Farrell will want improvement from on-course Ireland 

ONTO THE NEXT: Ireland’s Oli Jager, Ronan Kelleher, Calvin Nash and Josh Van der Flier applaud fans after the game. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho 

IRELAND 31 WALES 7 

Three down, two to go and Ireland’s quest for Guinness Six Nations history in the form of back-to-back Grand Slams now takes them to Twickenham on Saturday week.

It appears to be an inexorable march towards more silverware but while the manner of their performance in their bonus-point victory over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, an 18th consecutive home victory, underscored the defending champions’ numerous and impressive strengths it also laid out some potential pitfalls for the road ahead.

With maximum points from their wins over France, Italy and now Wales, and a six-point lead at the top of the table following England’s Calcutta Cup to Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday night, Ireland are the only nation still on course for a clean sweep and their advantage in the standings reflects the perception that Andy Farrell’s team are head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

Statistically superiority in terms of tries scored – 15 compared to a next-best seven each from Scotland and Wales; tries conceded, just three against France’s next-best six; and a staggeringly advantageous points difference of +81 that is 75 better than the second-placed Scots, this is Ireland’s championship to lose.

Yet there were moments against Wales when some Irish frailties could have been more ruthlessly exposed, particularly in a difficult third quarter which might have undone a dominant first-half display that had delivered 17 unanswered points had Ireland been facing less callow opposition.

The head coach had wanted an even healthier half-time lead given the scrum domination he had witnessed in the opening period, when a maul try finished by Dan Sheehan and a James Lowe finish after some excellent multi-phase pressure threatened to open the floodgates. 

You could see his point given Tadhg Beirne was yellow carded three minutes into the second half for changing his bind at an attacking Welsh maul and Ireland conceded a penalty try. 

The home side’s discipline crumbled for a spell, conceding six penalties in 13 minutes and stronger, more confident sides than this inexperienced and winless Wales outfit would have exploited Ireland’s wobble more punitively.

Farrell knows how easily the balance of power can change in the Six Nations and the huge potential for that to happen against England if his squad are not at their excellent best. 

There was lots to like about this Irish performance, not least the seamless introduction of Ciaran Frawley at full-back in the absence of the injured Hugo Keenan, the stand-in marking his first Test start in his third cap with a well-taken second-half try before Beirne’s try secured the bonus point with the clock past 80 minutes. 

There was also a seriously impactful contribution from the Irish bench of six forwards and two backs that helped put Ireland back on track in the final quarter and while the boss was satisfied with the way his team worked through their problems to get the job done he was reticent to pinpoint where they would have to be better at Twickenham on March 9.

"Well, we played against the same (Welsh) side that played at Twickenham (losing 16-14), so you could say that Wales played better than they did at Twickenham but we still found a way,” Farrell said.

“It's not just as simple as saying we need to be better to win at Twickenham. Of course, we always want to play better but the game is what it is, from minute one.

"For example, we're winning the penalty count hands down (9-4) at half time and then all of a sudden within minutes of the second half, it has evened up. That could happen in two weeks' time, role reversal.

“The game takes its own shape but there's parts of our game we obviously need to improve. That's never, ever going to be any different but I suppose it won't be for England either."

Ireland will not fear an England side still bedding in the new blitz defence being implemented by Steve Borthwick’s new assistant Felix Jones and also attempting to find an attacking identity but the men in white will nevertheless pose them problems to which Farrell will demand his players find a solution.

They did just that with a resilient and spirited Welsh side that required a Beirne turnover at another maul on the Irish tryline and an excellent ruck turnover from replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher moments later in that early period of the second half.

“We've come across all those bits before and how we react to them is all part of the process. But again, that was the most pleasing part of the game because we found a way to get the job done.

"Our defence is top drawer, there's no doubt about that. It has been for quite some time now. It was unbelievably fitting that we kept them out because of the fight and want to be able to do that. The try came from a maul. 

"I thought our defensive shape wasn't very nice at times but our intent certainly on the line said a lot about how much they love defending for one another. That and the improvement in the scrum is there for all to see."

The Ireland squad will reconvene in this non-match week for a short training camp which includes an open training session with the similarly unbeaten Under-20s squad on Thursday at the Aviva and you can be sure Farrell will want to see further improvement again before heading to London.

IRELAND: C Frawley; C Nash (S McCloskey, 68), R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park (C Murray, 69); A Porter (C Healy, 72), D Sheehan (R Kelleher, 54), T Furlong (O Jager, 54); J McCarthy (J Ryan, 54), T Beirne; P O’Mahony – captain (R Baird, 54), J van der Flier (J Conan, 51 – HIA, then subbed), C Doris.

Yellow cards: T Beirne 43-53, J Ryan 75 

WALES: C Winnett (S Costelow, 75 – HIA); J Adams (M Grady, 56), G North, N Tompkins, R Dyer; S Costelow (I Lloyd, 72), T Williams (K Hardy, 68); G Thomas (C Domachowski, 59), E Dee (R Elias, 59), K Assiratti (D Lewis, 51); D Jenkins – captain, A Beard (W Rowlands, 54); A Mann (M Martin, 54), T Reffell, A Wainwright.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)