WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN
WALES ................................ 17 IRELAND ............................ 22
IRELAND bounced back from a record loss against England and boosted their World Cup preparations by inflicting a rare home defeat on Wales.
Ireland’s 22-17 victory meant that Wales were beaten in Cardiff for the first time since November 2017.
Wing Jacob Stockdale led the way with two first-half tries as Wales head coach Warren Gatland’s final Principality Stadium Test before he departs after the World Cup ended frustratingly.
Ireland, crushed 57-15 by England, bossed most critical areas ahead of next Saturday’s return game in Dublin.
Fly-half Jack Carty added a conversion and penalty for the visitors, while his opposite number Jarrod Evans kicked a penalty before going off at halftime and being replaced by Rhys Patchell, with a second-half penalty try sealing Wales’ fate.
Wales finished strongly, with debutant wing Owen Lane and Patchell claiming late tries and Patchell converting both, but it was not enough.
Wales have lost top spot in the world rugby rankings and dropped to fourth as a result of the defeat.
A win by a margin of less than 15 points for the Irish now means they have climbed from fourth to second and the All Blacks have resumed the top spot. England are the thirdplaced team.
If Ireland had beaten Wales by more than 15 points, they would have become number one in the world for the first time in history.
Now, assuming England, New Zealand and Australia all win their respective games next weekend by more than 15 points (against Italy, Tonga and Samoa respectively), Wales would need to beat Ireland by more than 15 points in Dublin to go to the World Cup as the number one side in the world.
A Welsh win by less than 15 points in Dublin would see Wales climb to second, behind the All Blacks, while a draw with Ireland would see Ireland climb to second, Wales climb to third, and England drop to fourth.
Any defeat to Ireland next weekend will see Wales head to the World Cup ranked fourth in the world.
Tries: Lane, Patchell. Cons: Patchell 2. Pens: J. Evans.
Tries: Stockdale 2, Carty. Cons: Carty. Pens: Carty.
Amos; Lane, S Williams, Watkin, S Evans; J Evans, A Davies; Carre, Elias, Lee, Beard, B Davies, Shingler, J Davies Navidi (c). Replacements: Dee, R Evans, Brown, Ball, Wainwright, T Williams, Patchell, Holmes.
Addison; Conway, Farrell, Aki, Stockdale; Carty, Marmion; Kilcoyne, Scannell, John Ryan, Henderson, James Ryan; Beirne, O’Mahony (c), Conan. Replacements: Best, Porter, Furlong, Toner, Murphy, L McGrath, Ringrose, D Kearney.
Romain Poite (France).