Ireland v Wales LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations
Ireland 31-7 Wales: Andy Farrell’s men were made to work hard by stubborn visitors but a bonus-point win moved them closer to a grand slam
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Your support makes all the difference.Grand slam-chasing Ireland rugby made it three bonus-point Six Nations wins from three against Wales rugby at the Aviva Stadium, racking up their 18th successive home triumph with a 31-7 victory.
The hosts dominated the first half and led by 17-0 at the break thanks to tries from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe. A penalty try for Wales and yellow card for Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne just after half-time threatened to make things interesting.
Ireland mostly retained control with 14 men, though a ragged second half remained competitive until Ciaran Frawley marked his first Six Nations start with a debut try on 67 minutes and Beirne added the bonus-point try at the death as Wales sank to their 10th defeat in their last 11 Six Nations game.
Ireland travel to England in two weeks before hoping to play for their second successive grand slam at home to Scotland on 16 March. Wales have back-to-back home games against France and Italy, with the latter now a potential wooden spoon decider.
Relive all the action from Dublin below:
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 78 minutes
Heavens, that is some collision between Stuart McCloskey and Mason Grady! The enormous Cardiff wing-cum-centre comes rampaging into the block of granite that is the Ulsterman, tumbling back as McCloskey bounces away. Grady then plays the ball on the floor to deny Jack Conan’s enterprising counter-ruck - Ireland will have a chance at a bonus point try as they kick down into the Welsh 22.
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 77 minutes
Held up! Aaron Wainwright and Dillon Lewis power towards the line but Cian Healy and Caelan Doris keep them out! Superb initial work from replacement prop Healy, and Doris arrived just in time to prevent Wainwright forcing to floor.
Wales have had their chances, you know...
YELLOW CARD! James Ryan is sent to the sin bin (Ireland 24-7 Wales, 76 minutes)
Not for now, but they’ll have the chance to go again against 14 men. James Ryan is the second Ireland lock shown a yellow by Andrea Piardi, who can be card happy.
No arguments with this one, though - three or four penalisable offences within five metres of their own line. Ryan Elias puts the ball on the floor and restarts affairs quickly with a tap of his right boot.
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 75 minutes
George North goes close, centre partner Nick Tompkins closer still, and Aaron Wainwright burrows to within a metre. Mackenzie Martin...not quite. Tommy Reffell...half a foot shy. Can Wales force their way over?
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 74 minutes
A pensive Andy Farrell looks down from the coaches’ box, stroking the flecks of grey in his bushy beard. His side have not been anywhere close to their best this afternoon.
That’s good from Cameron Winnett, the Wales full back bouncing out of a tackle and offloading to Rio Dyer. Three penalties in quick succession against Ireland - a card is coming but Wales want more.
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 72 minutes
George North hits an unders line from out to in but spills the crash ball. Ireland return the favour by knocking on a high punt, allowing Wales to introduce Ioan Lloyd at fly half.
Sam Costelow departs.
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 71 minutes
Andrew Porter is still trucking along even past the 70th minute, and while he’s again moving forward at the scrum, his angle this time is deemed askew by the referee. Back he trots with a shake of his head.
Ireland 24-7 Wales, 69 minutes
Ryan Baird! What an athlete the Leinster forward is, bursting through a tackle and then away, like a galloping giraffe in the open savannah. But giraffe’s aren’t neccesarily known for their passing - it’s not the best from Baird to Jamison Gibson-Park, ensuring that the pair don’t go the distance on the fast-break.
Baird then biffs through Mackenzie Martin to show he’s got some power, too, but a fumble on the floor ends the Irish attack.
A few tired bodies out there. The ball in play time in this game has been huge.
TRY! IRELAND 24-7 Wales (Ciaran Frawley, 68 minutes)
Ciaran Frawley slices through!
An incessant knocking on the door from close range and it swings open soon enough. A pod of Irish forwards fix the eyes of the inside defence so Jamison Gibson-Park throws his pass wider, that gorgeous spin from the scrum half perfectly placed for an onrushing Frawley to glide on to and in untouched. Jack Crowley converts.
Ireland 17-7 Wales, 66 minutes
Variation from Ireland, Ryan Baird almost through on the inside after sharp hands from Caelan Doris and then Robbie Henshaw denied a chance to open his legs by an excellent low tackle from Mason Grady.
Wales are penalised anyway. Kicked to the corner, from where Ireland will launch.
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