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.”
