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.
Scotland 10-14 England, 62 minutes
This is all rather frantic and frenzied. England’s forward begin to exert control, blowing through an under-resourced ruck, allowing Lewis Ludlam to pluck the ball from betwixt the bodies. Scotland are offside in midfield - Marcus Smith will surely extend the visitors’ lead with another simple kick.
Scotland 10-14 England, 60 minutes
England are beginning to get their heavy carries into the game from greater depth. Maro Itoje and Kyle Sinckler carry hard either side of a juggled Ben Youngs box kick that goes backwards from Scottish hands.
Another Youngs hoist is also deemed to have tumbled backwards even as an exasperated Duhan van der Merwe prepares for the referee’s whistle, but the hulking wing resets and charges forth. England eventually haul him down and then force him to hold on, but Marcus Smith misses touch.
Scotland 10-14 England, 59 minutes
This game has simmered throughout but is really bursting into life. Scotland nearly take advantage of some curious spaces in tight confines close to the left touchline but Ali Price can’t quite gather an offload and is given a hefty thump by Ben Youngs for his trouble as he knocks on.
Jamie Ritchie appears to have picked up an injury, and the motorised cart has been called for to help him off. That’s a real blow for Scotland, losing their vice-captain and key back-rower to what appears to be a lower leg issue. Ritchie is able to get to his feet to hop on to the golf buggy as Magnus Bradbury replaces him, departing to consolatory applause from the crowd.
Also joining proceedings will be Sione Tuipulotu. The centre replaces Sam Johnson.
Scotland 10-14 England, 57 minutes
Nearly a disaster for Stuart Hogg! Aware of a long 50:22 attempt from Henry Slade, the Scotland full-back claws the ball back into play near his own line but is not quite aware of Max Malins’ proximity on the chase, a flashing flicker of fear in the eyes as he gauges a quickly closing space.
Hogg gets to the ball first, just about, and gets back to his feet to allow his teammates to recover and clear. Had Malins got there first he’d have slid over.
Scotland 10-14 England, 56 minutes
Dynamite Darcy Graham! The Scotland wing hurries on to a spilled ball and zips hither and thither like a loose electron, leaving desperate English limbs flung after him as he steps left and right. England recover, just about, and eventually win the ball back.
TRY! Scotland 10-14 ENGLAND (Marcus Smith try, 53 minutes)
Marcus Smith scores!
The England forwards munch through Scottish defenders with a meaty maul mastication, chewing up bodies and spitting from the sides. Advantage comes, and Ben Youngs spots an under-resourced blindside.
Youngs dummies, draws, and passes to his half-back partner, who evades the Scottish cover defence to score in the left corner.
His conversion is less effective. England lead.
Scotland 10-9 England, 52 minutes
And Ben O’Keeffe isn’t happy with the newbies, who push early. That’s the second offence of that type for Scotland, which means it will be an England penalty despite the front row changes. Marcus Smith kicks down into the Scotland 22.
Scotland 10-9 England, 51 minutes
Scotland’s maul then collapses under its own weight to give England a scrum feed.
And Scotland will change their chief combatants ahead of it - Stuart McNally, Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel are readied and enter the front row fray in the place of George Turner, Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson.
Scotland 10-9 England, 49 minutes
That isn’t the worst result for Scotland, with the visitors just starting to build momentum during that movement. The home side now have ball inside the England half and a chance to attack. Darcy Graham nearly scythes between English tacklers onto a very flat Finn Russell pass, but is halted.
Russell tries to kick for territory as the English defence resets, but his booted effort is repelled. It spins into touch off an English shin.
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