Bonus point start for Ireland as they cruise past Wales in Six Nations opener

While Wales have an injury list longer than the Severn Bridge, there's always a sense of trepidation when they talk their chances down.

Given what happened Ireland in last year's Guinness Six Nations opener in Cardiff, there was extra wariness of the defending champions, coupled with the newfound expectation around the home side.

So when Mack Hansen went on a 50-metre lung-busting run, and Bundee Aki dived over for a try inside three minutes at the Aviva Stadium, there were as many sighs of relief as there were cheers in the crowd, many of whom were still taking their seats.

From that moment on, Ireland looked in control against Wales, and their win felt inevitable, even if it took them until the second half to put Wayne Pivac's side to bed.

Just as they did in the Autumn Nations Series, Ireland attacked with speed and variety, putting Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter and Tadhg Beirne in as first receivers regularly, and giving Sexton more space and time to dictate the game.

It was far from perfect though, Sexton with a couple of rare miscues off the tee, and some inaccuracies with their final pass in the Welsh 22 meant it was 10-0 at half time, when it really could have been more.

But Ireland killed off the game inside the first 10 minutes of the second half, Andrew Conway scoring his 14th and 15th try in Irish colours, either side of a Josh Adams sin-bin for a reckless shoulder charge on Sexton.

With Adams still in the bin, Garry Ringrose sprinted in from 30 metres to secure the bonus point, and while Ireland did miss a couple of chances to run up a score on Wales, they saw things out comfortably, with Hansen appropriately named Player of the Match.

If Hansen needed an early settler on his debut, he had it with less than 60