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
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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:
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 30 minutes
But it feels like Wales are slipping and sliding out of the game. Another lazy tackler brings a warning from referee Andrea Piardi to captain Dafydd Jenkins, who looked like the guilty party. Eight penalties and you’d imagine the next infringement will bring a card.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 28 minutes
Or not. Tomos Williams doesn’t like the look of the engagement and opts not to insert the ball. Free kick, Ireland, and you’d imagine that Jamison Gibson-Park will be rather hastier to put it in.
Indeed he is. Ireland get a nudge on but Andrea Piardi asks their scrum half to play away. Gibson-Park darts into space and finds Robbie Henshaw, who connects with James Lowe. Lowe is taken by three Welsh defenders five out, forcing Henshaw in to support and try to drive him to the line.
The centre ends up with the ball and turns towards the corner, but the ball had spilled forward into his grasp. Wales, just about, survive again.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 25 minutes
It’s all working for Ireland. Jamison Gibson-Park flights his box kick close to the touchline but Josh Adams can’t quite get his bearings, taking before his boot is on the white line and thus ensuring it is Ireland’s ball.
But another lineout misfire gives Wales a reprieve.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 23 minutes
Wales have done well to remain vaguely in this contest but they’ve not even had 25 per cent of the possession so far. That won’t help, either, a tackler failing to vacate the ruck space and another penalty Ireland’s way. That’s seven against Wales so far after not being whistled once in the first half against England.
Here’s that Sheehan score in all its muscular magnificence:
TRY! IRELAND 10-0 Wales (Dan Sheehan try, 21 minutes)
It had been coming!
A team try from Ireland, the backs piling in to support their forwards in a mighty maul with Dan Sheehan the buried beneficiary. A fourth of the tournament for the all-court Ireland hooker, and Jack Crowley’s conversion ensures it is a seven-point score.
Ireland 3-0 Wales, 19 minutes
Now that is a rare sight - a first lost lineout of the tournament for Ireland, Dan Sheehan slightly overthrowing his jumper and the ball spilling free off the lifted forward’ss fingertips.
It matters not - Andrew Porter marmalises Keiron Assiratti and Andrea Piardi is happy with the Ireland loosehead’s angle. Penalty Ireland, and into the corner as they again go in search of that opening try.
Ireland 3-0 Wales, 17 minutes
Dan Sheehan takes a cross-kick and nearly bashes through a defender, before Ireland sweep to the left and James Lowe. Wales scramble across in time and force a loose offload - they are clinging on here, but clinging on impressively.
Advantage is over, but it’ll be Ireland’s lineout - a Welsh boot knocked the ball into touch.
Ireland 3-0 Wales, 16 minutes
That’s less good from the Welsh scrum. Ireland take the scrum option after a minor infringement at the Welsh lineout, and Andrew Porter tucks into Keiron Assiratti. Advantage coming but Ireland will explore what other opportunities might be on offer.
Ireland 3-0 Wales, 14 minutes
Ireland are throwing various shapes at the Welsh defence but so far that visiting Welsh unit looks pretty stern. Tommy Reffell (of course) wins a holding on penalty out of Joe McCarthy after the lock is turtled by Gareth Thomas’s low tackle.
Ireland 3-0 Wales, 12 minutes
Wales’ starting front row went well at Twickenham, and hold firm against Messrs Porter, Sheehan and Furlong in the opening scrum entanglement of the afternoon. Josh Adams hoofs the ball up beyond halfway, but Ciaran Frawley is there to claim.
Jack Crowley tries to stab a little grubber through, but is half charged down. Tomos Williams scoops up the slippery ball but is short of support, forcing a teammate to dive off their feet in the hopes of protecting the ball. Sealing off, and that penalty count is starting to climb for Wales; Ireland return to advanced territory.
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