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 0-0 England, 12 minutes
That’s a really good clearance from Ali Price, boxing long after Scotland claim their ball well on the throw.
Price is now being called off - Sam Simmonds collided with the scrum-half’s head on a hard charge about two minutes ago and the doctors have decided Price needs an HIA.
That will allow Ben White a debut for Scotland, against the country of his birth and up against former Leicester mentor Ben Youngs. The pair bear striking stylistic similarities. We’ll see if Price passes the concussion checks but that didn’t look a particularly nice bang to the head.
Scotland 0-0 England, 11 minutes
England sweep it out to the right and that is lovely from Elliot Daly, peeling off Marcus Smith’s right hand and unfurling a perfect flat pass across a teammate to Max Malins on the end of the line.
Malins, by his own admission not blessed with “out-and-out speed”, is hauled back and towards touch but hurls an offload infield, which finds Freddie Steward. The full-back has plenty of bulk but cannot counter driving limbs of three Scottish defenders who force him out. Scotland lineout. Luke Cowan-Dickie has some treatment but will be fine to continue.
Scotland 0-0 England, 10 minutes
Again England enter the Scotland 22, this time via the boot as a skimmed stone skips across the surface between Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg, who does well to gather it and afford Finn Russell the chance to clear.
He fails to find touch and Freddie Steward runs it back with interest.
Scotland 0-0 England, 9 minutes
England throw a lineout on the fringes of the Scottish 22 and Tom Curry breaks from the back of the maul, shipping the ball on to back-row comrade Sam Simmonds, who is well held. A slightly hurried attack is spoiled by a Luke Cowan-Dickie fumble after getting the timing of his hard charge wrong as Ben Youngs delays a pass.
Scotland 0-0 England, 8 minutes
A straight-arm penalty for England. Finally O’Keeffe is happy with the scrum’s assembly and England look to be pleased, too, Ellis Genge getting a nudge on Rory Sutherland who turns in and goes down. Early ascendancy at scrum-time for the visiting pack.
Scotland 0-0 England, 6 minutes
Scotland fancy making an early set-piece statement and pile the pressure on, but that’s all a little impatient - Ben Youngs still has the ball in his hands as Scotland are free-kicked for an early drive.
England opt to pack down for another go, and then once more as Scotland fall foul of the recent alteration on the set-up about the hooker’s brake foot - George Turner is told he must keep his foot in the required place as Ben O’Keeffe awards another free kick.
Scotland 0-0 England, 4 minutes
The first lineout throw for George Turner is accurate enough but England’s maul defence is initially sound, and before the Scottish mass can begin to rumble the ball spills from still warming hands. Scrum, England feed.
Scotland 0-0 England, 3 minutes
A first bit of intricate choreography from Marcus Smith, whose salsa stepping is well monitored by the Scottish defence, who grab a piece of him and force him to offload. Freddie Steward then ties to thump a grubber through, which is blocked into touch.
England play again and this time Smith carries up to the line, a quick tip on for Nick Isiekwe allowing the lock to biff through for a couple of metres. Kyle Sinckler is isolated after spinning out of a tackle in the next phase, though, and Scotland are awarded a holding on penalty.
Scotland 0-0 England, 2 minutes
It is a reasonably brief one stalled by a strong double tackle from Scottish forwards, and Ben Youngs looks to the sky, putting up a high box kick for Duhan van der Merwe to handle. The big wing does, claiming a mark, but rather miscues his own clearance and England run it back to about the Scottish ten-metre line.
Scotland 0-0 England, 1 minute
A solid first clearance from Ali Price, Freddie Steward briefly considering a quick throw but content to hand the ball over to the forwards just inside the Scotland half.
Luke Cowan-Dickie hits his jumper and England will have their first attack.
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