After beating Italy by six tries to nil last time out, Andy Farrell described Ireland’s performance as “a bit clunky”. After this four-try bonus point win over Wales, which keeps their bid to become the first team in the Six Nations era to win back-to-back Grand Slams right on track, he called his men “a bit passive”. There is a theme developing here.

Ireland are performing at a different level to every other team in this Six Nations. Even when they are not at their best – and Farrell was right, they never really got out of third gear against a limited, albeit spirited Wales team – they are simply too good, too well-oiled, and have too much strength in depth.

Warren Gatland spent the build-up to this match promising his Wales team would target callow full-back Ciaran Frawley, with Hugo Keenan – arguably the world’s best full-back – out injured.

But just as Jack Crowley stepped into the boots of Johnny Sexton in Marseille without missing a beat, so Frawley, on his first Six Nations start and playing out of position, put in an assured performance. The 26-year-old even scored his team’s third try of the afternoon, cutting in on a fine angle to run onto the excellent Jamison Gibson-Park’s pass.

“He was solid enough,” Farrell said afterwards, not getting carried away. “It was a big day for him. Gats was saying all week they were going to test him. He’s always solid. His skillset is sound and he is always solid under the high ball, has hands, and he communicates well as well. I suppose he will be glad that’s done now and he can build on it.”

This has very much been Farrell’s mantra as Ireland have racked up 18 consecutive wins at home. He expects his newbies to come in and hit the ground running, and by and large they have. Whether it is Crowley for Sexton, Frawley for Keenan, or Calvin Nash coming in for Mack Hansen, Ireland are relentless.

As well as targeting Frawley, Gatland had noted the All Blacks’ fast start against Ireland at the World Cup, they way they tore into the men in green, taking a 13-0 lead.

But Ireland had complete and utter dominance in a first half in which they scored two tries, the first a rolling maul finished off by Dan Sheehan, the second a James Lowe effort in the corner following a superb offload from Nash.

Wales defended valiantly. But they were outpowered up front, and only ventured into the Irish 22m for the first time on 36 minutes. They also conceded nine first half penalties, with Gatland muttering afterwards about some “tough calls” from Italian referee Andrea Piardi, who was also making his Six Nations debut.

The second half was closer. Wales were awarded a penalty try, and with Tadhg Beirne sent to the bin and the scoreline 17-7, in theory Wales were right in the game. It never felt that way. Ireland played most of the rugby while they were down to 14 men. And when Beirne returned to the field, the lock’s first contribution was to win a turnover penalty from an attacking Wales lineout.

After Frawley got his first international try, it looked as if the game might peter out. But a superb late tackle by Stuart McCloskey, who replaced Nash on the wing, won Ireland a late turnover and Beirne claimed the bonus-point try with the clock in the red. Ruthless.

Wales had some positives. Cameron Winnett was arguably more impressive than Frawley, while Tomos Williams had a fine game at scrum-half. But Ireland were able to throw on so much power. James Ryan and Ryan Baird replaced ‘Big Joe’ McCarthy and Peter O’Mahony. Baird in particular made a couple of rampaging runs.

Farrell praised hs it was “pleasing” that Ireland’s replacements have all slotted in so well, but said he expected them to. “When they put the green shirt on it is their responsibility to fill it and that requires them to get to a place that is a bit strange to them and they need to know that is the standard. It’s something that you would expect to happen if you prepare properly.”

Next up is England at Twickenham. If Ireland get through that, they will be short odds for a second successive Grand Slam, with Scotland the visitors on St Patrick’s Day weekend. Gregor Townsend’s team are dangerous, as they proved again against England on Saturday. But this was Ireland’s 18th win on the spin at home. And they never really got out of third gear.

“Should have been 40,” Farrell said, smiling. “We had a couple of tries notched of there.”

Match details

Ireland: Frawley; Nash, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; McCarthy, Beirne; O’Mahony (capt), Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Jager, Ryan, Baird, Conan, Murray, McCloskey.
Sin-bin: Beirne (43), Ryan (76).
Wales: Winnett; Adams, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Costelow, Tomos Williams; G Thomas, Dee, Assiratti, Jenkins (capt), Beard, Mann, Reffell, Wainwright.
Replacements: Elias, Domachowski, D Lewis, Rowlands, M Martin, Hardy, I Lloyd, Grady.

Scoring sequence: 3-0 Crowley pen; 8-0 Sheehan try; 10-0 Crowley con; 15-0 Lowe try; 17-0 Crowley con; 17-7 penalty try; 22-7 Frawley try; 24-7 Crowley con; 29-7 Beirne try; 31-7 Crowley.

Ireland v Wales: As it happened . . .