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.
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 10-6 England (Finn Russell penalty, 41 minutes)
Russell steadies himself and bisects the uprights. Scotland have had little territory or ball but lead by a useful four points as the players depart for half-time.
Scotland 7-6 England, 39 minutes
Scotland have done so much good stuff defensively in this first half and again nick breakdown ball as England try to attack. The last chance of the half will be the hosts’, then, and they might just extend their lead after Kyle Sinckler is ruled not to have offered a sufficiently clear release before competing at a ruck.
Finn Russell will indeed go for goal.
Scotland 7-6 England, 37 minutes
Brilliant defence from England. Duhan van der Merwe comes stomping off his wing, bristling as he is fed a pass and asked to charge into the English inside backs. Elliot Daly goes low, snaring an angry bear in his trap and pulling him down swiftly, allowing his captain Tom Curry to latch over the top and draw the referee’s whistle for van der Merwe’s failure to release.
Ben White had a dream start to his Scotland career, scoring just minutes after coming on to the field
PENALTY! Scotland 7-6 ENGLAND (Marcus Smith penalty, 34 minutes)
Another simple one for the England fly-half and much more confidently struck.
Scotland 7-3 England, 33 minutes
There’s a bit of zing to the England attack, but Scotland’s structures are thus far holding firm. Kyle Sinckler is dragged down by Rory Sutherland, who ends up draped over the top, forming a ruck - an arriving Jamie Ritchie is therefore penalised when he is caught with chocolate-covered fingers after a dig through the cookie jar. Marcus Smith will look to narrow the margin to one from bang in front...
Scotland 7-3 England, 31 minutes
England catch and drive and begin to get a rumble on, Scottish bodies falling away as it advances with ominous intent. Five metres short, four metres, two metres, and over, but there are just enough Scottish limbs surrounding the ball to prevent it getting to ground. Goalline dropout. Scotland survive, but their clearance is short, and England will attack again.
Scotland 7-3 England, 29 minutes
But here come England! Luke Cowan-Dickie swats a tackler aside and then Ben O’Keeffe announces that they have the advantage. Scotland broaden in preparation for something adventurous but that leaves space closer in, Ben Youngs sniping effectively but unable to dodge backfield tacklers.
Marcus Smith loves a crossfield kick...over-cooked! Henry Slade claps his hands in frustration as his fly-half puts it over the leaping centre’s head out on the right without a Scottish defender in particularly close attendance. Back they will go for the penalty, which is pushed for the opposite corner by Smith.
Scotland 7-3 England, 28 minutes
George Turner flings it over the top into the midfield and a meaty charge affords Scotland the space required to clear in reasonable comfort.
Scotland 7-3 England, 27 minutes
England are tending to kick when they get to soft edges outside the Scotland defence, but are tending to put too much on their through grubbers, with Stuart Hogg the latest to switch into reverse gear and ground in-goal.
That’s a much better example from Marcus Smith, finding an inviting angle as he flips his hips and driving right into the corner to force Scotland to throw a pressure lineout.
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