Wales vs. Ireland: Winners and Losers from International Match

Ireland demolished a poor Wales in Cardiff to get their World Cup warm-up series off to a resounding start.

Joe Schmidt's Six Nations champions clocked up a 35-21 win over his fellow Kiwi Warren Gatland's side.

It was largely a second-choice starting 15 for Wales, whereas Ireland had more familiar faces on show.

And you suspect not too many of the Welsh hopefuls looking to impress will have done much to boost their stock in the eyes of their coach.

Let's have a look at the winners and losers.

Winner: Keith Earls

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The Irish Six Nations midfield pair of Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne made way for Darren Cave and Keith Earls to have a try out.

Both men got on the scoresheet, but it was Earls who caught the eye after a two-year absence from the green shirt.

The Munsterman looked sharp from the very start, displaying a devastating step to cut past Scott Williams in an attack that almost brought him a try.

But he didn't have to wait long to register, gobbling up the ball jarred loose by Andrew Trimble's bone-crunching hit on Eli Walker and sprinting clear.

Definitely a chance taken for the 2009 Lion.

Loser: Ross Moriarty

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Gloucester's Ross Moriarty was a surprise selection in Warren Gatland's first squad—not only for his youth and relative anonymity among much of the Welsh rugby public.

But eyebrows were raised further when his charge sheet was unveiled, coming as it did with a seven-week ban for a spear tackle committed while playing for England under-20’s and a citation for kneeing an opponent in the back in the Challenge Cup final last May.

And the 21-year-old acknowledged as recently as Friday to WalesOnline.co.uk that he had an "edge" to control.

So the swinging arm in the direction of Simon Zebo that earned him a yellow card suggests that he hasn't quite managed to get a hold on his temper.

Given the way Wales ended their last Rugby World Cup campaign with a red card to a back-rower, Moriarty may just have made Warren Gatland's mind up that a player with a high card-risk rating does not fit the bill.

Winner: Justin Tipuric

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Wales flanker Justin Tipuric was one of the few men in red who impressed.

The Ospreys openside made 21 tackles, per ESPN.co.uk, and also scored a try in which he played a key part in the buildup.

He was also the man who made the pass to Richard Hibbard for the hooker's first-half try.

Tipuric was probably one of a handful of players on show who Gatland was already near-certain to take to the World Cup, and he underlined why today.

Loser: Tommy O'Donnell

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The sight of Tommy O'Donnell clearly in a lot of pain as he was wheeled off the turf was a major blot on an otherwise satisfying afternoon for Ireland.

The back-rower has always looked impressive when called upon by Joe Schmidt, but if this injury is as serious as it appeared on the field, the young Munsterman may well miss out on a place in the Ireland squad.

As BBC.co.uk reported: "Munster's O'Donnell will have a scan on an injured hip after being carried off on a stretcher late in the match."

Winner: Schmidt Has Plenty of Options

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Joe Schmidt will feel far the happier of the two coaches after this contest. Both men got a look at some of their fringe players, and it was mainly Irishmen who stuck their hands up.

Players who had been out for prolonged periods like Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls looked in great nick, while Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan both played well in their time on the field, providing plenty of options behind first choice No. 10 Johnny Sexton.

Furthermore, Jamie Heaslip looked every inch the international captain, and should Paul O'Connell miss the odd game to stay fresh, Heaslip, who became Ireland's most capped back-rower today, is a more than capable replacement.

Schmidt's squad is in a good place.