Wales slipped to a 15th straight defeat in a 27-18 home loss to Six Nations champions Ireland on Saturday, but the hosts played with endeavour and ambition not seen in recent games.

Ireland has condemned Wales to a record-extending 15th straight rugby loss after overcoming a 20-minute red card to rally for a 27-18 win and stay on course for an unprecedented third Six Nations title in a row.

The experienced Ireland scrum-half will be one of the first names on Andy Farrell's team sheet for the British & Irish Lions' three-Test series against the Wallabies this summer. If Gibson-Park was absent the result may well have fallen in Wales' favour, such was his influence on the game.