Gareth Davies, Aaron Shingler and Steffan Evans scored tries for Warren Gatland’s side, but it wasn’t enough to seal an away success at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
After the game, hooker Ken Owens gave his thoughts on the match, how Wales are progressing as a team, and the challenge of facing Italy at home in their next match.
Here’s what he had to say…
It was a crazy game against Ireland?
“It was. In the first half our discipline probably cost us. We gave them some easy outs and territory in our half which they took full advantage of. We can’t have had more than 20 per cent possession and territory in that first half.
“It is frustrating that we put ourselves under pressure at times. We gave away nine penalties in the first half, which is probably more than we have conceded all campaign.
“They didn’t throw anything at us we didn’t really expect, but we put ourselves under pressure and they’ve executed.
“In the second half they did something similar, but then the boys showed huge character in the last 10 minutes to keep playing, and we almost sneaked a result. Full credit to Ireland for their victory.
“They kept hold of the ball very well and played in the right areas.”
Two big games with Italy and France to come?
“We’ve got two games left and we have just got to go into them positively. There are 10 points up for grabs and we’ve just got to try and get them and keep playing positive rugby.
“I think we’ve been pretty good this campaign. Everyone has written us off and we’ve turned some heads.
“We have been really positive. We weren’t at our best today and Ireland were probably tactically a lot better than us and played the territorial battle. We will learn from that.
“When we keep hold of the ball, we create chances. We had three opportunities to score and we took three chances.”
How big a challenge will Italy represent?
“They’ve been dangerous, to be fair to them. They’ve scored tries, so they are not going to be a walkover.
“We are going to have to be at the top of our game. We can’t turn up and just think we are going to roll over them and get five points. We need to really work hard and play smart rugby.
How positive are Wales going into that game?
“We are going in the right direction. We are still blooding new players and we had some boys back from injury today, which is great.
“Ireland are a great side and if you are indisciplined against them, they punish you and that’s what they did.
“There are plenty of positives, but we need to tidy up that discipline issue we probably had out there against Ireland. We conceded nine penalties in the first half and we conceded two against England and a handful against Scotland.
“It does frustrate your game, it stops your momentum and we have just got to be a little more accurate.”
