Six Nations: Ireland 27 Wales 17
IRELAND: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O’Toole, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris (capt).
WALES: Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake (capt), Tomas Francis; Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter; Alex Mann, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.
Here is the match report, that’s all from me for tonight, good night!
[ Ireland’s defence as much as attack secures a hard-fought win over WalesOpens in new window ]
Andy Farrell on RTÉ: “It’s a different game when you aren’t on the frontfoot and that’s credit to Wales, they worked for each other in defence and they’ve improved all through the competition, in the end we’d be delighted to get the bonus point win and go on to next weekend.
“Game management was frustrating, it’s different learnings, things don’t always go your way, Wales certainly made a scrap of it. We’ve a few bruised bodies but we’ve got the extra day too. A big week coming up for sure.”
Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Mary Hannigan’s TV View and John O’Sullivan’s Talking Point are in:
[ Ireland continue their traverse from doom to delirium and back againOpens in new window ]
[ Ireland’s fragility in the scrum was evident again against WalesOpens in new window ]
Tadhg Beirne on RTÉ: “Wales are a tough team to play, thankfully we were able to get it done and get the five points. It was a challenge we put to ourselves to get the physicality right. I thought we met them every time in defence, unfortunately we let a few tries in. We lost our shape a bit, we went off in ones a bit, it played into their hands. We had lots of opportunities where we could have scored earlier, but we got the four tries in the end.”
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne is tackled by Wales’ James Botham and Dewi Lake. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Jack Conan is man of the match: “I thought Wales were brilliant today, it was a proper Test match, great intensity throughout. Some easy mistakes from us, great we could do it for the lads today. Nice to get over the line for a try, the atmosphere was unbelievable.”
Ireland’s Jack Conan scores. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA
Full-time: Ireland 27 Wales 17
Job done by Ireland against a spirited Wales side, who deserved a losing bonus point and harshly go home with nothing. But they gave Ireland a hell of a game. Not the best performance ever by Ireland, but it’s another win in the bag, with the Triple Crown in play. And you never know for the title should Scotland beat France.
77 mins: Penalty for Ireland, Crowley scores! Ireland had a chance of another try after the previous attack and sustained pressure but Crowley smartly goes for the posts with the bonus point in the back and making it a 10-point lead, which should be too much for Wales to come back.
80 mins: One last attack by Wales but Ireland turn it over.
Ireland 27 Wales 17
74 mins: Wales putting Ireland under pressure with a clever kick into the corner, but a favourable bounce for the defending side and Osborne grabs it well.
Then almost a brilliant try by Ireland! Superb steal from the lineout by McCarthy, Baloucoune with a moment of magic with a behind the back pass and Frawley chipped it over the Welsh player to chase but didn’t get the run of the bounce.
69 mins: Try for Ireland from Osborne, Ireland get the bonus point! Some smart passing from Ireland and offloads then Gibson-Park almost gets over for a try on his 50th cap, but is just short. Then they recycle across the pitch and have numbers over, good carry by Ringrose, Stockdale gives to Osborne to score. Bad miss from Crowley on a scorable conversion.
Yellow card for Tomos Williams for the final stages.
Ireland 24 Wales 17
66 mins: Chaotic few moments after Joe McCarthy picks up a loose ball and then kicks it forward for a chase. But Edwards from an isolated position beats Gibson-Park, beats McCarthy and then gives Wales a reprieve.
63 mins: Try for Wales, Botham scores!
Ireland give up another offside, Wales have put in a ferocious effort so far. Great tackle by Conan to put Wales back a bit but they’re hovering inside the five-metre line.. Mann, then Griffin picks it and they’re at the goal post. Botham finishes. Wow, what a contest. Converted udner the posts by Edwards
Try Wales!
Relentless pressure on the Irish line and eventually James Botham makes it count – Ireland lead by two points.
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Ireland 19 Wales 17
60 mins: A row between Furlong and Nicky Smith after a scrum, they have a scrap at each other, but nobody penalised. Then another scrum after a knock-on by Ireland, they can go at each other again. The scrum breaks down and will go again. From that Wales win a penalty, Furlong is raging but he’s off for Clarkson. McCarthy and Van der Flier on too.
57 mins: Crowley does well to stop a 50-22 from Rees-Zammit, Stockdale takes a risk with a run but keeps it then a bizarre minute or so where both teams give away the ball twice to each other before a Wales scrum.
52 mins: Deliberate knock-on by Beirne after a Williams pass and Edwards kicks to touch, another chance for Wales. Jenkins barely grabs the lineout and then Ireland win it back through O’Toole and Kelleher, great strength to hold Lake up.
