Four years on, as they claimed a Six Nations Triple Crown and remained on course for an unprecedented third straight title, Simon Easterby’s side were thankful that history did not repeat itself.

While they were again reduced in numbers in the first half, the introduction of the 20-minute red card law for the first time in this year’s championship ensured that Garry Ringrose could be replaced by Bundee Aki in the 51st minute, reducing Ireland’s punishment by almost half an hour.

Ireland had trailed a revitalised Welsh side 18-10 during Ringrose’s absence, with Connacht centre Aki’s influence undeniable as the tournament favourites scored 17 unanswered points to win 27-18.

If Easterby admitted that his side had “dug themselves out of a bit of a hole” to secure victory, Aki had been front and centre with the shovel.

“Bundee coming on made a huge impact,” reflected Ireland’s interim head coach.

“He was brilliant on both sides of the ball.

“Great energy, good leadership and he won some crucial turnovers at times.”

Detractors of the 20-minute red card will have noted how Ireland seemed doubly boosted by Aki’s arrival, lifted by both their restoration to 15 players and how decisively their replacement centre impacted the game thereafter.

Easterby later batted away any hypotheticals about how the new law had changed the course of the game but there is little doubt it helped his side, and himself, avoid a few awkward questions.

Ireland arrived in Cardiff seeking just the 14th Triple Crown in their history, while the bigger picture focuses on what would be only a fifth Grand Slam.

In what would have been a huge shock prior to kick-off, Wales could have derailed Ireland’s bid for both. While the story of this game may well end up being the restoration of Wales’ belief amid a 15-game losing run, defeat would have raised serious questions over Ireland’s approach.

Easterby made seven changes from the win over Scotland, with just two of them forced through injury.

His initial squad selection included one player making his Test debut, another making his first start and a further three who had never featured in the Six Nations.

As their scrum was pinged for repeated infringements, and Wales’ tails lifted through a second quarter featuring some lovely attacking play, the wisdom of such rotation looked questionable given all that was at stake.

Yet, in turning things around Ireland continue to have the best of both worlds, exposing the less seasoned members of their squad to the sharp end of Test rugby while continuing to enjoy a historic run of results.

They have won 19 of their past 21 games in the competition – they won the same number between 1989 and 2002.

Sat with three wins from three entering the second fallow week of this campaign, it should not be forgotten that Ireland have a rookie fly-half, playing just his second Test away from home in Cardiff, have yet to see prop Tadhg Furlong because of injury, and have used 29 different players so far.

In addition, Saturday’s side was captained by hooker Dan Sheehan for the first time with usual skipper Caelan Doris missing his first Test since 2021.

“Building those experiences for players, playing in the Millennium Stadium with the roof closed, the third game of a Six Nations where everything is probably against the team you’re playing against, and then we come out and get a result like that, that’s exactly what we are trying to do all the time,” Easterby said.

“We are trying to build continuity in selection but also build that depth and understanding and know-how and experiences they wouldn’t get playing URC rugby or European rugby.

“I was really pleased with all the guys who had the opportunity to start the game, [and] guys off the bench.”

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of Ringrose’s replacement, Ireland are reaping the rewards of building their depth.

Aki’s superb turn off the bench came after Easterby named a third different midfield partnership in three games.

Prop Finlay Bealham has become an increasingly dependable figure in the absence of Furlong, while Ryan Baird was not even in the matchday 23 when originally named but was another who made a big impact as a replacement.

Ireland have arguably never had greater strength in depth and the bench, so key in the round-one victory against England too, has become a real weapon.

“I guess part of the squad and the rotation and how you build a squad is you’ve got guys who understand they have as important a job as the guys who start,” added Easterby.

Next up, Ireland face France in Dublin on 8 March in what has become the key fixture of this championship over the past few years.

In the last three editions of the Six Nations, the victor when they meet Les Bleus has gone on to be crowned champions, with their last meeting in Dublin going down as an instant classic.

After surviving a scare against rejuvenated opposition in Cardiff, Ireland will expect to rely upon all 23 of their number once again.