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.
Bundee Aki opens the scoring
The sole try came through Bundee Aki, latching on to a lofted pass from Mack Hansen on the left touchline. The wing has been utilised regularly on Ireland debut, roaming and reeling off a number of bright touches. A good first 40 minutes in Irish green - Wales have struggled to deal with the threat of Hansen, Johnny Sexton and Garry Ringrose all inter-changing, and have also been guilty of biting on the forward pods.
H/T: Ireland 10-0 Wales
Ireland rather dominated that first 40 minutes and will be disappointed not have made their superiority count. They have offered far greater attacking thrust and but for two Johnny Sexton misses from the tee the margin would be much wider.
To give credit to Wales, they have managed to stall Ireland well inside the 22 since conceding in the opening five minutes, but the visitors have been lacklustre in attack and unsure defensively in the wider channels. A ten-point margin will be relatively pleasing for Wayne Pivac, though the Wales coach will hope for far more out of his players in the second half.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 40 minutes
Taken down at the lineout and the time ticks by. Wales boot the ball for some fortunate fans by the corner and that’ll do us.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 39 minutes
A trademark play from Ireland as Johnny Sexton is released on the wraparound, waiting for Garry Ringrose to do the carrying to preserve Sexton’s hands for the next phase.
Good continuity from Ireland, up beyond ten phases and retaining their quick ball. Wales defending well, though, with Aaron Wainwright making a strong chop tackle to stall the home side.
Something different from Jamison Gibson-Park, lifting a pass in the vague direction Mack Hansen after finding the road closed on an exploratory dart from the base of a ruck. Not quite in the right postcode - through Hansen’s hands and into touch and with a minute to go until half-time, that could be that for the serious action of the first 40 minutes.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 37 minutes
The resulting scrum is more Jackson Pollock than Georges Seurat and Jaco Peyper penalises Wales for causing a rather messy collapse. Ireland kick into Welsh territory.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 36 minutes
Ireland’s aerial kleptomaniacs strike again as another Ryan Elias throw goes awry, Caelan Doris putting pressure on Aaron Wainwright, who is deemed to have knocked on.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 35 minutes
More exploitation out wide from Ireland with Hugo Keenan shoving an offload between two tacklers on to a stooping Josh van der Flier. But the ball spills free just as they look to capitalise on the momentum and Wales will clear.
Louis Rees-Zammit kicks long and chases hard after it, forcing Ireland to kick into touch short of halfway. A decent defensive reset from Wales but Ireland look likely to properly unlock them at some stage.
Rees-Zammit is grimacing, by the way, with that heavy strapping still apparent on his ankle. Also hobbled is Johnny Sexton - and more seriously, requiring a visit from the Irish medics. He’ll be fine to continue after some treatment.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 34 minutes
Mack Hansen has been really sharp so far. He is being brought off his wing regularly to add extra options behind the Johnny Sexton-Garry Ringrose axis and a little shimmy allows him to inject some pace into the Ireland attack, accentuated by a similar step from Sexton in the next phase.
Ireland 10-0 Wales, 32 minutes
Wales still look to be have reasonable speed of ball but are struggling to make significant dents in a well-formed green wall. Josh Adams pounces on an apparent knock-on to make a metre or two along the left touchline but that is the greatest progress the Welsh make in a minute-long meander. A knock-on from Louis Rees-Zammit is spotted, and that’ll be that for the movement. Ireland scrum.
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