Wales vs Ireland LIVE: Hosts hammer visitors to claim 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam
Here's how the final day of the Six Nations championship played out
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Wales thrashed Ireland 25-7 to win the Six Nations Grand Slam.
Hadleigh Parkes' try inside just 70 seconds set the tone before fly-half Gareth Anscombe took over from the tee to add a further 20 points as the hosts hit the front and never looked back.
Ireland scored with the final play of the game to avoid being left scoreless but it was a day to forget for them in Cardiff.
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Wales 13-0 Ireland, 38 minutes
Ireland clear well but Angus Gardner rules the ball was taken back into the 22, and thus when the ball bounces on the touchline the line out will be deep in Ireland territory.
Wales 13-0 Ireland, 40 minutes
James Ryan knocks on into Ross Moriarty as he tackles Josh Navidi, and after Angus Gardner spots the replay on the big screen he reverses the scrum feed.
A final chance for Wales to launch an attack...
Wales 13-0 Ireland
Tadhg Furlong is pinged for collapsing at the scrum.
Gareth Anscombe will look to stretch the lead to 16 with the first half clock in the red.
PENALTY! Wales 16-0 Ireland (Gareth Anscombe penalty, 40 minutes)
Another solid strike, another three points to cap an excellent half for Wales.
As anticipated it's been physical and scrappy, the conditions forcing an error-strewn half of rugby that has rather suited Wales.
Other than losing George North early on, it has just about been perfect for the home side, managing the game brilliantly and taking their chances to score points.
Hadleigh Parkes' try in the earliest ebbs set the tone and gave the Welsh the perfect start, and Ireland have struggled to get back in it since. Gareth Anscombe has been spot on from the tee, and it's a sixteen point lead that on a day like this will be immensely difficult to overhaul.
That's one of the poorer halves that Ireland have produced since Joe Schmidt took charge, a fairly limp showing, the majority of their work coming in defence and a lack of inspiration coming in limited time with the ball. A dysfunctional line out and struggling scrum haven't helped matters either.
Ireland seem to have got on the wrong side of referee Angus Gardner and the penalties have allowed Wales to dominate the territory battle, and Ireland have been sucked into more niggly affairs as the half wore on as the frustration took toll and brains tired.
Might Josh Adams have seen yellow for his trip on Keith Earls? By the letter of the law, he certainly could have done.
This would be Ireland biggest ever comeback if they are able to overhaul the 16 points by which Wales are in the ascendency.
Insurmountable?
No half-time alterations. Johnny Sexton gets things back underway.
Wales 16-0 Ireland, 41 minutes
Three Welsh defenders engulf James Ryan, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard and Josh Navidi holding the Ireland second row up, waiting for the call of maul and then earning the scrum on halfway.
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