Ireland achieved a bonus-point victory over Wales in the Guinness Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With two tries in each half from the home side, and a perfect goal-kicking performance from Jack Crowley today, Andy Farrell’s men maintained their grip on this season’s Championship.
Wales’ only score of the game was a penalty try awarded by referee Andrea Piardi, but despite the final scoreboard, it was far from Ireland’s best performance under Farrell.
Ireland dominate territory and possession early on
Jack Crowley opened the scoring in the 6th minute of this Guinness Six Nations Championship game, the 125 time Ireland and Wales clashed in the Five/Six Nations Championship, when successfully kicking a penalty from 42m out.
With Ireland dominating territory (74%) and possession (69%) in the opening 15 minutes, the home side would not be happy to have only a penalty separating the sides at that stage of the game.
Fourth try of the Championship for Sheehan
Dan Sheehan, with three tries already in this season’s championship, added another when crashing over in the 20th minute. With Ireland successfully winning the line out, the green maul drove for the Welsh line, but with the defending side struggling to cope, Sheehan touched down for the five-pointer, much to the relief of the anxious Irish crowd.
Ireland have their first try on the board against Wales as Dan Sheehan powers over #IREvWAL #SixNations
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📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/BpWHhzKobP— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024
Jack Crowley made it two successful kicks at the posts from two, as he added the conversion for a 10-0 advantage to Ireland.
James Lowe settles nervous Irish crowd
Winger James Lowe settled the nerves of the home crowd even further when scoring his 14th international try on 32 minutes.
Ireland had Wales under pressure for the preceding two minutes, with the men from the principality stoutly defending on their own line. Ireland had won the lineout but Wales held their line and forced the home side to go all the way right to Calvin Nash, before playing the ball back to the opposite wing to Lowe.
With only one defender to beat, Lowe easily touched the ball down, before Crowley maintained his 100% record at kicking for the posts this afternoon, dissecting the posts this time from a more difficult angle.
Ireland have tightened their grip on the match as they go 17-0 clear of Wales after James Lowe scores try number two #IREvWAL #SixNations
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📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/BwGcrOKxrG— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024
With the extra two points added, Andy Farrell’s side were ahead 17-0 by the half-time break.
Half-time: Ireland 17 Wales 0
Penalty-try for Wales as Beirne sin-binned
Tadhg Beirne was sent to the sin bin in the 43rd minute as Wales drove for the Irish line. The Ireland number 5 was found guilty of illegally binding to prevent Wales progressing toward the home side’s line.
Referee Andrea Piardi, the first Italian to referee a Guinness Six Nations game, consulted with his TMO to see if Warren Gatland’s side had grounded the ball. With TV footage unclear of a successful grounding, the Italian awarded a penalty try to the visitors, reducing Ireland’s lead to 10 points.
First international try for Frawley
Ireland sucked in the Welsh defence on 67 minutes, allowing fullback Ciaran Frawley to race in for his first International try, on only his third senior International appearance. The UCD man found himself unmarked as he crossed the line and raced behind the post to score.
Jack Crowley had his easiest kick of the day, and his conversion put Ireland 24-7 ahead just over 10 minutes to play.
Ireland have got a third try and it’s Ciarán Frawley who gets over as Andy Farrell’s side establish a 24-7 lead over Wales #IREvWAL #SixNations
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📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/kEKVMO3JkW— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024
James Ryan sat out the final 4 minutes of the game in the sin bin as Ireland conceded three consecutive penalties, with Wales camped on the Irish try-scoring line. Despite their best effort Warren Gatland’s side failed to score, with Cian Healy and Ronan Kelleher working in unison to hold up the Welsh-attempted touch down.
Bonus-point try for Tadhg Beirne
With Andy Farrell’s men in search of a fourth, and bonus-point try, Tadhg Beirne, who had been yellow carded earlier in the game, found himself at the end of a great team effort as he achieved the crucial score with the clock in red.
Crowley, who had been perfect kicking all afternoon, ended the game with another successful conversion, giving Ireland a 31-7 bonus-point victory over Wales.
FT: Ireland 31-7 Wales
Tadhg Beirne’s bonus-point try puts the icing on the cake for Ireland as Andy Farrell’s side make it three wins from three #SixNations #IREvWAL
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📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/jNWXU1cDjT— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024
Ireland improve record against Wales
Ireland are now unbeaten at home against Wales in their last six Guinness Six Nations Championship fixtures, a new record, with wins in 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2022, and a draw in 2016.
Captain Peter O’Mahony feels Wales deserve plenty of credit for the way in which they stymied his side at times during the second half of Ireland’s 31-7 win #SixNations #IREvWAL
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📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/Rody1Ig5pA— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024
The Irish team is now three wins from three in the 2024 Championship, and will head to Twickenham next to play England, before the final game against Scotland back in Dublin next month.
Full-time: Ireland 31 Wales 7
