Gerry Thornley's Player by Player Assessment

Conor O'Shea: Solid two starts, scoring try against the Waratahs. Needs to add a little more deception to the strong, quick counter-attacks that work in the Allied Dunbar. A little out of position for Ben Tune's opener in the first Test, sustained broken jaw when making quick-witted support run onto Tierney's tap penalty, though still ran strongly for Maggs's try afterwards. Unsympathetic team-mates sent chewing gum to his room.

Girvan Dempsey: A little harshly treated when Matt Dowling scored four tries for the Waratahs. Ironically, his best two games were when restored to his favoured full back spot. Having been a little deep, he hit the line well after half-time against NSW Country and in the second Test showed his sound temperament and what a good footballer he is. Needs to beef up some more.

Justin Bishop: Remains a good chaser of high balls and a big-hearted player who defends reliably well off his wing. The edge went from his attacking game a little, where he looked unsure and lacking in confidence, but his huge work-rate was rewarded with a try tally against his opposite wings of 1-0 over three games.

Matt Mostyn: Leading try scorer of tour and claims he should have had a fourth in first Test. Undoubtedly re-affirmed his standing as a very good finisher, but although big and strong, the jury is still out as to his defensive virtues and desire for battle.

Jonathan Bell: Came out as more of a squad member than a team member, thus confined to 15 minutes against Country, but luckily for him - and probably for Ireland - circumstances meant an unplanned call-up for the second Test. Tackled, chased high balls, and joined the line well, culminating in that chip for Bishop's try. His best three Irish performances have, arguably, all been at left-wing. Hmm.

Brian O'Driscoll: Find of the tour and, remarkably for a 20year-old who had never played senior rugby higher than AIL Division Three, probably player of the tour as well. The only worry is a proneness to injury. Has not only provided the midfield with pace and penetration but also with vision and deft hands. Just what Gatland would have ordered. Genuine class.

Mike Mullins: Jury still out. Quicker than he's given credit for, Gatland maintaining that he is the second quickest in the squad over 20 metres. Good hands too and a bit of NZ savvy. May be a specialist inside centre who was played out of position against NSW. But his heart will be in it when he returns to his Limerick roots.

Kevin Maggs: Better off for his return to club position of inside centre, from where he played last three games of tour, overcoming sluggish start to score in both Tests. Needs to develop handling game some more but becoming more lippy and confident presence, and even more potent as a straight runner.

Jeremy Staunton: An investment who will have learnt much. His extraordinary running and handling talents left an indelible mark in training. Reduced to (and frustrated by) a cameo last quarter against Country which featured one of his mazy runs. A glimpse of the future by one for the future, and that may not be too much longer in coming.

David Humphreys: Reliable place-kicker (remember that hoary old chestnut?), the enigmatic one grew into it as the tour wore on following his demanding season and two months' absence. Is now mixing it physically, first to bridge at ruck time on Saturday and shook off a few big hits after presenting the ball every time. Now possibly the most vital cog in the whole scheme of things. Class.

Eric Elwood: Compared to his winning seasons with Galwegians and Connacht, and settled run as number 10 in the Irish team before South Africa last summer, this time he was with a losing province, a losing club side, and had lost his Irish place. Looked hurried and edgy and was untypically awry with kicking game in sole 50-minute appearance against NSW, though ran well at times.

Tom Tierney: Another major find of the tour. A cocky, big fella with a good temperament whose vocal presence and longer pass is what the team was looking for, and has given Humphreys more room. If only the investment had come sooner. Still, he's the man in possession now and he'll take some shifting.

Ciaran Scally: Came out as an equal with Tom Tierney but returned as the understudy again and may, privately, be disappointed with that. Needs to quicken up his service and develop more of a Tierney-like presence, but hung in gamely in sole outing against NSW when showing his strength with late try and, lest we forget, is still only 20.

Peter Clohessy: The old warrior ploughs on. Some of the old discipline problems returned in the first Test, although he seemed hard done by on Saturday, and though higher than ever, even better fitness levels still required by Gatland. But tour underlined his standing as top-class scrumagger, and wily old fox with big work-rate.

