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.
YELLOW CARD! Josh Adams is sent to the sin bin! Ireland 17-0 Wales, 49 minutes
Jaco Peyper does want to gaze at the big screen and discuss this with his officiating colleagues. He is certain that Adams should be penalised, but initially feels that should be all. Assistant Mathieu Raynal adds his two cents, imploring the referee to have another gander, and Peyper this time concludes that Adams has tucked his arm and recklessly tonked Sexton. This’ll be yellow.
Adams can’t really argue. Impudent and impetuous and off for a ten-minute sit down.
Ireland 17-0 Wales, 49 minutes
Wales continue to keep the ball alive with flicks and tricks, but make limited progress once more. This time they are helped out by a stray Irish arm over the shoulder, and a high tackle means they will have a penalty.
They try a little kick over the top and Josh Adams slams into Johnny Sexton with little clear attempt to grab the bouncing ball. Does this need a further review?
Ireland 17-0 Wales, 47 minutes
Wales show impressive dexterity in handling a ball by now taking on the properties of soap, Liam Williams unfurling a tweener to blindly put the ball on to Louis Rees-Zammit.
But that such unorthodox touches are required rather betray the problems that Wales are having in executing consistently threatening attack. The next movement never has any forward locomotion and runs out of steam, ending in a knock-on. 18 points looks a big lead even at this early stage.
TRY! IRELAND 17-0 Wales (Andrew Conway try, 44 minutes)
This is really, really close. Conway’s initial reach for the line appears to be short but he might just have pushed it over thereafter.
Here’s the verdict from TMO Stuart Terheege - TRY! Conway had to entirely regather his momentum but fixed the Welsh defence with his inwards charge before sliding back to the outside, and had just enough reach to get to the white paint.
Can Sexton convert? Yes! Brilliantly controlled from the right, catching the wind to carry it through the uprights. Another excellent start to the half for Ireland.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 44 minutes
Collapsed again. Penalty advantage, Ireland with a free play. Bundee Aki pulls back for Johnny Sexton, who slithers into a gap, and Garry Ringrose carries on.
Sexton passes across to Andrew Conway, who retreats to take it but then bursts forward. Has he reached the line after a sinuous in-and-out weave?
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 43 minutes
Lineout taken and Ireland maul, but Adam Beard and Will Rowlands get right amongst things and seem to have it handled...
But the locking pair are deemed to have dragged it down illegally. “He’s taken the leg,” referee Jaco Peyper explains, pointing at Rowlands. Onwards Ireland go with another lineout, this time seven metres out, after a Sexton prod.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 42 minutes
Back Ireland will come for that penalty, and Johnny Sexton looks towards the corner. He pushes Ireland down to just inside the Welsh 22.
How about this for a shot of Bundee Aki’s try?
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 41 minutes
Wales take the kick-off down effectively and Tomos Williams box-kicks clear. Wales are then offside in midfield, so Ireland can try their luck with a penalty advantage.
The players re-emerge
Right, both sets of players are now back out there, with a few drops of moisture on the lens perhaps showing the rain has just intensified during the interval. Johnny Sexton to get things back underway.
Ireland 10-0 Wales
Ireland are really attacking this new Welsh centre partnership. The official statistics show that Nick Tompkins made 14 tackles in that half. It feels like they are going to properly bust that midfield open at some stage.
Will we see more of the Welsh backs in attack? There have been a couple of bright moments but they really haven’t found their fluency against a well-organised Irish defence.
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