Six Nations: Ireland 21 - 23 Wales: Welsh clinch dramatic victory

Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 17:44

WALES piled fresh misery on Ireland just four months after knocking them out of the World Cup by claiming a dramatic and controversial RBS 6 Nations victory.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked an 80th-minute penalty after Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Wales lock Ian Evans.

It appeared a harsh call by English referee Wayne Barnes, with the offence nowhere near as bad as Bradley Davies’ tackle which earlier upended Irish replacement Donnacha Ryan. Davies received a yellow card, when it should have been red.

Halfpenny held his nerve to give Wales a rare Six Nations win in Dublin as boos rang around the Aviva Stadium, his strike following earlier tries by centre Jonathan Davies (2) and wing George North.

Ice-cool Cardiff Blues star Leigh Halfpenny landed another penalty and conversion after taking over the duties from an out-of-sorts Rhys Priestland, who missed two penalty sitters.

Priestland’s opposite number Jonathan Sexton slotted three penalties and a conversion, while hooker Rory Best and wing Tommy Bowe scored tries in a game when the lead changed hands five times.

But Ireland’s Grand Slam, Triple Crown and probable title hopes were ultimately shredded by a Wales team whose last Six Nations win on Dublin soil came during a Grand Slam title-winning season in 2008.

They could, though, be without captain Sam Warburton against Scotland next weekend after he went off at half-time nursing a leg injury.

Ireland, winners of their opening Six Nations fixture on seven previous occasions, handed Fergus McFadden the number 13 shirt vacated by revered leader Brian O’Driscoll, who will miss this season’s tournament as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

Wales fielded 10 of the side that ended Ireland’s World Cup hopes last October, with Priestland and centre Jamie Roberts both recovering from knee problems, but injuries sidelined forwards Dan Lydiate, Gethin Jenkins, Alun-Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris.

Ireland took the lead through a third-minute Sexton penalty, but Wales responded in determined fashion as Bradley Davies and then North were only denied tries by some last-ditch tackling.

Wales kept battering away, and flanker Ryan Jones stretched over Ireland’s line only for television match official Geoff Warren to rule against the visitors following repeated views from a number of angles.

Warren was called upon again just six minutes later, only this time it was a far easier call after Priestland’s one-handed pass found Jonathan Davies, who touched down in the corner despite a Gordon D’Arcy challenge.

Davies scored the try which sealed Wales’ World Cup win in Wellington, and his latest touchdown successfully rounded off a spell of concerted Wales pressure, handing them a 5-3 advantage after Priestland’s conversion attempt hit the post.

Priestland, though, was guilty of a glaring miss as the first-half reached its midway point, striking the post straight in front from 25 metres, and Ireland stormed upfield.

Missed kicks ultimately cost Wales dear at the World Cup, yet they looked a step ahead of Ireland in thought and deed with ball in hand, and scrum-half Mike Phillips snapped a razor-sharp back division into action at every opportunity.

Ireland should have regained the lead 12 minutes before half-time, but Sexton emulated Priestland in missing an easy chance after Phillips was pulled up for obstruction on his former Ospreys team-mate Bowe.

Ireland began to grow into proceedings as the interval approached, piecing together several threatening phases, and they cut Wales open through a well-worked 38th-minute try.

Bowe cropped up on the left flank, drifted outside Alex Cuthbert and then freed Ulster forward Best for his sixth try in 55 Tests, with Sexton’s angled conversion giving Ireland a 10-5 lead.

Ryan Jones took over the captaincy after skipper Warburton did not appear for the second period, and there was also a switch in the back-three, with Cuthbert going off, Halfpenny moving to wing duty and James Hook featuring at full-back.

Warburton’s loss was a considerable one for Wales, continuing their run of injuries in recent weeks and giving Gatland another potential problem ahead of next Sunday’s Millennium Stadium encounter against Scotland.

Sexton extended Ireland’s lead with his second successful penalty, but Wales responded majestically, scoring 10 points in two minutes via a Halfpenny penalty and conversion of Davies’ second try.

Priestland’s third successive miss with the boot saw Halfpenny take over kicking duties, and his accuracy underpinned a superb Welsh recovery highlighted when North set up Davies’ sprint for glory after he smashed Ireland’s midfield defence asunder and then found his colleague with a one-handed pass.

But back came Ireland as the lead changed hands for a fourth time inside an hour after Sexton completed his penalty hat-trick to set the scene for an enthralling final quarter.

Wales briefly threatened to unravel when Davies was in the sin-bin, Bowe scoring Ireland’s second try 12 minutes from time, but North then powered over in the 76th minute before Halfpenny’s dramatic clincher.

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midlothianboy

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 03:35 PM

Don't agree that the referee cost Ireland the game.There is no excuse for Davies' behaviour but he was reacting to Ryan's cheap shot on Adam Jones .The correct decision would have been a red for Davies and a yellow for Ryan.Early in the first half Wales had a 3 on 1 overlap and Bowe deliberately knocked on to prevent a certain try.The ref did not even give a penalty let alone the yellow card and penalty try that was justified.Had Wales kicked more of their goals and had Ryan Jones effort been allowed by the TMO the final score would probably have reflected their superiority even more.The bettter team won but by a roundabout route.

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donsmalc

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:49 PM

2 out of 3 matches decided by bad refereeing decisions. Surely the spear tackle was a red.

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midlothianboy

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:45 PM

#Fly - Ireland have the majority of their strength concentrated in just 2 provinces -Leinster and Munster and have used that strength to great advantage in the HC. recently Ulster have again become contenders but I personally believe that is largely due to the fact that they now field half a dozen Springboks in their team.The Irish also have a very beneficial tax system that encourages players to stay at home and not be lured away to England,or more recently,France.Wales have their players spread over all 4 regions and a large number playing in England and France.Wales are struggling to attract supporters to their regional teams and lack the financial clout of the Irish.Ireland have made very good use of their strengths, building up theirr provinces and encouraging large crowds and youth development.We could learn a lot from them.

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Fly

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:53 AM

Welsh clubs didn't do well in HC and don't dominate the RaboDirect. How do they produce such a quality international team and this was with about 5 first choice selections missing??

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Jimson

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:27 AM

When Ireland were clinging on with one point lead and 2 mins to go and Welsh attacking in Irish half I said to my wife..."this is usually where Scotland give away a stupid penalty in front of the posts to lose the match." Ah well, we are not alone!.

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spoot

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 08:24 AM

#1 However, the refereeingtouch judging was equally inadequate in both matches.

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Aubrey Wilson

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 08:48 PM

The big difference to the ScotlandEngland game was that this was a tight match with wonderful rugby. An exciting game to watch. And both sides played at a higher level than we saw yesterday.

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