TRY OF THE DAY
Teddy Thomas
A superb piece of finishing from France right winger Teddy Thomas lit up the Stade de France.
From a clearing kick Thomas received the ball on the halfway line. He sprinted down the right touchline then sliced inside, eluding more Ireland defenders to crash over for what looked like the match winning try.
Wales also scored some impressive five-pointers with Steff Evans’ well taken finish on 73 minutes among the best of their quartet.
Rhys Patchell and Josh Navidi combine to bring Byron McGuigan down.
PERFORMERS OF THE DAY
Rhys Patchell and Josh Navidi
Coach Warren Gatland would have sat down to his post-match beverage very pleased indeed.
The Red Dragons had been devastated by injuries but you wouldn’t have known it as the second stringers slotted in as if they had been there all their lives.
Fly half Rhys Patchell, one of ten Scarlets in the line-up, was many pundit’s pick for man of the match and if flanker Josh Navidi keeps playing like this people will start saying Dan who?
Matthieu Jalibert finds some space.
DEBUT OF THE DAY
Matthieu Jalibert
Much of the talk before the match centred around debut fly half Matthieu Jalibert.
The 19-year-old was impressive, shrewdly staying away from contact, popping balls inside and out, and even making a nice dart and offload on 15 minutes to Virimi Vakatawa, as he started to come into the match.
Unfortunately he was replaced on 19 minutes, hobbling off with a leg injury but there is enough to suggest he belongs at this level for years to come.
A downcast Gregor Townsend.
HANGOVER OF THE DAY
Gregor Townsend
Scots coach Gregor Townsend will wake up Sunday morning, rub his eyes and ask did we really lose 34-7?
Townsend has done a superb job since taking over the national coaching job last year – but at Cardiff against an impressive Wales he came down to earth with a thud.
The Scots played much of the rugby but a few drop passes and missed tackles was enough to let the game slip away. Scotland need to get more accurate or they will lose more.
Rob Kearney
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The stones on him” – Rob Kearney’s epic comment in the post-match interview on Irish match winner Johnny Sexton
