Ireland vs Wales result: Joe Schmidt’s side win Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Dublin
The two met in the final Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Dublin
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Your support makes all the difference.Ireland will top the world rankings ahead of the Rugby World Cup after a 19-10 win over Wales in Dublin.
It wasn't all good news though and they will sweat a possible knee injury for wing Keith Earls, amid a confidence-boosting victory where Rob Kearney, Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan all bagged tries.
Head coach Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best will relinquish their roles after the World Cup, and both claimed the Aviva Stadium sign-off they so craved.
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14 minutes
Robbie Henshaw has started this game well at 13. He uses some fancy footwork to escape an offside defender and feeds Bundee Aki on the inside, and though the Irish transgress at the resulting ruck, they have the penalty and Sexton punts towards halfway.
15 minutes
Mathieu Raynal blows his whistle again, with Ireland's turnover illegally won after Alun Wyn Jones steals another Irish lineout. Wales back down in to the Ireland 22.
17 minutes
Wales look to work close-in carriers after the maul fails to take, but Aaron Wainwright is smashed back by a pair of tacklers, and Cian Healy and Rory Best shrewdly ride the next carrier as he goes to floor, staying on their feet to allow immediate access to the ball after a clear release and winning the penalty for holding on to clear the danger.
19 minutes
Wales have had the scrum ascendancy thus far, with Wyn Jones really taking it to Tadhg Furlong from loosehead. Ireland do retain ball and another strong Bundee Aki carry restores some semblance of attacking structure.
And there's Aki again! Through an arm tackle and getting the offload away to Robbie Henshaw, who bashes his way into the 22.
Penalty against Wales as Jordan Larmour jinks his way through some traffic to no avail, and Johnny Sexton chips the ball into the corner for a five-metre lineout.
21 minutes
An intricate move as the maul stalls, Bundee Aki threatening the carry and slipping to Jordan Larmour, who is handled effectively by the Welsh inside defence.
But here come the heavy artillery, Tadhg Furlong over the gainline, and CJ Stander more tellingly so as Ireland move the ball wide, Rhys Patchell knocked onto his rump. Wider still, and...
TRY! Rob Kearney scores!
Johnny Sexton times his pass well to open just enough space for his full-back, and Kearney rides two would-be tacklers and thumps the ball down over the line. A well-built and patient attacking movement from Ireland, who take their first opportunity in the Ireland 22.
Sexton converts.
Ireland 7-0 Wales, 23 minutes
Rhys Patchell has been hurt by that bruising Stander carry, and he's trotted away down the tunnel. Dan Biggar into the game earlier than he might have anticipated.
24 minutes
That's Rob Kearney's first Ireland try since the 2015 World Cup, remarkably.
Patchell is having a head injury assessment, hence his departure.
Leigh Halfpenny is taken in the air on the left touchline and will get a second opportunity to put Wales on the board,
And he does!
A cleaner strike, and Halfpenny's penalty sails between the posts.
Ireland 7-3 Wales, 26 minutes
27 minutes
Ireland win the ball and Johnny Sexton pokes a grubber through with the outside of the boot, the spin on the ball taking it back towards the path of a rampaging Bundee Aki, and away from a sliding Leigh Halfpenny, who fumbles.
Aki misses the ball, and though the next arriving Ireland player does manage to gather, they make nothing of the ball and will have to be content with a scrum for Halfpenny's knock-on.
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