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 7-3 England, 25 minutes
Ben Youngs is trying to force Duhan van der Merwe to turn at every opportunity, putting another kick in behind the Scottish left wing. Van der Merwe retreats well and carries hard, and Luke Cowan-Dickie is then offside.
Scotland 7-3 England, 24 minutes
But Nick Isiekwe falls on top of a maul to allow Scotland an easy exit, and an opportunity to reunite Ali Price with the contest after passing his concussion checks. Try-scorer Ben White gets an ovation - that was an impactful cameo.
Scotland throw the lineout to the front to try and work something in the narrow channel, but Jamie Ritchie is buffeted into touch before he can return the ball to hooker George Turner.
Scotland 7-3 England, 24 minutes
But Nick Isiekwe falls on top of a maul to allow Scotland an easy exit, and an opportunity to reunite Ali Price with the contest after passing his concussion checks. Try-scorer Ben White gets an ovation - that was an impactful cameo.
Scotland throw the lineout to the front to try and work something in the narrow channel, but Jamie Ritchie is buffeted into touch before he can return the ball to hooker George Turner.
Scotland 7-3 England, 23 minutes
He’s not quite ready to return for the Scotland lineout inside the England half, which is rather grotesque, and England soon win the ball back.
Henry Slade thumps the ball long with a raking left-footed punt and England charge down an attempted clearance, though it flies into touch from Joe Marchant’s hoisted forearms.
Scotland 7-3 England, 21 minutes
From the sublime to the ridiculous from Stuart Hogg as he completely misses the ball as he attempts to boot the ball away. Luke Cowan-Dickie hacks the ball through but Finn Russell is back swiftly enough to dot down.
England run back the goalline dropout and Maro Itoje carries hard, but the visitors are pinged at the breakdown as Scottish hands get to the ball legally. It looks like Ali Price will soon be back amongst things.
TRY! SCOTLAND 7-3 England (Ben White try, 18 minutes)
What a start for Ben White on Scotland debut!
For the first time the home side attack with real purpose and pace, and England are torn asunder. Stuart Hogg fades to the outside of Maro Itoje, drawing Nick Isiekwe outside his second row partner and then offloading for Darcy Graham to dash through the gap that thus opens.
Graham unsteadies the feet of Joe Marchant with a typically devastating scuttle and shimmy, and that leaves only the last defender in front of the wing. A simple inside pass to White, and the scrum-half is over for the score.
Finn Russell adds the extras. A lovely try.
PENALTY! Scotland 0-3 ENGLAND (Marcus Smith penalty, 17 minutes)
A real wounded duck from the right boot of Marcus Smith but it just about tumbles inside the right-hand post. England have some points as reward for their early ascendancy.
Scotland 0-0 England, 16 minutes
This time Scotland are penalised right in front of the posts at the ruck. Marcus Smith will seek his first Six Nations points...
Scotland 0-0 England, 15 minutes
But that is wasteful from Scotland, who had the chance to apply pressure to England’s clearance. They don’t let the ball leave the lineout drive without conceding a penalty - looks like Jamie Ritchie’s inappropriate intervening limbs in the air have fallen foul of the referee.
Scotland 0-0 England, 14 minutes
Nearly a 50:22! We’ve seen that Stuart Hogg spiral before in this fixture and this is almost perfectly placed, twisting and tumbling on the Edinburgh gusts for the welcome embrace of open green turf. It hops into touch just outside the England 22.
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