So the Six Nations is under way and what a start we have had.

Ireland showed just why they are favourites for the title after overcoming a major hurdle in Cardiff.

Not only did they win but picked up a priceless bonus point with their biggest win in the Welsh capital since 2001.

Wales hit back at the start of the second half with a try for Liam Williams but his yellow card blunted the Welsh comeback.

But the reality is this game was as good as over after just 25 minutes.

Ireland led 27-3 after tries by Caelan Doris, James Ryan and James Lowe before Josh van der Flier completed the rout late on.

The Irish progress to a mouth-watering clash with defending champions France in Dublin next week, while Wales must dust themselves off for the trip to face Scotland at Murrayfield.

The Scots are opening their campaign against England at Twickenham, and you can follow live coverage of that match here.

Image source, Getty Images

All eyes were on whether Warren Gatland could produce the same magic turnaround with Wales second time around.

Facing the world's top side proved a miracle too far, but the new (old) Wales head coach is looking at the positives.

"Strangely I'm not that disappointed," he told BBC Sport.

"That's because a lot of things that were disappointing are things that we can fix. We spoke at half-time about discipline and line speed in defence and we brought that in the second half.

"We made a slow start, gave away penalties and Ireland created momentum off that.

"We created opportunities that we should have taken advantage of. We had as many entries into the 22 as them, but they came away with points and we missed about three or four tries where we put ourselves in position to score.

"We will take a lot from this, especially the younger players. We will focus on the positives of the second half, how we put pressure on them to create chances that we're just not quite good enough to take yet.

"Ireland are a very good side. It shows the step up we need to take."

Sam Warburton
Former Wales captain on BBC One

When Wales have lost, Gatland has always come out and backed the players again a week later and said players deserve a second chance. He doesn't normally give them the shepherd's crook after one game.

This is different. A lot of those boys are three years older than when he was last with them. Does he still give them a second chance, or does he back some youngsters that had a good impact off of the bench?

That is probably his biggest decision.

Chris Horsman
Former Wales coach on BBC Radio Wales

There's nothing from a team perspective to get excited about but I think Taulupe Faletau was excellent as normal.

Rio Dyer, particularly in the second half, when you give him the ball he showed what he can do.

The one stand-out for me was Joe Hawkins, I think he certainly added another dimension to Wales' attack. He looked threatening with the ball, his kicking game was excellent.

I'm struggling from a team perspective to say what went right. What we can say is it can only get better at this point.

I can see potentially a different side playing Scotland

Ireland flanker Peter O'Mahony has been speaking to BBC One:

"The first 40 minutes we were flowing nicely. We started well, we were very calm, attacked well, defence was good.

"We had some big moments to deny them probably two tries on our own line, with guys showing up for each other when it matters.

"But we will look back at that second half - Wales put us under a huge amount of pressure and we conceded a lot of penalties.

"But we haven't won here since 2013 - it's a tough place to win and to do so you have to get your set-piece firing. That gave us a great platform to get stuck in."

Image source, PA Media

Wales captain Ken Owens admitted his team lacked discipline and accuracy against Ireland.

Wales conceded 14 penalties including a yellow card for Liam Williams.

And they also blew a hatful of chances that could have kept them in the game.

Owens, after his first game as skipper, told BBC Sport: "We're disappointed. We lacked discipline and accuracy in that first half and that put us under pressure.

"We also left a couple of scores out there which would have tightened the game up.

"We showed character in the second half, we kept pushing but mistakes at key moments let us down against the best team in the world.

"We've got to learn from this quickly on the hoof."

Dennis Hickie
Former Irish winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

It was the clinical nature of the start.

Ireland looked sharp from the off, that was the difference, they hit the ground running and didn't make any mistakes, gave away very few penalties in that first half and just racked up a lead that shell-shocked Wales.

Wales got back into it but from an Irish perspective, they'll be very happy with the way they adapted to the late changes they had to make.

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC One

Wales had loads of opportunities to score a lot more tries probably than Ireland did in that game, but they weren't clinical enough.

Man of the match Hugo Keenan hailed kicking off their Six Nations title bid with a bonus-point win.

"We came out started really well which was really important having not won here for ten years," he told BBC Sport.

"We probably slipped off a bit in the second half so there's still plenty to work on but we're delighted to get a bonus point and start the Six Nations with a win.

"These are the occasions you want to be part of, in this stadium against a tough side.

"They're in transition but are always a serious team, especially here."

Asked about Ireland's championship hopes, he replied: "We only taking things one game at a time. We won't get caught up with anything."

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC One

It's a fantastic performance by Ireland to go away from home with all the pressure and the talk about Gatland and not knowing what Wales were going to throw at them.

I think they started amazingly. They did take their foot off the gas, particularly at the end of the first half, and the second half it was the penalties.

But on the whole it is a fantastic start to the championship.

Tom Shanklin
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Psychologically I think it'll be a massive blow for Wales.

Everyone was talking about 'Warren Gatland's back', the 'Gatland effect', everyone coming into this quietly confident.

Obviously Wales weren't the favourites but I thought we would have offered more. The first half just absolutely ruined Wales - we were nowhere near the physical standard we need to be, we weren't able to hit Ireland back.

You have to say Ireland deserved it.

Tony Ward
Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio Ulster

It's a springboard going into the massive game against the French - a game that could decide the championship even though it's early.

The way Ireland finished the game was the way they started it.

It's not a complete performance, but they delivered the performance that keeps momentum in their favour - and we know that, in rugby, is everything.

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC One

The first half performance from Ireland, they were just so clinical and so dominant especially when they got into the red zone.

That was it, they took the game away from Wales.

It's a tough start for Wales, they weren't at the races the first half and Ireland put them away.

And Welsh misery is finally over.

That is Ireland's biggest win in Cardiff since they won 36-6 in 2001.

It's a massive statement of intent from them. The rest of the Six Nations will be looking at this result with fear in their eyes.

For Wales... still a lot of work to do to get back to where they want to be.

Oh they should have got it.

Mack Hansen looked odds on to score but Alex Cuthbert snags him in the corner.

Another converted try for Ireland would complete a record win in Cardiff

Tom Shanklin
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The ground Hugo Keenan covers, whether it's attack or defence, he's just as good at both and his work rate is absolutely incredible.