The clock had long dipped into the red at the end of the first-half by the time Jonathan Sexton attempted one of those trademark wraparound moves only to be swallowed by a bear hug of a tackle and then held up by a posse of supporting Welshmen.

Crucial British plans on how to “credibly” avoid a hard Irish border will be discussed at an emergency cabinet meeting this morning with a key deadline looming just hours away.