A dominant Ireland display consigned Wales to a dismal 36-5 defeat at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

This chastening defeat leaves Wales winless from their first three games of the 2024 Six Nations.

Previous defeats at home to Scotland and away in England could be spun positively, but this cloud was without a silver lining.

Tries from Aoife Wafer, Eve Higgins and Neve Jones gave Ireland a 21-0 lead at halftime before wingers Katie Corrigan and Beibhinn Parsons built a 36-point lead before debutant Gwennan Hopkins scored a consolation.

After placing third in the previous two editions, questions will now be asked of the direction that this Wales side is being taken in by coach Ioan Cunningham.

Cunningham has consistently spoken of how the aim for his side is to make the semi-final stage of the 2025 Rugby World Cup and, with a six successive defeat, that seems a long way off.

Wales made far to many errors in possession and out, and could not deal with either the power of Ireland’s forwards, nor the guile of their backs.

Wales started brightly with possession in Ireland’s half. An early Irish indiscretion gave Wales’ rolling maul a chance to show itself but Carys Phillips’ break away was isolated and turned over on the 5m line.

Ireland’s excellent kicking game drove them up the pitch and led to the opening score.

The ball was worked wide to the left inside the Welsh 22 and Aoife Wafer crashed onto the ball 10-metres out. Despite the attention of three Welsh defenders, she drove over for the score.

Dannah O’Brien converted from close to the touchline with an excellent kick.

Wales looked visibly rocked by the early Ireland try and never regained their composure.

Another Ireland attack brought Welsh mistakes. A lack of care around the ruck area give Aoibheann Reilly the chance to snipe and suddenly she was away.

Jenny Hesketh recovered well to haul her down before the line but a quick recycle and a pick-and-go from Eve Higgins gave Ireland a second try.

Buoyed by their start, Ireland started to expand their game. Aoife Wafer broke tackles every time she received the ball and co-captains Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon dominated at the set piece.

Their third try was a less flashy affair but showed the excellent work this Irish team have put in since losing every game of the 2023 Six Nations.

Another Welsh error – this time an offside penalty – gave Ireland’s maul a chance to shine and seconds after the ball was secured, Neve Jones flopped over at the back to dot down her side’s third score.

Ioan Cunningham made changes before the interval, one enforced and one tactical, with Courtney Keight replacing Kerin Lake who was in some pain, and Natalia John on for Bethan Lewis, respectively.

While the Welsh defence remained resolute, the errors in possession continued.

Just before the break, a wonderful high-ball take and break by Lleucu George forced Ireland into a penalty.

Wales went to their usual one-up runners strategy when in the red zone, but a drop by Sisilia Tuipulotu ended the Welsh attack and gave Ireland a huge lead at the break.

The second half started with another huge Welsh error leading to another Irish score.

After Jenny Hesketh’s kick from the mark failed to find touch, Lleucu George’s clearance was brilliantly charged down, collected, and scored by teenage winger Katie Corrigan.

Her first international try secured her side a bonus point.

O’Brien, who kicked excellently from hand and tee, punted a penalty over from 15 metres out to stretch the lead ever further.

Ireland’s fifth try was their best.

Quick hands from Dorothy Wall and Edel McMahon released Wafer in space again. Rather than go herself, this time the marauding flanker fed her wing, Beibhinn Parsons who beat the final defender, Hesketh, to score in the corner.

Debutant Gwennan Hopkins finally got Wales on the scoreboard with fifteen minutes to go as her excellent drive following Carys Cox’s break was adjudged to have been touched down on the line after initially being ruled as held up.

Another break by Hopkins gave the smattering of Welsh voices something to shout about, but the visitors squandered yet another opportunity by knocking on.

Ireland: 36 (21) Tries: Wafer, Higgins, Jones, Corrigan, Parsons. Con: O’Brien x4. Pen: O’Brien

Wales: 5 (0) Tries: Hopkins.

Ireland: Delaney; Corrigan, Higgins, Breen (Dalton 54mins), Parsons; O’Brien, Reilly (Scuffil-McCabe 54mins); Djougang (O’Dowd 64mins), Jones (Moloney 52mins), Haney (McGrath 64mins); Wall, Monaghan (cc) (Tuite 48mins); Wafer, McMahon (cc) (Fowley 67mins), Hogan (Ikahihifo 56mins).

Wales: Hesketh; Joyce, Jones (c), Lake (Keight 32mins), Cox; George (Powell 61mins), Bevan (Jones 52mins); Pyrs (Constable 59mins), Phillips (Reardon 52mins), Tuipulotu (Rose 59mins); Fleming (Hopkins 61mins), Evans; Butchers, Callender, Lewis (John 28mins).