Mack Hansen makes instant impact as Ireland aim for Total Farrell

You can tell there’s a World Cup on next year: Ireland are just hitting their peak. Still, this was an ominous statement of intent by Andy Farrell’s side at a blustery and bellicose Aviva Stadium: standards set, gauntlets thrown down.

Next week’s trip to Paris already feels like the potential crux of this tournament, which feels like a faintly ridiculous statement to make after just 80 minutes of play. But for Ireland and their long-agonising supporters, it may just be time to start believing the hype. It was a measure of Ireland’s dominance that a normally edgy Dublin crowd had begun to relax well before the end.

Ten minutes from time the Mexican waves were already swooping around the stadium, and a little air had drained from the place. At which point, as if to chide Ireland for their contentment, Taine Basham promptly pilfered a late consolation try following a rare moment of slackness from Tadhg Beirne. Still, the magnificent Beirne had more than earned his little late siesta, and in a way so had Ireland.

Certainly you might argue that the scoreline flattered the losers, not the victors. Ireland could have put the game to bed within 20 minutes, but even without the points their supremacy deserved, the way they made Wales suffer during that opening quarter would tell later on. It was a great day for Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose at centre, for Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, for Andrew Conway and his two tries, for Jack Conan who won a crucial breakdown penalty late in the first half just as Wales were threatening to strike back. Indeed, pretty much the only Irishman who wasn’t enjoying himself was Rob Baloucoune: left out in favour of Mack Hansen, and now forced to watch the debutant rip up the