Ireland v Wales player ratings: Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter build platform for rout
Grand Slam-chasing Ireland made it three bonus-point Six Nations wins from three against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, racking up their 18th successive home win in the process with a 31-7 victory.
But who impressed most in Dublin, and who went missing? Telegraph Sport gives its verdict – let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Ireland
15. Ciaran Frawley
Nice wide pass and solid under the high ball. One lovely side-step left a Welsh tackler clutching at air and cut through well for his try. 8/10
14. Calvin Nash
Great hands under pressure to feed Lowe for his try and with those quick feet he’s a constant threat. 7/10
13. Robbie Henshaw
Good defensive combo with Aki for one turnover. Slight knock-on ruled out Aki’s try but hits the line hard and had one clean break. 7/10
12. Bundee Aki
Sharp at the breakdown with a turnover and his carrying threat is so strong, denied a try by an earlier knock-on. 8/10
11. James Lowe
The old head in this back-three and he could not have had an easier finish. Did very well under pressure from Dyer and Williams to not be turned over. 7/10
10. Jack Crowley
One early loose pass but responded well, with a clever cross-field kick to Nash. Good touchfinder in the second half settled Ireland down. 7/10
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
One absolute dime of a box-kick which forced Adams to catch it into touch. Ireland sharpest when he snipes from ruck. 8/10
1. Andrew Porter
Another lethal jackaller and put the heat on Assiratti in the scrum too, with the officials seemingly happy with his angle. 8/10
2. Dan Sheehan
Great run off a short line-out and scored from a 13-man maul. Couple of throws were too high and long. 7/10
3. Tadhg Furlong
Good rumble at the scrum getting into Thomas while all the trademark offloads were there as well. Lots to like as ever. 8/10
4. Joe McCarthy
Eager defensively, pinged once for offside, but also had what is fast becoming his trademark big run in the second half. Beat three defenders. 7/10
5. Tadhg Beirne
Yellow carded for stopping a Wales maul which led to a penalty try, but returned very well to poach a maul and score late on. 8/10
6. Peter O’Mahony (c)
Couldn’t quite get his hands on a high lineout to the tail but otherwise was found clearing rucks to get Ireland moving. One of the top tacklers. 7/10
7. Josh van der Flier
Massive tackle on Adams but was later forced off with an HIA, having before that made good ground from his carries. 7/10
8. Caelan Doris
Slippery runner when he gets going. Had he given a pass when Ireland were just short of the line they might have been in. Finished as Ireland’s top tackler on 20. 8/10
Replacements
Ronan Kelleher (Sheehan 55), Cian Healy (Porter 73), Oli Jager (Furlong 55), James Ryan (McCarthy 55), Ryan Baird (O’Mahony 55), Jack Conan (Van der Flier 51), Conor Murray (Gibson-Park 69), Stuart McCloskey (Nash 68)
Instant impact from Kelleher winning a turnover penalty. Baird had a string of brutal runs through tired Welsh tacklers, but Ryan was yellow carded. McCloskey had a huge tackle on Grady.
Wales
15. Cameron Winnett
Quality take under one up-and-under and slalomed around a Lowe tackle. Has made a very assured start to Test rugby and impressed here. 7/10
14. Josh Adams
Tough day, copping an early blow tackling Aki before being steamrolled by Sheehan. Was later crunched too by a big Van der Flier tackle. 5/10
13. George North
Had little ball to work with but can still cause problems for defenders if given a chance, persistent throughout on both sides of the ball. 6/10
12. Nick Tompkins
Penalty for sealing off led to three points but led the defensive scrap well. One grim pass. Sixteen tackles but capable of more. 5/10
11. Rio Dyer
Exciting runner when given a sniff, slipping one tackle from Lowe, and his speed was very handy covering in defence. 6/10
10. Sam Costelow
Hard for him to really command the game with Wales on the back foot but better after the break, fizzing a nice pass to Dyer. 5/10
9. Tomos Williams
Pinged for sealing off and for not getting the ball into the scrum quick enough. Ireland’s defensive pressure led to some odd decisions. 5/10
1. Gareth Thomas
Felt the heat from Furlong at the scrum. Lost a boot at one point and had to play on for five minutes, but kept grafting until the end. 4/10
2. Elliot Dee
Part of a rough day for the scrum and fumed at Beirne coming through to shut down a Wales maul. Far better option throwing in at the line-out, though. 4/10
3. Keiron Assiratti
Tough learning curve against Porter at the scrum, who in the eyes of the referee was dominant despite Welsh complaints about Porter’s angle. 4/10
4. Dafydd Jenkins (c)
Never good as a captain when you’re hearing a lecture from the referee after half an hour. High defensive work-rate including one great tackle on a breaking Aki. 5/10
5. Adam Beard
Desperately gave up one penalty to stop Ireland’s attack. One really poor attacking line-out but did graft in defence. 5/10
6. Alex Mann
His try-scoring run comes to an end – denied at the maul by Beirne’s illegal intervention – yet did his part defensively with 12 tackles. 5/10
7. Tommy Reffell
Forced an early knock-on with a tackle and then shut down an Irish attack with a penalty turnover. Comfortably Wales’ best player at the moment. 7/10
8. Aaron Wainwright
The favoured line-out option. Turned over by Porter but a major part of the maul defence when it worked. Sparky ball-carrier and held up late on. 6/10
Replacements
Ryan Elias (Dee 62), Corey Domachowski (Thomas 62), Dillon Lewis (Assiratti 51), Will Rowlands (Beard 54), Mackenzie Martin (Mann 54), Kieran Hardy (Williams 66), Ioan Lloyd (Costelow 73), Mason Grady (Adams 57)
First line-out throw from Elias missed everyone and Grady was clobbered in one tackle by McCloskey.
