Joe Schmidt had the Welsh worked out. His team followed out his plans to perfection.
We already know what a certified legend the Kiwi is.
Our focus, though, was on the outsiders and hopefuls in yesterday’s matchday 23 – established players such as Jamie Heaslip and Jack McGrath had top games but we know they’ll make Schmidt’s final cut – what about those still unsure about making the World Cup plane?
Keith Earls
BBC Wales gave him their man-of-the-match award and they will get no complaints from us.
Pounced like a born-finisher for his first-half try and might have had two more. Caused headaches in attack and rib-aches in defence. Earls has bulked up in the past 12 months.
Line breaks, defenders beaten, tries scored and team-mates put into space. If Keith Earls does not make the 30-man squad, we will be shocked.
Donnacha Ryan
The Munster lock admitted, midweek, that he thought his chance with Ireland would never come around again.
Ryan showed that he can be the lineout leader his team need if – and my finger is quivering typing this – Paul O’Connell were ever to miss a big game.
Thirteen tackles landed as he shut down anyone that got within grasping distance of his paws.
Eoin Reddan
The Leinster scrum-half was immense. Sniped the Welsh to death and was at the heart of Ireland’s high-tempo game.
Line breaks, turnovers and assists. Many Irish fans would have been calling for Kieran Marmion to start but Reddan’s performance was a resounding answer.
Bad day at the office for Chris Henry, however. The Ulster back-row had 25 minutes to impress and spent 10 of them in the sin bin.
It was more a case of accumulated offences from Ireland rather than Henry being a serial rule-breaker.
But with Jordi Murphy and Tommy O’Donnell, who will hopefully be okay after being stretchered off, playing well, seeing yellow was the last thing Henry needed.