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne is tackled by Tomas Francis. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho
49 mins: Big chance missed by Wales, a superb offload into Adams who misses the final pass from five metres out to Botham, Ireland get away with it.
43 mins: Try for Ireland, Jack Conan! Knock on from Wales after a high kick by Gibson-Park. Ireland go through 13 phases but without getting particularly far, but win another scrum. Then from a penalty, Gibson-Park taps and goes and Ireland push forward. The physicality was too much and Conan finishes after a Doris pass.
But the referee is checking for obstruction from Kelleher, who went alongside with him. But it’s confirmed a try finally. Crowley converts.
Try Ireland!
Jack Conan was denied by the TMO in the first half, and nearly again here, but he has his try and Ireland lead 19-10.
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Ireland 19 Wales 10
The second half is under way.
Half-time: Ireland 12 Wales 10
Not going according to the script at all, Ireland have a battle on their hands. Could argue Wales have been the better team so far and have showed a lot of grit and skill. Better second half performance needed by Ireland.
40 mins: Try for Wales, Carre scores! What a try by the prop, incredible acceleration. Good play in the build-up, then Carre wrongfoots Baloucoune and then the winger can’t get back, the big man gets it over. A bad few minutes for Baloucoune after the chance came from a scrum after he had dropped under pressure.
Ireland 12 Wales 10
38 mins: Try for Ireland, Jack Crowley! The pressure was simply too much, Furlong had a few opportunities, Timoney as well and Wales held on again stubbornly. But Gibson-Park fed Crowley, who dummied and then finished well. Conversion is missed by Crowley, a miskick.
Ireland 12 Wales 3
35 mins: Heroic defence from Wales and Ireland get nothing from their attack, Conan tried to get it over, and then Gibson-Park’s pass is excellently intercepted by Mann. Jenkins got in the way of another Gibson-Park pass but illegally and Crowley kicks to touch after the penalty.
31 mins: Up and under is very well caught by Stockdale and gives Ireland a chance to attack, Baloucoune tries a kick and go but goes out of play, back for a penalty.
Clean lineout then a maul, Doak gives it flat to Doris and the edge forward. The crowd finds their voice as Baloucoune almost forces his way through to the line, then Doris. Beirne almost, but just short, and back for a scrum.
28 mins: After 12 phases, Jack Conan turns it over in the breakdown after a long spell of pressure on Ireland. Ireland not making any ground though and Baloucoune tries to slip a pass to Stockdale from short-range but it goes out of play.
25 mins: Nathan Doak is on for Jamison Gibson-Park, who goes off for a blood sub, Doak with his debut in a big moment in the match. Not a great scrum, Kelleher gives away a free-kick for not hooking properly and Eddie James charges at the Ireland defence. Wales causing more issues than many had predicted.
23 mins: Wales held up, great effort by Stockdale and Ryan after two tap penalties, first one was penalised and Carre almost got it over, but Ireland clear. From the kick, a few moments later Wales knock it forward and Ireland survive.
21 mins: Wales growing into the game, they turn the ball over after 12 Irish phases and then a great kick behind Crowley, they smash Ringrose and turn it over again, Lake with a big effort. Solid lineout and they’re within five metres. Beirne for being off his feet. They can’t get through but back for the penalty.
17 mins: Penalty scored by Wales, Williams from in front of the posts. Back to within four points.
Ireland 7 Wales 3
15 mins: A couple of mistakes by Ireland, sloppy play by McCloskey with a long pass well behind everyone. Wales knock Baloucoune out of play, then Rees-Zammit hits a fine 50-22. Penalty advantage for Wales, good spell for them.
12 mins: Try disallowed for Ireland, Jack Conan had got it after great pressure and a long spell of possession, but TMO sees that O’Toole had fumbled the ball in the build-up.
10 mins: Rare mistake by Gibson-Park as he passes it errantly out of play but it’s a bright start for Ireland. Ulster backs having a good start – McCloskey, Baloucoune and Stockdale.
Wales gave away the ball cheaply through Williams and Gibson-Park collects and runs, playing with great pace. Within 10 metres of the line again.
6 mins: Try for Ireland, Jacob Stockdale! The Ulster back takes it, great line after another great pass by McCloskey. Converted by Crowley.
It was a scrum for Ireland and they won a scrum penalty, good effort by O’Toole. Jack Crowley kicked for touch. Solid lineout, then lovely carrying by Baloucoune, skipped past two players and within seven or eight metres of the line. They recycled to the other side and then made the decisive score.
Ireland 7 Wales 0
2 mins: Kick-off is collected by Stuart McCloskey, then Gibson-Park clears. From the lineout, Nick Timoney gets a big hit in and knocks Wales well back. Edwards goes for the 50-22 but doesn’t get there. Then Edwards kicks it out on the full.
