Wales vs Ireland live: George North double secures victory for Welsh to open door for England to win Six Nations
All the latest updates from the Principality Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales got back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats to beat Ireland 22-9, with George North finding his form with two tries to hold off a spirited away side. The result now means that England can win the Six Nations title if they beat Scotland on Saturday, given that they will take a minimum eight-point lead with just one round to play. Re-live the action here.
- Wales beat Ireland 22-9 at the Principality Stadium
- George North scores tries either side of half-time to put Wales ahead
- Jonathan Sexton kicks two penalties with Paddy Jackson adding the third
- Jamie Roberts comes off the bench to seal the victory late on
- Defeat for Ireland means England can win the Six Nations title if they beat Scotland on Saturday
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Teams...
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Luke Charteris, Taulupe Faletau, Gareth Davies, Sam Davies, Jamie Roberts
Ireland: R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; J Sexton, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, T Furlong, D Ryan, D Toner, CJ Stander, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: N Scannell, C Healy, J Ryan, I Henderson, P O'Mahony, K Marmion, P Jackson, T Bowe.
Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of tonight's Six Nations encounter in Cardiff between Wales and Ireland, which could go a long way to deciding the winner of this year's championship.
Teams:Wales: Halfpenny, North, J. Davies, S. Williams, L. Williams, Biggar, Webb, Evans, Owens, Francis, Ball, A. Jones, Warburton, Tipuric, Moriarty.
Replacements: Baldwin, Smith, Lee, Charteris, Faletau, G. Davies, S. Davies, Roberts.
Ireland: Kearney, Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Zebo, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, Furlong, D. Ryan, Toner, Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: Scannell, C. Healy, J. Ryan, Henderson, O'Mahony, Marmion, Jackson, Bowe.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Out runs Justin Tipuric on his own as the flanker collects his 50th cap for Wales, albeit it is only his 24th start for his country. He's soon followed by Alun Wyn Jones, Jamie Heaslip and the rest of the two squads, as the fireworks and flamethrowers shoot into the Cardiff night sky.
Time for the anthems.
The passion home crowd belt out the Welsh national anthem after Ireland's call, and you get the idea that both teams are up for this one. Here we go...
2 mins: Zebo takes the kick-off safely deep inside his own 22, and Murray fires an immediate box-kick into touch on their own 22m. The lineout is clean ball off the top from Tipuric, and Sexton fires off the line to try and steal the interception. It doesn't stick, but two rucks later Best gets the turnover and Ireland counter.
Sexton loops a ball out to Zebo, and the wing kicks over North's head and rushes onto the ball. Davies is back to take the catch but drops it, and Zebo fly-hacks it further downfield. Ireland have the ball in Welsh territory, and a Wales hand knocks it forwards in the ruck for an Irish scrum. A frantic start for both teams.
4 mins: Sexton fires up a high bomb deep into the Welsh 22, and North and Zebo contest it in the air that forces Wales scrum-half Webb to clear his lines. He can't find touch outside the 22 though, and from the lineout Wales concede a penalty for a high tackle from Webb that will give Sexton his first shot at goal.
7 mins: Sexton's kick sails through the posts and Ireland lead 0-3.
8 mins: Another turnover for Ireland, as this time Sexton does get the interception, and Henshaw fires a low grubber kick deep into the Welsh 22. From the lineout, Stander tries to snatch the ball, but he's pinged by referee Wayne Barnes and Wales breathe a sigh of relief.
10 mins: North breaks down the right for the first time, and he smashes into Kearney to leave the Irish full-back on the ground as he motors on. Wales recycle the ball, but Biggar is caught in possession. Tipuric takes up the crash ball, and Biggar chips in behind for Liam Williams to run onto. The wing regathers the ball and Wales are into the Irish 22, and this is excellent phase play by the home side.
Webb tries a dart from the base but his caught immediately, and the play slows down enough for the forwards to go into pick-and-go mode. Now they go wide, and Davies knocks it forwards before Scott Williams is caught offside, and the Irish celebrate as if they've scored a try. A wasted chance there, but it was good ball retention from the Welsh. Sexton kicks to touch on the 10m line.
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