Ireland: (17) 31 |
Attempt: Sheehan, Rowe, Frawley, Beirne Cons: crowley 4 pen: Crowley |
Wales: (0) 7 |
try: penalty try |
Ireland moved closer to winning back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams with an unconvincing bonus point victory over a spirited Welsh side in Dublin.
Dan Sheehan's opening try and James Rowe's goal gave the hosts a 17-0 lead after a dominant first half.
Wales' hopes of a shock victory were high after Ireland's Tadhg Beirne was sin-binned and given a penalty try early in the second half.
However, Beirne earned a bonus point after Ciaran Frawley eased the home side's nerves.
The win means Ireland equal England's Six Nations record of 11 consecutive wins and are on course to become the first team since France in 1998 to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles.
It was Wales' third consecutive defeat, but it wasn't as big as some had expected, and although they caused problems for their opponents, they should take a positive view of their energetic second half, which lacked the sharpness to cut into the deficit. You can do it too. .
Ireland were too strong in the first half
Given Ireland's dominance in this game in recent years and their impressive home win total (currently 18 games), few expected Wales to improve.
However, after a sluggish and erratic start to the game, the Welsh defense showed enough strength to thwart Ireland's first maul of the match, after Jack Crowley's penalty sealed victory for the home side. , Ireland was not quite like themselves.
However, with Ireland completely dominating at the scrum, another catch-and-drive chance was soon given, producing the long-awaited and now familiar result of Sheehan's fourth try of the competition and ninth in 24 caps. Ta.
Ireland's second goal came from another familiar source for Lowe, who scored his 14th international try with a wing cross after Joe McCarthy's brilliant lunge broke through Wales' stubborn defence.
Wales showed their determination in the second half
Wales will of course be disappointed with their third straight defeat (10th in their last 11 Six Nations appearances), but they will no doubt be encouraged by the way they upset Ireland in the second half.
Although they were no match for the Irish giants in the first half, Warren Gatland's young side found new purpose after recovering from a 27-0 deficit at half-time and nearly snatching victory against Scotland. He reappeared in the second half.
In the first half, the Welshman did not visit Ireland's 22nd team until the 36th minute and was sent off empty-handed, but the story changed in the second half.
After a corner kick, the Welshman gave Ireland a taste of their own medicine with a deft maul.
Although he held on on the line, a TMO check showed Beirne a yellow card for changing his binds, and Italian referee Andrea Piardi awarded Wales a penalty try.
With renewed hope, Wales put sustained pressure on Ireland over 19 phases in their next attack, but they piled on to score before Ronan Kelleher won the crucial penalty and halted the visitors' momentum. It would have been a shame if it wasn't there.
From there Ireland knew they needed to step up and while man of the match Bundy Aki had a try canceled out for Robbie Henshaw's knock-on in the build-up, the majority inside the Aviva Stadium watched in relief. I sighed. Frawley dived over the line.
It was a big moment for Frawley, who had been in the spotlight ever since he was chosen by manager Andy Farrell to replace ultra-steady full-back Hugo Keenan, who injured his knee against Italy.
And although James Ryan presented Ireland with a second yellow card, Beane charged over to earn a bonus point and set Ireland up for a long-awaited trip to Twickenham to face England in two weeks' time. Ta.
lineup
Ireland: Florrie; Nash, Henshaw, Aki, Rowe. Crowley, Gibson Park. Porter, Sheehan, Furlong. Byrne, McCarthy. O'Mahony (Captain), Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacement: Kelleher, Healy, Yeager, Ryan, Baird, Conan, Murray, McCloskey.
Sin bin: Byrne (43), Ryan (76)
Wales: Winnet. Adams, North, Tompkins, Dyer. Costelow, Tomos Williams. G. Thomas, Dee, Assilatti, Jenkins (Capt.), Beard, Mann, Leffel, Wainwright.
Replacement: Elias, Domakowski, D. Lewis, Rowlands, M. Martin, Hardy, I. Lloyd, Grady.
match official
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Touch judge: Carl Dixon (England) & Gianluca Gnecki (Italy)
TMO: Eric Gauzan (France)