Wales v Ireland ratings: Maestros Gibson-Park and Aki offset Ringrose's red card madness

Man-by-man breakdowns as the Ireland bench is forced to dig deep to help claim the Triple Crown and keep the Three-peat dream alive in Cardiff.

DYNAMIC DUO: Ireland's James Lowe and Bundee Aki celebrate winning a penalty during the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Pic: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.

15 - Jamie Osborne: Hesitant initially on the big stage but eventually mastered his lines with a good support try. Osborne’s anguished face as he threw a poor, potentially try-scoring pass to Ringrose, said it all in the first half but the Leinster utility player hung in there and ran a good support line for his try. 6.5 

14 – Mack Hansen: Back in the fold. Hansen was determined to make up for lost time with a typically full-on, constant-motion display, chasing hard and high, coming off his wing to try and make things happen. 7.5 

13 – Garry Ringrose: Red card madness. Costly and thoroughly deserved, lucky that it wasn’t a straight red. A rare lapse from a revved-up Ringrose as he shot across Henshaw to land a high, dangerous first-half tackle on Ben Thomas to get sent to the sin-bin and receive a 20 minute red card. Ringrose had been instrumental in first try. 3.5 

12 – Robbie Henshaw: A tough day in the trenches. Henshaw came under red-hot defensive pressure as Wales rediscovered themselves and played clever, tricky rugby in attack. It was a whole new ball game from them and Henshaw had to be at his toughest to help resist the red wave. 7.5 

11 – James Lowe: The assist maestro. As he did against England, Lowe put himself about for the team, popping up everywhere to disrupt and to create, at no time more tellingly when leaping above Blair Murray to tap Gibson-Park’s kick infield for the Osborne try. 8 

10 – Sam Prendergast: The Anointed One. Prendergast is now the clear first-choice out-half and increasingly looks the part. Even though annoyed at a couple of missed kicks at goal and hitting one out on the full, there was plenty to admire. Fabulous 50:22 spiral kick followed by terrific 55metre penalty. 8.5 

9 – Jamison Gibson-Park: Cool head. There was no sign of panic in Gibson-Park’s play despite the lamentable ill-discipline of the team, just a sense that he had to make the most of whatever came his way, playing advantage and hitting a brilliant kick-pass for Jamie Osborne to touch down. Organiser-in-chief oncer again. 9 

1 – Andrew Porter: Not getting his own way for a change. Porter, dubbed ‘The Unicorn’ in midweek for his unique, all-purpose abilities, had to get to grips with a troubled Irish scrum that conceded three penalties in the opening quarter. 5.5 

2 – Dan Sheehan: No gentle ride for the new captain. One fumble in the tackle opened up possibilities for a spirited Wales’ attack and Sheehan had to adapt to difficult circumstances. Had to get the misfiring Irish scrum sorted and deal with the Ringrose red. A taxing afternoon. 6 

3 – Thomas Clarkson: Baptism of Fire. The four scrum penalties conceded by the Irish scrum meant that test debutant starter, Clarkson, was under ferocious scrutiny, all too aware that he had to help get it sorted. Replaced in the 48th minute. 5 

4 – Joe McCarthy: Big and prominent. McCarthy made up for lost time in his first start in the championship with a strong, all-round performance, making yards and always available, a nuisance although he was pinged for a lineout penalty as Ireland’s discipline deserted them. 7 

5 – Tadhg Beirne: Athletic and industrious. One gymnastic take from a re-start captured Beirne’s ability to adapt to whatever the situation is around him. The Munster forward was also to the fore in the close-quarters grafting as his side had to quell an upbeat Wales. 8.5 

6 – Peter O’Mahony: Long proven leadership skills much-needed as Irish discipline creaked and crumbled. Ireland needed all O’Mahony’s grit and endeavour also as they battled their way back into contention. 6.5 

7 – Josh van der Flier: Much more visible. Van der Flier had been understated by his own high standards and put that to rights with trademark involvements although it was his penalty for side entry that created the position from where Wales scored just on the stroke of half-time. Never flagged. 8.5 

8 – Jack Conan: Instant impact. The art of the understudy is to make a big impression when you get your chance and Conan must have had that in mind as he crashed through for the first try. Busy and purposeful but was forced off early in the second half. 7  

Replacements: Made the difference and won the day. The bench had to dig deep to help claim the Triple Crown and also keep the Three-peat dream alive. There is much to discuss about the fairness of a 20-minute red card that allows a player of the calibre of Bundee Aki to come on to the field (which he probably would have done at that 52nd minute juncture anyway). Aki, blood trickling down his nose, epitomised Irish cussedness as they fought to stem what was coming their way. The props managed to repair the scrum fault-lines that had been so bothersome in the first half. Loosehead, Jack Boyle on his test debut, helped win a crucial 5 metre scrum penalty for his side when right under the cosh, an Ellis Mee potential match-winning try having been (rightly) disallowed. James Ryan and Ryan Baird also showed well when they came on with plenty of industry. 8.5