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 17:00 · Luke Baker]

Stubborn Wales can’t stop Ireland’s grand slam march

Ireland kept their quest for successive Six Nations grand slam titles on track by brushing aside spirited Wales with a dominant 31-7 victory in Dublin.

Andy Farrell’s men backed up crushing wins over France and Italy with a third consecutive bonus-point triumph to keep themselves in pole position for further championship glory.

First-half tries from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe paved the way for the reigning champions to equal England’s tournament record of 11 wins in a row.

Wales avoided embarrassment at the Aviva Stadium and briefly threatened an improbable fightback thanks to a second-half spell which brought a penalty try and a yellow card for Tadhg Beirne.

But a first Test try for stand-in Ireland full-back Ciaran Frawley broke their resolve before Beirne atoned for his earlier error by securing the bonus point at the death on an afternoon when flawless fly-half Jack Crowley kicked 11 points.

[24 February 2024 16:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

On to the Calcutta Cup...

Right, we’ll have plenty more reaction from Ireland’s victory later today and over the rest of the weekend, but more Six Nations action is almost upon us. It’s a pivotal fixture for Scotland, England and the championship as a whole at Murrayfield - and Calcutta Cup kick off is not far away at all...

[24 February 2024 16:21 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland keep grand slam hopes alive with win over battling Wales

And that’s now 18 in a row at home for Ireland - they really have turned the Aviva Stadiu minto something of a fortress. There was no real panic today, even in the periods where Wales had real momentum.

[24 February 2024 16:19 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland keep grand slam hopes alive with win over battling Wales

Frawley then dashes up into the stands for a photo with his family after a first Six Nations start. A lovely moment for the versatile young back, who had a very solid outing. We’ll see if Hugo Keenan is fit for Ireland’s trip to Twickenham in a fortnight but Frawley has shown that he is a viable option in his Leinster teammate’s absence.

[24 February 2024 16:14 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Try scorer Ciaran Frawley speaks to ITV

“It was a bit clunky in the first half,” the Ireland full-back says. “To bounce back through all the adversity thrown at us and get a bonus point was good.

“I was delighted to get over in the second half. The space just opened up for me, it was lovely. We had Bundee’s try disallowed so it was great to get over because it gave us a bit of momentum. The players here are unbelievable, they know how to win. We’ve been through all the scenarios and we just stick to our systems. Well done to the boys.”

[24 February 2024 16:12 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

FT: Ireland 31-7 Wales

Warren Gatland will be pleased with the fight his young side again showed after a first half where they didn’t get into the game. You do wonder, though, if Wales could have built into the game with a couple of kickable penalties that they turned down - at 17-7, six more points would have had them right in it.

[24 February 2024 16:10 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

FT: Ireland 31-7 Wales

Ireland march on towards another grand slam, but boy did they have work for that win against a gutsy travelling Welsh side. There was plenty of huff and puff from the hosts, but their accuracy was lacking at times, and a more mature, clinical visiting squad might have made more of the opportunities that Ireland presented.

But ultimately it is five more points to the competition tally for Andy Farrell’s defending champions - and a 24-point final margin is far from insignificant, even if they weren’t at their best.

[24 February 2024 16:08 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

FULL TIME! IRELAND 31-7 WALES

(Getty Images)

[24 February 2024 16:06 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! IRELAND 31-7 Wales (Tadhg Beirne try, 82 minutes)

Ireland have that bonus point!

Tadhg Beirne has again been brilliant, despite that sin binning earlier, and he’s still got plenty of puff, hitting the line impressively even with the clock dead. Dafydd Jenkins pushes out slightly too wide and a blowing Dillon Lewis inside him can’t quite cover across - through the hole Beirne goes to send us to a close. Jack Crowley converts.

[24 February 2024 16:06 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland 24-7 Wales, 80 minutes

Into the red goes the clock as Mackenzie Martin lays a stiff shot on an Irish forward. But still the hosts play, working hands at the line to try and stress the Welsh defence. Jack Crowley nearly slithers free, and Tadhg Beirne arrives with intent...