Ireland host Wales in Dublin. Photo / Photosport
Ireland kept their slim hopes of the Six Nations title alive with a hard-fought 27-17 win over Wales at Lansdowne Road today.
The Irish secured a bonus point victory and extended Wales’s Six Nations losing streak to 15 in a game that hung in the balance throughout.
Ireland’s title hopes rest on Scotland beating France on Saturday, while the Welsh round off their campaign against Italy.
The Irish got the home crowd off their feet in the seventh minute, Stuart McCloskey feeding his Ulster teammate Jacob Stockdale, who came off his wing to touch down under the posts for his 20th Test try.
The 29-year-old yelled with delight and punched the air, as well he might having been recalled to the starting line-up after being dropped following the opening defeat by France.
Jack Crowley converted to put Ireland 7-0 ahead.
The Welsh were relieved three minutes later when a knock-on by Tom O’Toole led to Jack Conan’s try being ruled out.
Having weathered that early storm the Welsh reduced the deficit when Dan Edwards slotted over a penalty in the 18th minute.
Boosted by that, the Welsh had the Irish under the cosh and the hosts became ragged in defence, with referee Karl Dickson warning captain Caelan Doris another infringement would lead to a yellow card.
Doris argued the toss but Dickson stood firm, retorting “I do not agree”.
The Irish came back but after a wave of attacks and with the tryline begging Jamison Gibson-Park’s pass was picked off by Welsh flanker Alex Mann.
However, the hosts secured some breathing space shortly before half-time when Crowley sold a good dummy to go over, but he was unable to convert from the touchline.
It was the Welsh, though, who went in with their tails up at the break.
Prop Rhys Carre produced a sidestep worthy of a back, beating wing Robert Baloucoune, and had enough in his legs even 30 metres out to go over the line.
Edwards converted what was Carre’s third try in as many matches to leave the visitors trailing 12-10.
The Irish got just the start they needed soon after the restart as Conan touched down, although the Leinster backrow forward had to wait an age for it to be given the thumbs-up as it was referred to the Television Match Official.
He puffed out his cheeks in relief and Crowley converted for 19-10.
Tempers were fraying. Veteran Irish prop Tadhg Furlong was riled at being pushed up in the scrum by his opposite number Nicky Smith and hurled him unceremoniously to the ground.
Furlong was still giving Smith a piece of his mind after the next scrum when coach Andy Farrell took him off.
Farrell’s problems became serious when James Botham, grandson of English cricket legend Ian, went over and Edwards converted to leave the match hanging in the balance with 15 minutes remaining.
It was riveting end-to-end stuff and the Irish struck back.
Jamie Osborne finished off a brilliant move, Stockdale delivering the killer pass.
Crowley failed to convert which left the Irish just a converted try ahead at 24-17.
However, the Welsh were reduced to 14 men at that point as scrum-half Tomos Williams was sin-binned with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Crowley put himself back in the good books as he converted a penalty with three minutes left to make it 27-17 and finally put a pulsating match beyond the Welsh.