6 Nations
Ireland Make it Two Wins from Two
Ireland have made it two wins from two in the Six Nations with a brilliant win over Wales
Ireland have made it two wins from two in the Six Nations with a commanding 24-14 bonus-point victory over Wales at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon.
Tries from Jordan Larmour, Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Andrew Conway saw Ireland power past their opposition and to an impressive win.
Ireland had the better of the early exchanges and had several opportunities to get the first try of the game in the opening 15 minutes, but they were turned-over each time, although it was an encouraging start by the home side.
However, in the 20th minute they got their reward when after some phases in the Welsh 22 Conor Murray sent the ball to the right-hand side where Larmour took the ball forward, jinking between a couple of defenders before powering over the line despite having defenders holding onto him. Johnny Sexton failed to connect well with the ball on the conversion leaving it at 5-0.
Wales made Ireland pay for their lack of precision in key areas as they took the lead seven minutes later, showing some great handling skills, with Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar combining before spreading the ball to Tomos Williams who raced over the line. Biggar provided the extras to make it 7-5.
Williams turned into the villain moments later as he knocked-on the ball five-metres out from his own line, leading to an Irish scrum from which the hosts took the ball through a couple of phases until Furlong powered over from close-range. Sexton made no mistake with the kick this time around to make it a five-point game once again.
It was scrappy for the remainder of the half as it finished 12-7 in favour of the boys in green come the whistle.
Ireland came flying out of the blocks again and unlike in the first-half they took full advantage of their good start as they drove over from a line-out maul through van der Flier. Sexton knocked the conversion from the left-hand side right between the posts to stretch the lead out to 19-7 after 47 minutes.
Wales came roaring back following that try and thought they had a score of their own just before the hour mark as Hadleigh Parkes barrelled over beside the posts, only to have the try chalked off due to a knock-on.
They continued to put the pressure on but failed to cut into the Irish lead as the hosts held on strong in defence before eventually winning a penalty and clearing their lines.
It was Ireland’s turn to dominate territory and possession and secured the bonus-point with five minutes left on the clock as they spread the ball out to the right inside the opposition 22, finding Conway who dived to touch down in the corner. Ross Byrne couldn’t add the extras but it was 24-7.
Man of the match CJ Stander was sent to the sin bin with a minute left and Wales made their man advantage count scoring the final try of the game through Justin Tipuric with the clock in red. Leigh Halfpenny slotted over the conversion to leave the final score at 24-14.
Next up for the Irish is a trip to Twickenham to face England in two weeks’ time, while Wales will look to get back to winning ways with a game against France.
Player Ratings
Ireland Starting XV:
Jordan Larmour (8), Andrew Conway (8), Robbie Henshaw (7), Bundee Aki (7), Jacob Stockdale (6), Johnny Sexton (8), Conor Murray (8); Cian Healy (5), Rob Herring (7), Tadhg Furlong (8), Iain Henderson (7), James Ryan (7), Peter O’Mahony (8), Josh van der Flier (8), CJ Stander (8)
Replacements (7)
Wales Starting XV:
Leigh Halfpenny (6), George North (4), Nick Tompkins (5), Hadleigh Parkes (7), Josh Adams (5), Dan Biggar (7), Tomos Williams (6); Wyn Jones (6), Ken Owens (6), Dillon Lewis (6), Jake Ball (7), Alun Wyn Jones (7), Aaron Wainwright (6), Justin Tipuric (7), Taulupe Faletau (7)
Replacements (6)
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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