Ireland vs Wales LIVE: Six Nations rugby final score and result as Andrew Conway strikes twice
Follow all the reaction live from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin
Ireland eased past reigning champions Wales 29-7 in the opening game of the Six Nations championship in Dublin on Saturday, picking up where they left off in November with a comfortable victory.
Ireland looked every inch one of the tournament favourites when they roared out of the blocks in the same manner that toppled New Zealand three months ago but still needed a second half burst to put the injury-hit visitors out of sight.
“It’s never going to be perfect in your first game but we’ve got everything to play for and we know there’s a massive test ahead next week,” captain Johnny Sexton said in a pitchside interview, referring to next week’s trip to France.
It took Sexton’s men just two minutes to take control. An attacking lineout that has proved so lethal of late was the starting point again with Bundee Aki crossing in the corner, aided by a nice looped pass from debutant winger Mack Hansen.
It felt like only a matter of time before the hosts would score again from hand but a couple of sloppy errors - including Sexton uncharacteristically missing two out of three shots at goal - invited Wayne Pivac’s side back into the game
A predictable attack from a side shorn of 680 caps through injuries to the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, George North and Taulupe Faletau was comfortably contained by Ireland’s choke tackle defence.
While a better side could punish Ireland later in the tournament for not being clinical enough to extend their lead beyond 10-0 at halftime, Andy Farrell’s side returned in a much more ruthless mood after the interval.
Andrew Conway put Ireland out of sight with two tries either side of a yellow card for makeshift Wales centre Josh Adams, first using every millimetre of his 1.8 metre frame to reach for the corner and simply collecting a pass to add another.
Centre Garry Ringrose snaked through the porous Welsh defence on the hour to make sure of the winning bonus point.
Ireland emptied their bench and with that lost a little bit of concentration, allowing Wales flanker Taine Basham in for a late try that ensured the visitors did not add a scoreless outing to an otherwise miserable afternoon.
The win extended Ireland’s winning run to nine games but they will face an altogether more difficult test in Paris if they are to make it 10 in a row.
Ireland 29-7 Wales, 81 minutes
Ireland steal Welsh ball on the edge of the 22 anad Tadhg Beirne hits a gorgeous line off Conor Murray’s flat pass. He is chopped at the ankles by Liam Williams and Ireland soon transgress at the ruck.
Do Wales wish to play on? They do, kicking straight to touch and trotting over for a lineout.
Ireland 29-7 Wales, 78 minutes
Cheers around the Aviva as Mack Hansen is named the Player of the Match on debut. He’s been quieter in this second 40 minutes but the wing had an excellent first half and has offered plenty on his first Ireland start.
A movement that appears bound for Hansen’s hands peters out after Wales congest the space effectively, and double knock-ons mean a set-piece for them to feed as the clock ticks towards 80:00.
TRY! Ireland 29-7 WALES (Taine Basham try, 76 minutes)
From nowhere! Something to take back across the Irish Sea for Wales as their gracious hosts engage in some gift-giving. Tadhg Beirne needlessly throws an offload from the floor 15 metres out from his own line and Taine Basham is alive to the possibility, plucking it out of the air and gratefully accepting the present beneath the posts.
Callum Sheedy converts.
Ireland 29-0 Wales, 74 minutes
This has been a really flat performance from the defending champions. They are missing great sections of the spine of their squad but we have seen so little of Wales in attack, with yet more hands on hips and frowning faces as the ball spills from slippery hands in the Ireland 22.
Andrew Conway scored twice as Ireland cantered towards an opening day victory
Ireland 29-0 Wales, 71 minutes
That is Biggar’s last act, with Callum Sheedy on for the fly-half, Biggar shaking his head as he goes. He perches on a pew for a discussion with Wyn Jones, sharing a frustrated word or two with the loosehead. Wales have been well off the pace virtually all afternoon.
Ireland 29-0 Wales, 69 minutes
The respite is exceptionally brief - Wales are pinged at the scrum as both props lose their feet under pressure, and Dan Sheehan will tap and carry.
But Cian Healy rather kindly gives the visitors another chance to get their scrum right as he fails to pick up a loose ball cleanly. This time it is better from Wales, and Dan Biggar punts clear.
Ireland 29-0 Wales, 68 minutes
Wales join the maul through the side door and are penalised. Once more for the corner Ireland will go, and Dan Sheehan hits his jumper...
He hurries to the back but is told to break away after losing his grip on the man in front of him. Sheehan fails to do so, and the accidental offside call from Jaco Peyper means it will be a Welsh scrum feed.
Ireland 29-0 Wales, 66 minutes
Ireland can’t make the most of it, Wales scrambling to be first to a kick through, and eventually clearing. Cian Healy and Ryan Baird lend their fresh legs to the Ireland pack.
Both are involved in their first movement on the pitch, and Ireland win a penalty which Joey Carbery kicks for the corner. It looks like Garry Ringrose is now stationed on the right wing with James Hume in the midfield alongside Bundee Aki.
Ireland 29-0 Wales, 66 minutes
Ireland can’t make the most of it, Wales scrambling to be first to a kick through, and eventually clearing. Cian Healy and Ryan Baird lend their fresh legs to the Ireland pack.
Both are involved in their first movement on the pitch, and Ireland win a penalty which Joey Carbery kicks for the corner. It looks like Garry Ringrose is now stationed on the right wing with James Hume in the midfield alongside Bundee Aki.
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