15. Rob Kearney: 7
Kearney looked lively from the first whistle and picked his usual dangerous lines that were not always capitalised on by his fellow backs. As usual he took some world class high balls but missed a couple as well.
14. Dave Kearney: 6.5
Like his brother, looked a lively and willing runner from the first kick. A misfiring backline didn’t help his cause but that did not stop him looking for work through the midfield.
13. Luke Fitzgerald: 6
Defensively, Fitzgerald was very solid but that is not what Ireland wants to see from him first and foremost. In attack he lacked quick ball to capitalise on. The timing of his runs was out of sync with the players inside him.
12. Robbie Henshaw: 6.5
First choice for quite some time now and he wasn’t scared of the collision in both attack and defence. We didn’t see his usual ability to break the line but he was picking off scraps for most of the game.
11. Keith Earls: 5.5
Had a shocking start to the match with numerous early handling errors. Defensively he will have silenced more than a few of his doubters, however, with a hugely accomplished display opposite the giant George North.
10. Johnny Sexton: 6
Sexton grew into game after a very average first half. He looked every bit a man that only played 900 minutes for his club last season. He had a kick charged down; kicked two out on the full and his distribution was neither accurate nor well timed. In the second half he started to get the backline moving but he ran out of ideas and resorted to chip kicks over the top to try and gain territory.
9. Conor Murray: 6.5
His distribution was accurate and snappy but he suffered due to a lack of quick ball. He’ll have been happy to get another match under his belt but he and Sexton have to rekindle their cohesion at Twickenham to help the whole back line fire.
1. Jack McGrath: 6
Solid scrummaging as ever and although he tried to offer himself in the loose and make carries into the heart of the Welsh defense, he just doesn’t have the same impact as Cian Healy. A good back up.
2. Richardt Strauss: 5.5
Strauss didn’t take his chance to impress. He was, as usual, lively around the park and made his presence known in defence but a hooker’s bread and butter is hitting the man in the line-out and that is where Strauss falls behind Sean Cronin and Rory Best in the pecking order.
3. Nathan White: 6
For his first start, White didn’t disgrace himself. An early scrum penalty didn’t put him off and considering he was scrummaging against the most capped prop of all time, he did very well whilst offering himself in the loose.
4. Iain Henderson: 7.5
Both Devin Toner and Peter O’Mahony may be having sleepless nights after Henderson’s performance. He was easily Ireland’s best player. He counter rucked with great effect, disrupted the lineout and scored a try whilst carrying three Welsh players on his back. His versatility makes him attractive to the coaches. Don’t be surprised if you see Henderson in the six shirt at Twickenham next weekend.
5. Paul O’Connell: 6
In his final game in Dublin wearing the green of Ireland, O’Connell was somewhat underwhelming. Suffered because of poor line-out throwing but as usual busied himself around the field.
6. Peter O’ Mahony: 6
Seemed to be working on his own and not part of a back row unit. The only of the three to offer anything at the breakdown and tackled himself into the ground. That said, his main job is to secure quick ball and Ireland just didn’t get any.
7. Jordi Murphy: 5
I might actually be generous with my score here. He was outmuscled, outplayed and outclassed by Justin Tipuric. He offered nothing in the loose or at the breakdown. Sean O’ Brien will have been sleeping peacefully after this performance.
8. Jamie Heaslip: 5.5
Heaslip was nowhere near his destructive best. He offered nothing at the breakdown and allowed the Welsh back row to dominate. More to come from Heaslip but as a senior player, he needs to shoulder some of the blame for the defeat.
Replacements: 5.5
Sean Cronin shored up the lineout and offered more than Strauss at the breakdown. Almost snuck an undeserved winning try in the final seconds but held up over the line. Tadhg Furlong looked like he enjoyed the occasion and is certainly one for the future.
Sean O’Brien belied his experience when he gave away a very cheap penalty that handed the lead back to Wales, but he did show with ball in hand why he is so destructive. Eoin Reddan added pace onto the ball when he came on while Paddy Jackson offered something different to Sexton, although his drop goal attempt was woefully ambitious.
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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