Ireland player ratings in Six Nations win over Wales: Jamison Gibson-Park shines on landmark night
LEADING THE CHARGE: Jamison Gibson-Park of Ireland is tackled by Wales players Dan Edwards, left, and James Botham. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
One of the few ever-presents in this championship, the full-back was ever-willing even if the openings were not as clear-cut as they had been against England. Osborne had to work for everything and got his return with the bonus point try.
A horror moment when allowing Wales prop, Rhys Carre, to skin him on the inside for a Hollywood score on the stoke of half-time. This loss of concentration offset some fine work elsewhere by the wing whose lovely footwork and drive were occasional threats, a late reverse pass to Frawley was sumptuous.
Mr Dependable, Ringrose had to battle to make any impression against a sterling Wales midfield of Joe Hawkins and Eddie James who hammered hard at every turn. Ireland attack was too predictable.
The go-to man of the 2026 Six Nations, the Ulster centre shows no signs of ageing gracefully, relishing the exposure and the opportunity. There were three significant involvements in the first try. McCloskey’s form continues.
This was one more chance to show that the first night failings in Paris were not a true reflection of Stockdale and the Ulsterman was alert enough to cut a sharp line and steam over for a try within five minutes.
On the scoreboard, busy and aware, Crowley was not as polished as he had been at Twickenham, duffing a straightforward conversion of his own try and another later in the second-half. Crucial points went begging.
A slight slide down from the majestic Twickenham summit, Gibson-Park still contributed plenty. 50 caps up, a landmark to cherish for him. A sharp tap penalty triggered Ireland’s third try.
At home in his new role, O’Toole the versatile one, switching to the loose-head and helping win an early penalty at the scrum. A jittery fumble led to Conan try being ruled out but there was a solidity to his game.
A rare start for the hooker and he knew he had to make the most of it in one straightforward way – set-piece reliability. The line-out fared very well but there was an infringement conceded for not striking the ball at the scrum.
Hammer, hammer, hammer, Furlong was the point man for a lot of Ireland’s close-quarters driving work, creating the space from where Jack Crowley was to score. However, a missed tackle on his opposite number, Rhys Carre, blotted his copybook. Also popped in the scrum when Nicky Smith came on. 5
A mixed bag. There was plenty of customary grunt and heft on offer but that came with occasional indiscretions, ceding territory.
5 – Tadhg Beirne The familiar blue headguard was conspicuous again as the Munster lock used his athleticism to lend support round the field to good effect as the Ireland pack fought tooth and nail for every inch of turf.
Making up for lost time, Conan missed out on the Twickenham extravaganza through illness and duly got stuck in, making himself available, notably with a first half effort that was chalked off, getting his due reward with a try early in the second half.
A trademark piledriver tackle on Wales fly-half, Dan Edwards, encapsulated what the Ulster flanker brings to the party and although Timoney does not feature as visibly as van der Flier, his nuts n’ bolts work is valuable.
The Ireland captain had to keep his side’s feet on the ground after the high-point of the record win at Twickenham, not a straightforward task against a rejuvenated Wales. Grafted hard to get some go-forward,
There was an early sense of what might be to come for Ireland when Ulster scrum-half, Nathan Doak, had a seven minute cameo when briefly replacing Jamison Gibson-Park.
A put-in infringement apart, Doak showed what he had to offer when firing the ball away smartly and being alert to all possibilities.
Joe McCarthy was alert enough to kick-start an attacking phase when gathering and kicking ahead. The bench saw Ireland home in a fiercely-fought contest.
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