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
Follow the live blog below…
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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.
63 mins: Another change for Ireland as Iain Henderson is on for Toner, while Wales make their own swap in the second row with Luke Charteris on for Jake Ball.
63 mins: Wales snatch the lineout, but their attempt to go wide leads down a blind alley so Liam Williams kicks. He only finds Kearney on the run, and he smashes into Scott Williams, who stands firm and tries to hold him up. Sexton whips the ball out right to Earls, but the wing is dragged into touch by Halfpenny with a good tackle. CJ Stander is off, with Peter O'Mahony on at blindside flanker.
65 mins: Ireland are beginning to get the offloads going and it's helping them make quick ground. Ringrose chips in behind and it's a smart kick, but Halfpenny is back well to secure the ball. Wales quick clear, and Marmion returns with a high one. Halfpenny knocks it forwards! But Sexton decides to kick rather than counter and Earls traps Biggar on his 5m. The Irish flood the breakdown but Halfpenny is back to move the ball on. Wales just about survive, and Biggar kicks to touch under pressure. He's charged down! Furlong catches the ball, but the immediate hit from Liam Williams sees him knock forward. Biggar gets a second chance and this time finds touch.
67 mins: Changes for Wales. Evans, Moriarty, Webb and Scott Williams go off, with Nicky Smith, Taulupe Faletau, Gareth Davies and Jamie Roberts on. Rob Howley calls for the reinforcements.
68 mins: Sexton chips to the corner again, and despite Halfpenny beating Zebo to the ball, it's a great tackle from Zebo to take him into touch. 5m lineout to Ireland...
69 mins: Is it a try...no! Henshaw comes charging into the maul after the forwards get it over the line, but he's joined the maul in front of the ball and that's obstruction. Barnes spots it and gives the penalty to Wales, despite Best touching down the ball! The replay is close, but looks the right decision.
73 mins: Sexton fires a cross-field kick over for Zebo that he collects, but is immediately tackled. Sexton comes back right with another kick, but it misses everyone and goes into touch. From the throw, O'Mahony jumps through the defensive line to grab Davies and force the scrum-half down for an Irish 5m scrum. Another big chance here.
75 mins: Ireland can't get the scrum going, so they attack left and the ball is immediately knocked forward, with Marmion then compounding the error by taking the ball from an offside position. That releases the pressure, and Biggar clears to touch.
79 mins: Ireland are going backwards in possession, and when Sexton tries a little chip over on his own 22, it's charged down by Faletau. Jamie Roberts comes charging through and crashes over next to the posts, with Barnes pausing for a minute before awarding the try. Halfpenny bags the conversion and that should be it for Wales. They lead 22-9 with enough time for the restart.
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