Two games away from Grand Slam dream

sion and then was off-target with a second good penalty chance on 14 minutes.

And the Welsh pounced off a lin- eout on Ireland’s 22 metre line when Gareth Davies recovered possession and was given far too much room by Stockdale to score.

Halfpenny converted the try and, after the ref penalised Rob Kearney, the Welsh full-back made it 13-3.

Ireland needed to respond and settled for Sexton 35th minute penalty after Farrell and Healy were held up on the try-line.

Then Bundee Aki’s strength allowed him room to stretch over for a try on the stroke of half-time and Sexton’s conversion gave Ireland a two-point lead.

A third Ireland followed in the 45th minute – expertly worked by Earls and by Murray before Dan Leavy powered over.

Sexton popped the easy conversion and it got even better in the 54th minute, Cian Healy burrowing his way over to make it 27-13.

However the Welsh gave themselves scored in the corner as Ireland’s defence was alarmingly stretched and Halfpenny’s excellent conversion left seven points between them.

Sexton’s decision to take a quick tap penalty rather than shoot at the posts ratcheted up the tension but replacement John Ryan won Ireland a crucial penalty in the scrum.

Murray made the kick, the ball catching the inside of the left upright and through the posts.

But the 10-point cushion was immediately reduced as Steff Evans scored in the corner and Halfpenny’s conversion made it a three-point game with time almost up.

But it was Wales who blinked first as Stockdale brilliantly read and gratefully intercepted Anscombe’s pass to kill the visitors off.

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