Reggie Corrigan: In tune with injury-ravaged season, a groin strain unluckily stalled his tour, after which he was limited to one below-par start and two starts as a sub. Needs to improve fitness levels, but if he can harness that with an injury-free run, is undoubtedly a big, athletic, modern day prop.

Justin Fitzpatrick: After big impacts on tours of NZ (where he was one of the few successes) and South Africa, Fitzpatrick was a little unlucky in missing out to Corrigan after sole 49 minute tour opener. Like other props, needs to improve fitness levels and like them, it's up to him. The race is on.

Paul Wallace: Clearly better for his recent groin operation and rest, and will now benefit even more from his break. Looked lively in tour opener as sub, and came good and better still in Tests; contributing to strong Irish scrums with his best Irish performances since the Lions tour. Did a huge amount of close-in donkey-work on Saturday. Would deserve not running into Andre Watson for a while.

Keith Wood: Fine tour. Excellent line-out throwing - if memory serves he didn't lose one throw in three games - and augmented usual dynamic stuff around the paddock with top-class close-in work at contact in Perth and remains uplifting for team-mates. Puzzlingly, seems to be taken off regardless of performance; yet Ireland do better when he's there.

Ross Nesdale: One suspects more of the coach's type of hooker. Pound for pound, possibly Ireland's best understudy in any one position. Technically excellent hooker, though dart-throwing was a little off beam in otherwise one of the better displays against the Waratahs. Didn't have anything like Wood's impact when he came on in Perth.

Paddy Johns: The heat is on for the genial giant-cum-engine-room enforcer. Looked to be running on empty for the last couple of months whereupon the big man extracted a big game in Perth. Often first to the ball-carrier, beavering away on the deck and even eye-catchingly skilful at times. Where did that come from?

Malcolm O'Kelly: Over three months out while having his shoulder rebuilt, barely able to take contact in first week, but after two 30-minute run-outs produced a vintage, all-action display. Proof, were it needed, that he's a one-off. The knock-on will haunt him - sport can be cruelly unfair - but for what it's worth he was my man of the match.

Jeremy Davidson: Unconvincing tour and we await the return of the real Jezza. Could be living off his Lions reputation a little, Castres may not be bringing the best out of him or maybe he is still suffering from the effects of his terrible knee injury almost two years ago. You'd hope it's not the latter.

Robert Casey: The easy-going 6ft 7in 20-year-old looked huge even in this company. Huge talent as well, who impressed with how technically adept he was at training. Confined to one impressive, multi-purpose, athletic outing in tour opener but, as for a couple of others, the shame was there wasn't another mid-week game.

Trevor Brennan: A bit battered, thus missing first Test after he had been Ireland's best forward against NSW. But in Perth proved again he's made of the right stuff. Had a big impact with big hits and high tackle count, took ball on well and presented it superbly - only one turnover. Still needs to cut down on penalties but Gatland's faith is being rewarded.

David Corkery: Just getting on the plane was a success for Corkery after valiant year-long struggle to regain his place. Confined to one try-scoring start against Country, where he ran strongly but didn't get to enough rucks, and then two subs' appearances in Tests - unluckily for him the longer run coming in Ballymore.

Andy Ward: Carried a heavier load than anyone, by starting all four tour matches and deserves a rest more than any Irish player after his season. Poor against NSW, he worked Trojanly in the first Test and gave arguably his best display as an out-and-out openside on Saturday, timely given, for the first time in the Gatland reign, Ward is liable to come under pressure from Kieron Dawson come the World Cup.

Victor Costello: Not exactly the flavour of the month. You sensed he was almost taken out reluctantly and despite mobile, strong-running tour opener, he faded after a bright opening in first Test, was substituted and then left off the bench on Saturday. This seemed to be sending a message to him regarding fitness levels, and maybe a few others. The comeback kid has to come back again.

Dion O'Cuinneagain: The gazelle was a true standard-bearer on the training ground and eventually succeeded in helping the squad to achieve higher standards. Not that distinguished on the pitch against NSW or as blind-side flanker in Ballymore but flourished at number eight in Perth when adding far more variation and speed of thought and deed from base of scrum. Looks like the Dion Debate has been resolved.