Ireland hold off plucky Wales to keep Triple Crown alive

It was job done for Ireland, but it would be a stretch to call it a job well done.

Andy Farrell's side got the bonus-point win against Wales they desired to set up a Triple Crown decider with Scotland next week, and their outside chance of challenging for the title remains intact for another day at least.

Much like their meeting in Cardiff last year, this 27-17 win was in the balance right up to the final minutes as Steve Tandy’s side exceeded all expectations at Aviva Stadium, while Ireland looked a shadow of the side that blew the doors off the English chariot a fortnight ago.

It looked like it would be a dominant win when Jacob Stockdale scored his first Ireland try since 2021 to give them an early 7-0 lead, but the frustrating elements of Ireland’s game from the last 12 months kept Wales in touch right up to the very end.

While Ireland only conceded nine penalties across the 80 minutes, they came in clusters and in their own half, while their scrum once again came off second best aside from a couple of well-won penalties from Tom O’Toole.

At times it looked like Ireland were content to play for penalties, going through long phases of one-out runners even inside their own half, as the Welsh defence made tackle after tackle to stay in the game.

When they clicked, it was excellent. Stockdale’s try was Ireland at their best, while Jack Crowley’s try before half-time had his side 12-3 in front, although the out-half endured another frustrating day with the tee, missing two of his four conversions.

There were some deeply frustrating moments, like watching Rob Baloucoune slip off Rhys Carre to allow the Welsh prop run in to score before half time, but Farrell will take solace in how his side responded to conceding scores.

They upped the ante after the break for Jack Conan to score his try, and while James Botham responded for Wales, Ireland hit back with their bonus-point for Jamie Osborne, before a late penalty for Crowley iced the game.

Ireland looked ferocious in the opening stages, Nick Timoney setting the tone with a rib-tickling tackle on Dan Edwards with a ferocious tackle inside the first minute, and it wasn’t long until they put points on the board.

The try was made in Ulster; Tom O'Toole won the scrum penalty, allowing Ireland to the edge of the 22, before Baloucoune found space.

Stuart McCloskey logged two big carries, and when he got his hands on the ball for a third time, a gentle tipped pass to the onrushing Stockdale allowed the winger burst through for a brilliant try, converted by Crowley for the lead on six minutes.

It looked like Ireland had extended their lead soon after when Conan forced his way over after a sustained period of pressure, but it was chalked off for an O’Toole knock-on, and after Louis Rees-Zammit's brilliant 50:22, the visitors earned a penalty for Dan Edwards to make it 7-3.

On 17 minutes, Ireland went back on the attack, with a clever lineout move to get Conan into space, and while they worked their way into the 22, it was a blunt and unimaginative string of one-out runners, with Wales captain Dewi Lake eventually picking off a jackal turnover to end the attack.

After clearing, Wales won a penalty off Garry Ringrose near the 22, and smelling blood, they kicked to touch.

Quick-fire penalties against James Ryan and Caelan Doris were a sign of the Irish desperation, but the pair made up for those infringements when they helped McCloskey hold Carre up over the line and prevent a try.

Ireland kept creating chances, but the Welsh defence was immense. Baloucoune threw an offload into touch, before Alex Mann intercepted Jamison Gibson-Park's pass deep in the Welsh 22, as they continued to frustrate the home side.

Eventually, on 36 minutes, Ireland made their possession pay. Another lengthy set of phases, in which Tadhg Furlong logged two powerful carries, saw the Welsh defence finally break as Crowley dummied a pass wide before breaking in to score from five metres out to make it 12-3, although the out-half pulled his conversion left and wide.

It appeared to be a gut-punch for the Welsh right on half time, but they had the final say before the break, when an Irish knock-on gave them one last attack on 40 minutes as Carre shrugged off a tame tackle effort by Baloucoune to gallop through and score his side’s opening try, converted by Edwards to leave just two between the sides, 12-10 at the break.

Having got themselves back into the game right on half time, Wales handed a try back four minutes into the second half.

It came after Baloucoune’s offload came was deflected into touch off a Welsh hand in the 22, and after Mann prevented a quick lineout being taken, referee handed a penalty to Ireland, Conan forcing his way over after a few phases, as Crowley converted to make it 19-10.

It didn’t quite ignite the performance, and once again a quick pair of penalties against Ryan and Beirne had Ireland under pressure, before a choke-tackle by O’Toole and Rónan Kelleher eased the pressure, with O’Toole winning a penalty on the resulting scrum.

It was a temporary reprieve, as Ireland continued to overplay in their own half, and two scrum infringements in a matter of minutes saw them pinned back deep into their 22.

Another penalty against Doris set the Welsh up for a five-metre tap and go, after being held up in the first half, this time they executed to perfection, Botham forcing his way over and Edwards converting to make it 19-17 with just under a quarter to go.

It was starting to get nervy, and then Ireland had a bit of luck.

A kick bounced kindly and fell into the hands of Joe McCarthy, whose grubber gave Ireland the perfect territory, even after Wales cleared the lines.

Some nice work from Crowley pulled the Irish attack down the blind side, and quick hands from Stockdale and Conan sent Gibson-Park within inches of the line, before Ireland pulled it back to the openside for Osborne to score the bonus-point try.

Crowley’s inconsistent form off the tee continued as he missed the extra points, leaving the score 24-17, heading into the final 10 minutes, although Wales would play much of it with 14 players after a sin-bin for Tomos Williams in the build-up to the try.

McCarthy continued his impressive impact off the bench with a stolen lineout, and that was followed by Baloucoune and Ciarán Frawley connecting nicely to get back into the 22, and from that territory Wales coughed up a penalty for Crowley to stroke between the posts, putting Ireland two scores in front.

And while Wales pushed for one final score to secure a losing bonus-point, it wouldn’t come, Beirne’s poach at a ruck securing the victory, and sealing an underwhelming win.

Scorers

Ireland: Tries: Jacob Stockdale, Jack Crowley, Jack Conan, Jamie Osborne

Cons: Jack Crowley (2)

Pens: Jack Crowley (1)

Wales: Tries: Rhys Carre, James Botham

Cons: Dan Edwards (2)

Pens: Dan Edwards (1)

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O'Toole, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Tom Stewart (for Kelleher, 63), Michael Milne (for O’Toole, 63), Thomas Clarkson (for Furlong, 59), Joe McCarthy (for Ryan, 59), Josh van der Flier (for Timoney, 59), Nathan Doak (for Gibson-Park, 23-31 Blood, and 75), Tom Farrell (for Ringrose, 69), Ciarán Frawley (for Stockdale, 69).

Wales: Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake (capt), Tomas Francis; Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter; Alex Mann, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Ryan Elias (for Lake, 56), Nicky Smith (for Carre, 44), Archie Griffin (for Francis, 56), Adam Beard (for Carter, 56), Olly Cracknell (for Wainwright, 44), Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Louie Hennessey (for Mee, 69).

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)