Ireland v Wales LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations

Ireland 31-7 Wales: Andy Farrell’s men were made to work hard by stubborn visitors but a bonus-point win moved them closer to a grand slam

Six Nations: Full Contact trailer

Grand slam-chasing Ireland rugby made it three bonus-point Six Nations wins from three against Wales rugby at the Aviva Stadium, racking up their 18th successive home triumph with a 31-7 victory.

The hosts dominated the first half and led by 17-0 at the break thanks to tries from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe. A penalty try for Wales and yellow card for Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne just after half-time threatened to make things interesting.

Ireland mostly retained control with 14 men, though a ragged second half remained competitive until Ciaran Frawley marked his first Six Nations start with a debut try on 67 minutes and Beirne added the bonus-point try at the death as Wales sank to their 10th defeat in their last 11 Six Nations game.

Ireland travel to England in two weeks before hoping to play for their second successive grand slam at home to Scotland on 16 March. Wales have back-to-back home games against France and Italy, with the latter now a potential wooden spoon decider.

Relive all the action from Dublin below:

Six Nations - Ireland vs Wales LIVE

• Ireland beat Wales 31-7 in the Six Nations to move a step closer to a grand slam
• REPORT: Stubborn Wales can’t stop Ireland’s grand slam march
• FULL-TIME! Ireland 31-7 Wales
• 80+2’ - TRY! Tadhg Beirne crashes over for the bonus-point score (IRE 31-7 WAL)
• 68’ - TRY! Ciaran Frawley slices through for Ireland’s third try (IRE 24-7 WAL)
• 59’ - NO TRY! Bundee Aki barrels over but sees try ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up (IRE17-7 WAL)
• 43’ - TRY! Tadhg Beirne pinged for changing his bind and Wales awarded penalty try (IRE 17-7 WAL)
• 32’ - TRY! James Lowe finishes patient team move in the corner (IRE 17-0 WAL)
• 21’ - TRY! Dan Sheehan benefits from muscular maul (IRE 10-0 WAL)

[24 February 2024 15:13 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Second half...

Can Wales repeat their efforts from round one and mount another major comeback? You’d be surprised if there was any let up in Ireland’s intensity but you can’t imagine Wales being quite so unable to maintain territory and possession.

No changes, it would appear. Sam Costelow gets us back underway.

[24 February 2024 15:04 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

HT: Ireland 17-0 Wales

Credit to Wales, who have hung in there gamely, but it’s been all Ireland in Dublin. Set-piece supremacy, suffocating defence, and plenty of variation in attack - Ireland’s excellence means that Wales haven’t got into the game at all.

Some stern defensive efforts from those in red, but too many penalties have allowed Ireland to be patient and take control.

[24 February 2024 14:59 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

HALF TIME: IRELAND 17-0 WALES

(Getty Images)

[24 February 2024 14:59 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-0 Wales, 40 minutes

Do Ireland fancy another adventure before half time? Yes, of course, working through the phases even inside their own half.

Slow ball prompts a re-think. Jack Crowley sends the ball into the stands and the players down the tunnel. Ireland have gone 148 Six Nations minutes without conceding a point.

[24 February 2024 14:56 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-0 Wales, 39 minutes

A free kick at the lineout grants Wales another chance, but that callow squad looks a bit lost. Rio Dyer makes a sharp incision between James Lowe and Robbie Henshaw but Nick Tompkins’s tip at the line drifts between Alex Mann and Adam Beard, the two forwards looking at one another and not the ball and combining to spill.

[24 February 2024 14:55 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-0 Wales, 37 minutes

But there’s just no punch to the Welsh carries. George North builds up something of a head of steam but is driven back almost as quickly as he approached, and two Welsh bodies flop over the top to secure the ball as the green Irish tide sweeps them back. A ninth penalty of the half against the visitors will allow them to clear.

[24 February 2024 14:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-0 Wales, 36 minutes

Thump! A huge hit from Josh van der Flier arriving from the inside on the Welsh midfield carrier, but Bundee Aki is pinged for hands on the floor before he contests for a ball that appeared readily available. Wales again head for the corner.

[24 February 2024 14:52 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 17-0 Wales, 34 minutes

Wales were 20 points down at half time against Scotland, of course, but could really do with some sort of foothold here - they haven’t got into the game at all.

That’s better, a penalty against Jamison Gibson-Park. Take the points to ensure it isn’t a third pointless half of five so far in this year’s championship? No, Sam Costelow looks to be kicking for the corner.

[24 February 2024 14:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! IRELAND 17-0 Wales (James Lowe try, 32 minutes)

And James Lowe is there to capitalise on it!

Continuity, creativity and calm from Ireland, the three attacking qualities that set them apart. They are perfectly happy to wait for the space to appear, Jack Crowley’s sharp pass and Calvin Nash’s contorted right arm ensuring that it is found.

Nash’s excellent offload over-the-top of Josh Adams settles in Lowe’s lap and he strolls home untouched. Another fine conversion from Crowley and that Irish lead is starting to build.

[24 February 2024 14:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 10-0 Wales, 31 minutes

Into the Welsh wall the green shirts bash, hoping to force a brick free. Nothing doing up the middle, how about wider? Nope, the fringes are firm, too, Calvin Nash felled.

But there’s space on the left...