The teams are out for the national anthems, Wales first, then Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland’s Call.
Finally before kick-off, Gordon D’Arcy writes that Ireland’s Twickenham breakdown dominance can pave way for success against Wales.
“Nick Timoney at seven, given a chance to impose himself in a pack that is attacking at the breakdown. That breakdown dominance was a point of difference in Twickenham and will be the foundation stone of everything we do against Wales.”
The Wales match offers opportunity for Irish players to show their worth as Andy Farrell looks to build depth, writes Johnny Watterson.
“What Farrell has done for the game against Wales on Friday night is to push several players forward to see what they can make of the pressure to perform. It’s the right thing for the Irish coach to do, although in some ways he has little alternative.
“Players such as Nick Timoney, who starts for the first time in the Six Nations, but also bench players Nathan Doak, Tom Stewart, Michael Milne and Tom Farrell need to make mistakes, fail at certain things and gain experience in working problems out.”
[ Time is closing quickly for Andy Farrell to build depth before Rugby World CupOpens in new window ]
Ireland’s Nick Timoney during a team run at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
In the other games of the round, Italy play England and Scotland play France tomorrow. In the Counter Ruck newsletter, Gerry Thornley has written about the threat for Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, should he lose.
“Borthwick has rolled the dice like never before, but if it’s one thing losing by a record margin in a home game against Ireland, a week after their latest loss to the Scots, it’s another thing entirely to lose to Italy.”
[ Borthwick ought to beware of Italian kiss of deathOpens in new window ]
The Counter Ruck podcast: Andy Farrell has made five changes to the starting XV ahead of Friday’s clash with Wales.
Unusual, perhaps, to mix up a winning formula after a stunning day out at Twickenham.
John O’Sullivan and Gordon D’Arcy join Nathan Johns to pick through what it all means.
Have Ireland embraced more rotation in a slightly tweaked selection policy? What to expect of Wales, a banana skin or as downtrodden as ever?
Have Ireland changed their selection policy ahead of the clash with Wales?
Ireland v Wales is a milestone game for Irish scrumhalves, writes John O’Sullivan, as Jamison Gibson-Park earns his 50th cap against Wales while Nathan Doak makes his international debut.
“Ireland head coach Andy Farrell habitually emphasises the importance of family, so it was no surprise that there was an influx of nearest and dearest during the week; in person in the case of Gibson-Park’s wife, Patti, and children, Isabella, Iris and Jai, while his parents touched base from New Zealand, via a big screen in the hotel.”
Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
[ Ireland v Wales is a milestone match for Irish scrumhalvesOpens in new window ]
Some pics of fans from both sides before the game, lovely weather in Dublin today.
Irish fans ahead of the match. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho 
Welsh fans Reggie and George from Kent in Temple Bar. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos 
Welsh fan Anthony Bowen. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos 
Welsh Fans Daisy, Sophie and Amelia in Temple Bar. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Conor Murray writes about Wales and how their abysmal run of 24 defeats from 26 Test matches since the 2023 World Cup “should have every other union on alert”.
“The decline has been a long time coming. Gatland even suggested that it goes back to Thatcherism and teacher strikes in the 1980s.”
[ Conor Murray: Expectations of Welsh success have nosedivedOpens in new window ]
Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho What does the table look like?
France are top of the table on 15 points with three wins from three, Scotland are second on 11 points, so that looks like being a crucial game in the battle for the title. Ireland are third on nine points and need France to stumble in their final two games against Scotland and England to be in with a chance of winning the championship. England and Italy have five points, while Wales are bottom on one point.
Six Nations table
Here is Gerry Thornley’s match preview:
“Ireland may not be as complete as in Twickenham, but reproducing further evidence of that presence and leadership, as well as a sharper attack off broken play and more depth in personnel, would represent a positive night at the office.”
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland’s game against Wales in the fourth round of the Six Nations. Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is at 8.10pm. Ireland will be buoyed by their impressive win over England two weeks ago and they face a beleagured Wales team who have not won have not won a Six Nations game since 2023. There were signs of improvement for Wales against Scotland, with a losing bonus point and having chances to win the game, so Ireland will have be focused, but they are odds-on for victory.
Here are the teams:
IRELAND: Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Tom Stewart (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Ciarán Frawley (Leinster).
WALES: Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol); Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Eddie James (Scarlets), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Cardiff); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester); Rhys Carre (Saracens), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), Tomas Francis (Provence); Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Ben Carter (Dragons); Alex Mann (Cardiff), James Botham (Cardiff), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Archie Griffin (Bath), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Louie Hennessey (Bath).
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU).