Welsh steel puts halt to Irish rugby rising

Wales 23, Ireland 16:

The trick is not to do it too often but even the best teams have to experience its bitter taste every now and again.

How you respond, the sages also tell us, is the real measure of one’s character and, ultimately, greatness and that is the challenge now facing Joe Schmidt and his Ireland players as they head into an RBS 6 Nations finale without a Grand Slam to play for but with a successful title defence still within reach.