Ireland player ratings vs Wales: 2025 Six Nations

Saturday, 22 February 2025 at 16:16

byMax Drinkwater-James

Ireland player ratings vs Wales as Simon Easterby's men came from behind to keep their Six Nations Grand Slam hopes alive.

Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!

Ireland clinched their 14th Triple Crown and kept their Six Nations three-peat dreams on track with a dramatic comeback win over Wales in Cardiff.

Garry Ringrose sees red, but Ireland stay composed

Andy Farrell’s side faced a major setback when centre Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card in the 34th minute for a high tackle on Wales' Ben Thomas. Despite trailing 18-10 at one stage, the reigning champions refused to buckle.

Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne inspire the fightback

Back-row powerhouse Jack Conan and rising star Jamie Osborne crossed for crucial tries, while fly-half Sam Prendergast kept the scoreboard ticking, landing 17 points from the tee in a mature performance.

Wales show promise under Matt Sherratt

Interim boss Matt Sherratt saw his side produce their best display of the tournament, with Jac Morgan leading from the front and Tom Rogers finishing in style. The recalled Gareth Anscombe chipped in with eight points, but it wasn’t enough to stop Ireland’s charge.

Scroll down for Ireland player ratings vs Wales.

Wales: 18

Tries: Jac Morgan (42'), Tom Rogers (42')
Cons: Gareth Anscombe (43')
Pens: Gareth Anscombe (22', 34')

Ireland: 27

Tries: Jack Conan (06'), Jamie Osborne (55')
Pens: Sam Prendergast (20', 48', 66', 69',77')
Cons: Sam Prendergast (07')

Ireland player ratings vs Wales:

1. Andrew Porter-5

Porter looked far from his usual standards getting turned over far too easily at scrum time in the opening half but looked much more comfortable in his secodn half cameo. Where he did hold his own however was his defensive work rate in contact and around the breakdown.

2. Dan Sheehan (C)-6

Sheehan led really well as a skipper and his basic skills were done to a great standard. His lineout ball was always a reliable option for the visitors which varied their attacking options. Similar to porter his defensive work rate helped get the Irish back on the front foot.

3. Thomas Clarkson-5

Ireland’s scrum was their Achilles heel in the first half and gave Wales some easy ways out of Irish pressure. Clarkson wasn’t the sole issue however he didn’t exactly aid their cause WillGriff John often getting the better of his opposite number.

4. Joe McCarthy-5

McCarthy never had any opportunity to challenge Wales’ lineout which gave the home side an easier day at set piece. In his own set piece he was solid both scrummaging and in attacking lineouts as well as some big shifts in defensive duties.m

5. Tadhg Beirne-5

Berine was again another member of the Irish pack to simply stay consistent throughout the game. A decent shift at lock with a gruelling 80-minute shift where he put his body everywhere and got in the way of anything he could for his side.

6. Peter O’Mahony-6

O’Mahony was industrious as ever and another Irish forward who dug in the entire match and threw his body at everything in a red jersey. Never looked like taking a step back in either defence or attack and kept Ireland moving with the momentum.

7.Josh Van Der Flier-6

A quieter game from Van Der Flier but not one he could complain about either. He was a menace for Wales in defence putting in some rib-busting shots as well as a constant threat in around each breakdown.

8. Jack Conan-6

Conan applied himself well in the half he was on the field. Often having to carry back some deep Welsh kicks his physicality with the ball in hand was second to none and that was never clearer than his try where he forced his way over from short range.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park-7

Gibson-Park won player of the match and he staked a pretty perfect case for it. He ran the attack for Ireland and used his experience to capitalise on a poor Welsh discipline. His speed of ball was incredible and really fed the Irish attack with dead point accuracy.

10. Sam Prendergast-8

Prendergast was excellent in Cardiff without really ever trying to be. His kicking both in play and off the tee won Ireland the game kicking 13 points from the tee and threatening Wales’ backfield with some lovely spiral bomb kicks and some fantastic 50/22 finding kicks.

11. James Lowe-5

Lowe looked far from his best in attack lacking many clear-cut chances to get into space and was suffocated at times by the Welsh attack. He popped up a few times at first receiver and delivered some nice passes into space to kickstart the Irish attack but apart from that was well in the background.

12. Robbie Henshaw-6

Henshaw stepped up hugely in the second half and looked so energetic in attack stepping in at first receiver allowing Prendergast to enjoy more space. In defence he never really gave Wales an inch and closed down so much space in defence.

13. Garry Ringrose-3

Gave away a cheap penalty and a consequential yellow card when Ireland were on the back foot towards the end of the first half which not only gave Wales an easy three points but a bunker review upgrade to a red card took Ringrose out of the game really before he even got into it.

14. Mack Hansen-6

Hansen had some smart cameos especially as a distributer often finding himself in the midfield and gave the Irish attack so many different angles. Under the highball he threatened from Ireland’s kicking game the entire match.

15. Jamie Osborne -7

Osborne was more than solid in the backfield for Ireland and his efforts were rewarded with a try. Under the Welsh kicks he was reliable and his kick returns matched that never putting a foot too far wrong. In attack as well he looked exciting with ball in hand.

Replacements

16. Gus McCarthy-5

17. Jack Boyle-5

18. Finlay Bealham-6

19. James Ryan-6

20. Ryan Baird-6

21. Conor Murray-N/A

22. Jack Crowley-5

23. Bundee Aki-7

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