Wales vs Ireland LIVE: Latest score and updates as penalty try increases Irish lead after Stockdale double
Follow the latest from the Rugby World Cup warm-up clash at the Principality Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Rugby World Cup warm-up clash between Wales and Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Despite their heavy defeat against England last weekend, Ireland have the chance to go top of the World Rugby rankings if they can beat Warren Gatland’s Wales side today – in what is the Kiwi coach’s final game in charge of the Welsh side in Cardiff.
Both sides have selected heavily-changed teams from their last outings, with a number of fringe players getting the chance to shine ahead of their final squad announcements next week. Follow the live updates below.
When is it?
Wales v Ireland kicks off at 2.30pm on Saturday 31 August.
Where can I watch it?
Channel 4 will show the game live. Coverage starts at 2 pm.
Head to head
- Wales 25-7 Ireland, 2019 Six Nations
- Ireland 37-27 Wales, 2018 Six Nations
- Wales 22-9 Ireland, 2017 Six Nations
- Ireland 16-16 Wales, 2016 Six Nations
- Ireland 10-16 Wales, 2015 RWC warm-up Test
Team news
Wales: Amos; Lane, Williams, Watkin, Steff Evans; Jarrod Evans, Aled Davies; Carre, Elias, Lee, Beard, Bradley Davies, Shingler, Navidi (capt), James Davies.
Replacements: Dee, Rob Evans, Brown, Ball, Moriarty, Williams, Patchell, Holmes.
Ireland: Addison; Stockdale, Aki, Farrell, Conway; Marmion, Carty; Kilcoyne, Scannell, John Ryan, Henderson, James Ryan, Beirne, O’Mahony (capt), Conan.
Replacements: Best, Porter, Furlong, Toner, Murphy, McGrath, Ringrose, Kearney.
Odds
Wales 4/11
Draw 20/1
Ireland 23/10
33 min - Wales 3-15 Ireland: Wales trying their best to break through the Irish defence but their opponents are holding up well. After a Welsh ball goes backward, the ref penalises the hosts for attacking the ruck from the side. This really isn't going to plan...
35 min - Wales 3-15 Ireland: A smooth lineout from the visitors culminates in an Aki crash ball. But this time it's the Irish who find themselves on the receiving end of the ref's whistle. 'Not releasing' flashes up on the big screen - something both sides have been guilty of so far today.
36 min - Wales 3-15 Ireland: Another surging attack on the counter from Ireland. It's Kilcoyne who makes the initial breakthrough before releasing to Aki in support. The centre carries it a good 15 metres or so and is eventually brought down by Aled Davies (who gets practically trampled in the process). It's recycled and shipped out to the right, with Conway kicking it through. But Amos is on hand to mop up the loose ball. We go forward for a Wales kick from their own 22.
36 min - Wales 3-15 Ireland: From a Welsh scrum half, Evans sends it deep into the Irish half. A wave of red gives chase but the visitors do well to take play up to the half way line, with Stockdale putting his quick feet to good use as he dances past a number of Wales players.
40 min - Wales 3-15 Ireland: Looks like we're going to end the first half on three more points for the Irish as the ref penalises Wales for standing up in the scrum.
40 min - Wales 3-15 Ireland: Carty misses his penalty kick again - and that's the first half over and done with! Poor from Wales. Good from Ireland. Nothing to write home about from either side, though.
Compared to last week, that was a much more encouraging half from Ireland. Of the two sides, they've looked far more threatening when going forward and have proven sturdy in defence. Admittedly, Wales have struggled to test them, with one notable cross-field kick involving Steff Evans the only highlight of an otherwise subdued half of rugby.
What about that man Jacob Stockdale, though. He's been pure electric on the left wing, with his fast feet and intelligent reading of the game reaping rich rewards for the Irish. Joe Schmidt will have been delighted with his performance thus far.
Some entertaining half-time entertainment here (it is in the name, after all). The announcer asks one of the kids after a quick kicking competition who he’d like to play for in the future: Wales or Ireland? ‘England,’ the kid quips back. What a legend. Safe to say he was roundly booed by all here at the Principality.
Wales' Ken Owens has given his view on that first half from the hosts.
“The boys look a bit rusty ... there are some nerves, some of the boys are too eager to impress," he tells Channel 4. "When we have held on to the ball, we have won a couple of penalties, and put Ireland under pressure ... [Gatland] had been a wonderful servant, hopefully we can send him off with a nice victory in Cardiff.”
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