option taking but will benefit from experience.

Justin Fitzpatrick Still young (24) for an international prop and still much to learn but has good attitude, high work-rate and was one of the successes of the tour in playing four games and ably filling void left by Corrigan's departure in first Test. Des Clohessy Part-timer, who turned to prop last September, and thrown in at deep end against Griquas. Then, and against North West Districts, he withstood tough time in scrums to show prominently in defence and as ball carrier. Encouraging step up.

Keith Wood Late arrival, no captaincy and lower profile within squad was no bad thing, for him or squad. Typically, dug out a big one for the first Test, when he was probably the most effective forward on the pitch. Performance dipped in second Test, but gave as good as he got. World-class, as if we didn't know it.

Allen Clarke Doeszn't have the size for Test match rugby and throwing was a bit awry. But he displayed plenty of guts and some neat touches, especially against Western Province.

Bernard Jackman It was always going to be a big step up in class for the Clontarf and Connacht reserve hooker. Needs to bulk up and improve throwing. An investment for the future.

Paul Wallace Seemed like an accidental tourist by the poolside initially. Cleverly man-managed, and dug into bottomless reservoir for typical big-game performances in Tests. Scrummaging technique drove South Africa mad again. Worldclass, as if we didn't know it.

Peter Clohessy Three starts, switching to loosehead for a half, and two subs' appearances, in which he scrummed well, tackled big and rumbled hard in all-action displays, made him contender for player of tour. Playing some of his best ever rugby.

John Hayes Like Jackman, an investment in the future. Predictably, his lack of scrummaging experience showed almost from moment he came on against Boland. Needed exposure to training as well as matches, in which he still showed well with ball in hand.

Paddy Johns Revelled in captaincy on the pitch and within squad, if not so much in public (he's a shy guy). Almost a cult figure within squad now. Led from the front, if inclined to overstep the mark. But lends physical presence, high tackle count, selfless team play and solid No. 2 line-out ball.

Malcolm O'kelly To see this outstanding talent come to fruition just as we all thought it would is wonderful. Athletic and mobile, honest as the day is long, huge tackler and elastic when airborne. His take on the charge against Western Province was moment of the tour from player of the tour.

Gabriel Fulcher Player of development tour in New Zealand last summer, understandably not as prominent this time. But another invaluable squad member and proven tourist. Played five games, one as sub and underwrites Ireland's tight five quality.

Mick Galwey One of the key characters within the squad. Past his best now but early injury undermined and delayed his relatively low-key tour on the pitch to two games, suffering along with everybody else against Griquas. Had satisfaction of captaining the win over North west Districts, when ending game with try-saving tackle by corner flag.

Dion O'Cuinneagain Relative tour success, who enhanced reputation after anti-climactic A debut against England. Footballer, quick, good ball-handler though not a big hitter for No. 6 role. Looked more comfortable when switched to No. 8. Time will tell how much his good tour was down to "local knowledge".

Trevor Brennan Great tourist and huge success. Physical nature contributed to him not completing 80 minutes once, but he appeared in six games. Gave his all, and gave a necessary hard edge. Will benefit further from tour and pro contract. Needs to improve discipline and handling, but one for the '99 World Cup.

David Corkery Went out as incumbent No. 6, returned as third choice No. 6. Cursed by injuries - a cracked rib and knee cartilage which will require keyhole surgery - making him one of tour's unluckiest stories.

Victor Costello Prominent tourist, with three starts and three subs' appearances. As good at driving off base of scrum as any No. 8 around. This tour proved his improved defensive credentials, with big tackle count and bigger tackles.

Anthony Foley Major improvement on a year ago. Couldn't be faulted too much. Will never be quickest around, but good work-rate, football brain and stamina shone through in two starts as captain, scoring tries in both. Achilles tendon injury ended tour then.

Andy Ward Remains integral to Gatland philosophy. Showed his worth and physical presence especially as key sub against North West Districts. Mightily effective close-in, not renowned recycler of ball and weakness on inside shoulder wider out. Still needs to develop open-side game, as suspicion lurks that he's more of a No.6 1/2 than an out-and-out No. 7.

David Wallace Three nondescript outings for the talented youngest member of Wallace clan. Too much rugby over last two years and it showed. Looked bulkier and not quick enough for openside. Suspicion lurks that he's more of a 6 or 8 than a 7. May need a break.

James Topping, Jonathan Bell And Reggie Corrigan All their tours ended within five minute-spell approaching halftime against Boland. All still looked the part, an encouraging surprise in the case of Topping, while Bell could yet solve problem position of outside centre, if only he could stay away from the gym and rugby long enough to get his body injury free. Having had a taste of it now, Corrigan will be back, keener than ever.