Slam dream alive as Ireland survive Wales scare

Ireland took the four points, Wales the moral victory after a gripping Guinness Six Nations encounter that went right down to the wire.

It wasn't meant to be this close, indeed, some had said it wasn't even a contest.

Heavy underdogs Wales, on a 14-match losing streak, gave the defending champions a massive scare with a stunning performance that probably deserved more.

In the end, Ireland picked up the Triple Crown and kept their Grand Slam hopes alive with a 27-18 win but it was way too close for comfort.

Matt Sherratt only took charge of the home side last Monday, on an interim basis after the departure of Warren Gatland, and was able to harness Wales' best performance in years in front of 73,623 at a rocking Principality Stadium.

Ireland, with tries from Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne and 17 points off the tee for Sam Prendergast, were disjointed and ill-disciplined, and had to play 20 minutes without Garry Ringrose who was red-carded in the 32nd minute.

But they had enough about them to overturn an eight-point second-half deficit and keep the Slam dream alive ahead of the Dublin meeting with France in two weeks' time.

Wales, with Taulupe Faletua carrying hard and Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee lively, started brighter but Ireland were the first to strike.

Conan turned the ball over inside the Irish half and Ringrose pinged a 50:22 down the line.

The rucks were quick and the hands slick and Wales were all out defending and eventually the pressure told.

The hosts were penalised for not releasing the ball-carrier and Joe McCarthy, one of seven changes to the side that beat Scotland, busted up the middle before Conan picked up a loose ball and stretched for the line.

Prendergast's conversion was a formality.

The out-half measured a perfect cross-kick for Mack Hansen soon after and it looked only a matter of time before a second try would come.

However, after working good position, James Lowe had the ball knocked out of his hands by Ellis Mee five metres out.

But Prendergast extended the lead just into the second quarter when Wales were penalised at the scrum.

Everything was going to plan to this point but Wales dominated the remainder of the half as Ireland made mistake after mistake.

Robbie Henshaw and captain Dan Sheehan knocked on and the scrum was a mess. Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson penalised four times as Ireland coughed up a total of eight first-half penalties.

An offside in midfield allowed Gareth Anscombe to get Wales on the board and wayward kicks from Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park, awarded player of the match, only encouraged the hosts.

They should have been level when Jac Morgan passed inside for Tomos Williams but the scrum-half dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

Down the other end, Osborne fired a pass too low with Ringrose waiting to finish off a good Irish move.

Henshaw was then penalised for holding on and Wales got on the front foot.

Ringrose was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Ben Thomas, with the colour changing to red after a bunker review, meaning Ireland would have to play with 14 from the 32nd to 52nd minute.

Anscombe added another penalty and Prendergast hit the post with a long-range effort after Ireland won a scrum penalty.

Prendergast knocked on a high ball and Porter was penalised again at the scrum as the November Ireland reappeared.

After being stopped inches short three times, Wales' pressure told with Morgan powering his way over, the noise almost lifting the roof off the famous stadium. Anscombe's conversion made it 13-10 at half-time.

It got even louder three minutes after the break when Tom Rogers (below) scored Wales' second.

The Irish defence parted too easily when full-back Blair Murray took an outside line and fed the winger, who dived spectacularly to touch down in the corner.

The visitors did manage to stem the flow with Prendergast tapping over a close-range penalty when Wales went offside.

Ireland introduced Finlay Bealham and Ryan Baird, a late addition to the replacements' bench after Cian Prendergast was ruled out with illness, and Bundee Aki was able to enter after the 20-minute red card had elapsed and they were soon level.

Prendergast got the visitors in position with a superb 50:22 and Ireland moved the ball quickly from the lineout.

They were playing a penalty advantage when Gibson-Park appeared to overcook a cross-kick for Lowe but the wing vaulted high to bat the ball back into the path of Osborne, who dotted down but the try went unconverted.

Ireland continued to infringe, however, with Baird's neck roll allowing Wales to move upfield.

Every time the hosts' inexperienced backline moved it wide, Ireland looked vulnerable and only a knock on on the 22 stopped a promising attack.

It was incredibly tense in the Cardiff cauldron and Ireland retook the lead with 13 minutes left. Hansen was held up over the line but Prendergast slotted over a penalty after Wales went offside.

Soon after, Aki won a penalty at the breakdown and Prendergast struck a wonderful penalty from over 50 metres out.

But the out-half kicked directly out a few moments later and Wales had their chance.

More quick hands and hard-running had Ireland on the back foot and Hansen and Osborne combined to deny Mee a try by the narrowest of margins, the debutant adjudged to have knocked on no more than an inch from the line.

Awarded on-field as a try, that setback broke the Welsh resistance.

Josh van der Flier and Gus McCarthy led a counter-ruck outside the Wales 22 and Ireland won a penalty, which Prendergast coolly converted to push the champions nine clear with two minutes left.

SCORERS

Wales: Tries - Morgan, Rogers
Cons: Anscombe
Pens: Ancombe (2)

Ireland: Tries - Conan, Osborne
Cons: Prendergast
Pens: Prendergast (5)

Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, WillGriff John; Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins; Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd (for Dee 74), Gareth Thomas (Smith 18-30, 61), Henry Thomas (John 52), Teddy Williams (Rowlands 72), Aaron Wainwright (Reffell 56), Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans (Anscombe 53), Joe Roberts (Rogers 63).

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw; James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (capt), Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Gus McCarthy (for Sheehan 75), Jack Boyle (Porter 71), Finlay Bealham (Clarkson 49), James Ryan (McCarthy h/t to 50 (HIA) 65), Ryan Baird (Conan 44), Conor Murray (Gibson-Park 78), Jack Crowley (Hansen 73), Bundee Aki (Ringrose 54).

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)