Wales put Wellington boot into Irish

Wales 22 Ireland 10

And what a disappointing end it proved to be. Having seemingly done the hard work by defeating Australia and Italy to top their pool, Ireland were snuffed out on the side of the draw considered the easier route, and by Six Nations opposition to boot.

This was supposed to be about youth falling foul of experience but that greater knowledge of cup rugby possessed by the Irish over a Wales side brimming with vigour and confidence yet supposedly lacking in knockout rugby nous suddenly became the downfall of the oldest squad in the competition.

There was two and a half year differential in average ages of the starting XVs and three years between the respective backlines and like a boxer growing old in the ring over the course of a few rounds, Ireland ran out of steam and ideas at the Wellington Regional Stadium.

They went down by three tries to one on a chilly spring evening without ever getting on the front foot. There was plenty of possession, and lots of minutes in the opposition's 22 but Wales's 141 tackles tells another story and Warren Gatland’s side needed just seven minutes inside the Irish 22 to end O'Driscoll and company's World Cup dream.

Ireland hooker Rory Best had been touch-and-go all week after suffering an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder and even when he was named on the team announcement deadline, 48 hours before kick-off, he remained a doubtful starter.

Either it was a double bluff of epic proportions or the Ireland hooker is made of mighty stuff. He was first to Ronan O'Gara's kick-off ball, putting in the hit on Toby Faletau, he was out wide to stop Shane Williams in his tracks inside his own 22 and he was charging down kicks at the other end, covering ground in impressive fashion.

Alas, the team was not operating as effectively. Ireland were turned over early and frequently and behind on the scoreboard after just two minutes and 13 seconds, the Irish made to pay when Earls was stripped inside the Wales 22. That eventually led to scrum-half Mike Phillips feeding centre Jon Davies who offloaded to Shane Williams for the veteran wing to add another to his Welsh record try-scoring feats.

Rhys Priestland, a rookie fly-half at Test level, slotted the penalty from the right touchline like a veteran and Wales were up and running.

The Welsh were conceding at the breakdown with regularity and that gave hope to an Irish pack who had previously been so effective in the tackle area against the Wallabies and Italians. Yet for all the gifts coming their way, Ireland were unable to make it count with O'Gara's usually inch-perfect kicks for field position not finding their intended marks.

Nor was there a lot of quick ball as Wales, when not being penalised, were managing to slow down the feed and Conor Murray was stifled at the back of the ruck, unable to impose his physicality.

When the ball did come out, the options for O'Gara at fly-half seemed limited and he was often forced into contact. The Welsh defence, organised by coach Shaun Edwards, was in sparkling form and turnovers of Irish ball were regularly forthcoming.

It took 24 minutes before Ireland had points on the board, courtesy of another breakdown infringement, and O'Gara slotted over from in front of the posts. Yet Wales had another weapon in full-back Leigh Halfpenny and when Ireland were penalised on halfway, Welsh captain Sam Warburton turned to his long-range kicker to open the lead up to 10-3.

Ireland were beginning to turn Wales over as well and Donncha O'Callaghan stole a Welsh lineout on their 22, only for O'Gara, his passing options again limited, to carry into contact and it was a frustrated Irish side that went in at the break trailing 10-3.

Declan Kidney's side started the second half more brightly with O'Driscoll sending Earls into the left corner to collect a clever grubber kick as the Welsh again were forced to defend inside their own 22. Ireland recycled quickly and were rewarded when Stephen Ferris recovered an errant pass from Murray, fed Tommy Bowe as he looped around the flanker and the Ospreys wing put Earls in at the corner for a try. O'Gara sent over a difficult conversion from the touchline and Ireland were back in the contest at 10-10 with 36 minutes to go.

It proved to be their last real scoring opportunity of the match, however. From there on, Wales retook the initiative and when, in the 51st minute, Phillips picked the ball out of the ruck and darted through unopposed on the shortside to score Wales' second try. It was far too easy a score, although Priestland's missed conversion and two subsequent penalties against the uprights, kept it interesting for a while.

In truth, Ireland were losing what shape they had and were looking rudderless. They needed to score quickly but instead Wales killed them off, Jon Davies making a line break into the Irish 22, skipping effortlessly between Cian Healy and Earls and bypassing Reddan with ease to grab Wales's third and final try. Priestland's conversion sent Wales 12 points clear.

It really was that conclusive a beating, all the more frustrating considering they had given themselves the opportunity of a lifetime. It went sadly begging.

Replacements for Ireland: J Sexton for O'Gara, E Reddan for Murray (both 55), A Trimble for Earls (71), D Ryan for Heaslip, D Leamy for Ferris (both 75).

Replacements for Wales: B Davies for Charteris (41), J Hook for Priestland (77).

Referee: C Joubert (South Africa)