IRELAND’S MEAN, GREEN MACHINE JUST FAR TOO STRONG FOR WEAK WALES
IRELAND 37 WALES 27
Ireland stormed NatWest Six Nations victory by dismissing Wales in Dublin.
Jacob Stockdale bagged a brace, with Bundee Aki, Dan Leavy and Cian Healy all crossing, too, as Ireland racked up a bonus-point victory to stun Warren Gatland’s Wales.
Peerless scrum-half Conor Murray’s sterling service greased the gears on Ireland’s smooth operation, with Joe Schmidt’s men even shrugging off Johnny Sexton unusually missing 10 points with the boot.
Despite dominating for large swathes, Ireland only ended up winning the day thanks to Murray’s late penalty goal and a last-gasp intercept score for Stockdale.
Half-back Davies, Aaron Shingler and Steff Evans grabbed tries for Wales, but the visitors were outmuscled and outclassed, eventually.
The scoreline failed to reflect Ireland’s supremacy.
Ireland raced out of the blocks, but Wales grabbed almost all the early advantage.
Halfpenny posted a tough penalty just two minutes in when Aki played the ball offside from an Earls knock on.
The hosts subsequently bossed the first quarter, but Sexton missed three shots at goal.
Those missed points hurt Ireland, despite Stockdale finishing well from Sexton’s smart cut-pass.
Davies sniped home for a Wales try to cut Ireland’s wind, the scrum-half capitalising on a powerful drive from Rob Evans.
Halfpenny’s conversion and a penalty put Wales 13-5 ahead against the run of play, before Ireland forced further dividend.
Sexton found his kicking boots to post a penalty after concerted home pressure, before Aki pounded through and stretched out to dot down Ireland’s second.
The conversion saw Ireland carry a 15-13 lead into the break.
Rob Kearney fed Earls on the right flank, with Murray clutching the inside ball at the second attempt to keep the move alive.
Leavy powered home for Ireland’s third try soon afterwards.
And the hosts bagged the bonus-point score comfortably inside the hour, courtesy of Healy’s short drive home.
Ireland kicked a penalty to the corner, lost the lineout – but forced Wales to carry over and dot down for an attacking five-metre scrum.
Halfpenny scragged the breaking Murray, but Ireland kept calm, with Healy carrying on and finishing in style.
Just when Ireland thought they were home and hosed, Shingler popped up on the wing to coast over after the hosts ran out of defensive numbers.
Halfpenny’s stunning touchline conversion put Wales within seven.
Murray’s calm penalty nudge proved hugely important, as Wales sneaked a third try through wing Evans, conjured by Josh Navidi’s neat flip-pass.
Halfpenny’s conversion cut Ireland’s lead to just three points with as many minutes on the clock, only for Stockdale to hunt down that intercept score and cement the win.