A look at how the Irish players fared
ROB KEARNEY 8
The backline’s new leader by example. Aerially majestic, his catch over Halfpenny’s head was an O’Driscoll-type momentum changer, as was a similar response to Davies’s second try.
TOMMY BOWE 6
Handling errors and defence against North shredded his high mark. Hungry as ever, key role in Best try.
FERGUS McFADDEN 5
Brave and constantly willing but faced with superior physicality he was put on his backside by North for Davies’s second try.
GORDON D’ARCY 5
Slowed Ireland’s attacking momentum when opting to truck it up with little gain, unlike his opposite number, but a deftness of hand created space out wide, as seen for Best try.
ANDREW TRIMBLE 6
Targeted by Priestland kicks behind him, he was never exposed – and no worries going forward either.
JONATHAN SEXTON 5
Called a new backline move, off an umpteenth phase, that resulted in Bowe’s try. Problem was he couldn’t seal the deal, missing the touchline conversion and two penalties.
CONOR MURRAY 5
When a scrumhalf struggles it gets magnified; two poor kicks meant Ireland lacked control at vital moments.
CIAN HEALY 6
73 minutes of hard grind including several carries, and Adam Jones couldn’t break him at scrum-time.
RORY BEST 7
Choker, in the best sense of the word, and took his try with the casualness of a winger; continues to be a major cog in the wheel.
MIKE ROSS 6
You ask for solidity and an occasional mincing of the loosehead. Scrummaged Gill to earth, winning a penalty just after half-time that made it 13-5.
DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN 6
Cork man stubbornly refuses to let a Tipperary fella have the number four jersey. Denied Wales an early try by holding Ryan Jones up.
PAUL O’CONNELL 7
With Herculean being his norm, he could be charged with an old gripe of carrying balls that belonged to backrowers.
STEPHEN FERRIS 6
Adjudged to have tip-tackled Evans for the end-game penalty. Sporadic glimpses of his immense power.
SEAN O’BRIEN 6
Coughed up a few penalties but atoned with his general play.
JAMIE HEASLIP 7
Carried over the gainline more than anyone and policed the breakdown with a fine shift from a clever, skilful number eight.
REPLACEMENTS 5
Donnacha Ryan could’ve been badly hurt by Bradley Davies’s spear tackle, while O’Gara’s and Reddan’s four-minute scenarios made little impact.
