Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Irish in poll position after hosts elect to play with the shackles off GREEN PARTY
IRELAND elected to change at the Aviva Stadium – and powered to victory on the back of it. With the country going to the polls to choose a new Government, there was ballot box-ticking to be done yesterday.
Meanwhile, at Lansdowne Road, Andy Farrell’s men kept their old box kicking ways to a minimum – romping home with a bonus point victory to set up a massive clash with England at Twickenham in a fortnight.
Andy Farrell and his players voted to let the shackles off after the lucky win over Scotland in Dublin.
The result was a much more cohesive performance. Ireland were inspired to victory again by skipper Johnny Sexton – while, after a magnificent first half, Robbie Henshaw was unfortunate to But there were big displays all over the pitch from Ireland as their rivals’ dream of emulating the team of 1970- 73 that won nine championship games straight was ended. Despite running in four tries, the most intense celebration from the hosts came 16 minutes from time when, after sustained pressure from Wales, Ireland won a scrum penalty against the head five metres from their own line. It felt like the matchwinning moment and so it proved as Andrew Conway scored Ireland’s fourth try in the 75th minute – though, for the second week running, the men in green were fortunate that an opponent squandered a great try-scoring opportunity. Hadleigh Parkes was the guilty party this time (inset). So it is Ireland that remains in Triple
They played with ambition and, when they had to in the second half, they defended with massive intensity.
Going wide twice in the opening minutes, Ireland let it be known they wouldn’t rely on the box-kicking game that had become a millstone around their necks.
Th The hosts enjoyed a fair bit of dominance early on but c couldn’t capitalise and it to o k an i mp or t ant Bundee Aki turnover on his own 22 to galvanise I Ireland.
It took them until the 17t 17th minute to draw first blood. After patient build-up play, the dancing feet of full-back Jordan Larmour saw him out-fox four defenders to score. Sexton badly mis-kicked his conversion attempt.
But the men in red struck back, despite their top try-scorer Josh Adams limping off in the 25th minute.
Skipper Alun Wyn Jones and Biggar off-loaded and Tomos Williams raced clear to make it an easy conversion for Biggar.
Ireland responded ruthlessly in turn. Conway’s chip and chase put the Welsh under pressure and, with Ken Owens throwing short in his own 22, scrum-half Williams knocked on the knock-down.
Thus Ireland were gifted a scrum five metres from the try-line and Tadhg Furlong barged over. Sexton added the extras this time.
The half ended with Wyn Jones and O’Mahony squaring up – but it was more ragged than raucous from the Welsh after the restart.
Henshaw and Biggar went off for HIAs and didn’t return as Ireland cranked it up again.
From a five-metre lineout drive, Josh van der Flier grounded under a heap of bodies and Sexton nailed the difficult conversion for a 19-7 lead.
Wales fired back, turning down a kick at goal and believing it was the right call when Parkes stretched for the line in the 56th minute.
Ref Romain Poite initially gave the try – but ruled it out when the replay showed that the centre failed to ground the ball.
Still Wales attacked and a try looked odds-on until sub Dave Kilcoyne got the better of Dillon Lewis off a Welsh scrum put-in. Sexton got to relieve the pressure – and the hosts pounced again.
A big hit on Parkes by Sexton forced the Welshman to knock on. From the scrum, van der Flier’s carry sucked in the defence. Conway gleefully dived in off Larmour’s long pass.
Justin Tipuric muscled over with time up and Halfpenny converted.