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.
Wales team
Starting XV: Wales: 15. Liam Williams 14. Johnny McNicholl 13. Josh Adams 12. Nick Tompkins 11. Louis Rees-Zammit 10. Dan Biggar 9. Tomos Williams 1. Wyn Jones 2. Ryan Elias 3. Tomas 4. Will Rowlands 5. Adam Beard 6. Ellis Jenkins 7. Taine Basham 8. Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: 16. Dewi Lake 17. Gareth Thomas 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Seb Davies 20. Ross Moriarty 21. Gareth Davies 22. Callum Sheedy 23. Owen Watkin.
Ireland team
Starting XV: 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Andrew Conway 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Bundee Aki 11. Mack Hansen 10. Johnny Sexton 9. Jamison Gibson Park 1. Andrew Porter 2. Ronan Kelleher 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Tadhg Beirne 5. James Ryan 6. Caelan Doris 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan 17. Cian Healy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Ryan Baird 20. Peter O’Mahony 21. Conor Murray 22. Joey Carbery 23. James Hume.
Six Nations: Ireland vs Wales
Welcome along to live coverage of the opening Six Nations match of the championship, between Ireland and Wales in Dublin.
Wales may be the reigning champions but they travel across the Irish Sea as slight underdogs after Ireland’s stellar autumn campaign in which Andy Farrell’s side took down the All Blacks in a clean sweep of victories. Wales also carry plenty of injuries with Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Taulupe Faletau all ruled out.
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