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 7-0 Wales, 15 minutes
Wales have struggled so far to disrupt Irish ball and Mike Catt’s attack is thus able to wander as it pleases. It has been a creative start, with plenty of toing and froing and pretty pictures off the hands of Jamison Gibson-Park and Johnny Sexton.
That’s less pretty - Josh van der Flier takes his eye off the ball as it hits his hands and knocks on just short of the Irish 22.
Missed Penalty! Ireland 7-0 Wales, 14 minutes
Away again! A similar flight on the kick of Johnny Sexton, who nudges it gently up into the breeze, asking it to carry it goalwards but waving his arms in frustration as it again slides past the right post.
Ellis Jenkins takes a moment to strap up a cut that is leaking a little bit of blood. Wales will kick a 22 dropout.
Ireland 7-0 Wales, 12 minutes
Creative from Ireland! They create an overlap on the right with a switch-back play after folding bodies to the left, Garry Ringrose able to roam in the open-field and very nearly gassing Taine Basham on the outside. Basham grabs a shoelace but not before the half-break is made, and a scrambling Wales are a yard or two offside at the next breakdown.
Johnny Sexton will have another go from 45m, right of centre. This would take him beyond 500 Six Nations points, by the way.
Ireland 7-0 Wales, 11 minutes
Taine Basham shoots out of the line to try and stall the Irish attack and does so with a firm hit, though his right hand has knocked the ball forward as it is passed and Wales are thus denied a chance to hare after a fly-hack. Back down for another healthy heaving at the scrum.
Missed Penalty! Ireland 7-0 Wales, 10 minutes
Not quite! Johnny Sexton’s effort starts on line but goes like a Bruce Mouat stone as it curls on the breeze wide of the right upright.
Ireland 7-0 Wales, 8 minutes
There is an inviting blindside and Ireland wish to use it, Mack Hansen nearly fixing Louis Rees-Zammit’s flashing feet with a step but clung on to by the Welsh wing.
Ireland then play territory, kicking down the centre and chasing well. Aaron Wainwright is stalled in the tackle and then falls away from support, allowing Andrew Porter to attack the breakdown and come up with a holding on penalty. Johnny Sexton gestures for goal, and then for the tee from the touchline as it looks to extend the Irish lead.
Ireland 7-0 Wales, 7 minutes
But this Paul O’Connell guided Irish defensive lineout is going to be a menace all afternoon. Ryan Elias’ throw for Aaron Wainwright is disrupted and Wales knock-on. Scrum, Irish feed.
Ireland 7-0 Wales, 6 minutes
Ireland knock-on soon after the restart but Wales are unable to make the most of it and kick advantage away. Ireland are going to play, Johnny Sexton and Garry Ringrose combining as they so often do to send Andrew Conway on a ramble up the right. Conway toes ahead.
An even end to the ensuing battle of the boot means Wales will throw a lineout near halfway.
TRY! IRELAND 7-0 Wales (Bundee Aki try, 3 minutes)
What a start for Ireland! Josh van der Flier hurries away from the feigned maul and puts Caelan Doris into a soft shoulder, with Ireland over the gainline straight away. Rapid ball is efficiently worked right and then left, Johnny Sexton pulling a pass back into the hands of the creative Mack Hansen, who assesses his options.
He pies the space for Bundee Aki filling his left wing space. Hansen lifts a lovely pass to the centre, who makes unimpeded passage for the corner to open the scoring.
Sexton nails a tough conversion from the touchline, and that is just about a perfect start for Ireland.
Ireland 0-0 Wales, 2 minutes
First touch for Mack Hansen, and it’s nearly a dream one! A kick from Johnny Sexton skews the debutant’s way off a Welsh boot and suddenly the wing bursts into space. His chip ahead over the last man comes more off the shin and Louis Rees-Zammit scurries back to cover, but Wales are forced out and Ireland will have a lineout deep in opposition territory.
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