HELLO AND WELCOME to today’s liveblog, the first game of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championship. Ireland face Wales under a weight of expectation in the aftermath of eight successive wins, including a standout performance in November against New Zealand.
In this context, it’s worth reminding ourselves that the Welsh are the defending champions. You wouldn’t think that looking at the bookmakers’ odds.
“There is an obvious reason for that,” Wayne Pivac, the Welsh coach, said. “Most of the team that won that competition won’t be in Dublin. Where we are with the bookies, I think we were probably in the same position last year. Everything to gain, nothing to lose.”
No Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric, George North or Taulupe Faletau — that equates to no hope, right?
Well, perhaps we should remind ourselves that Wales beat Australia in the autumn with 13 of the side who will face Ireland today.
Writing them off has become an annual event for nearly 20 years now. But since 2005, they have won four grand slams to Ireland’s two. Plus they have reached two World Cup semi-finals in that timeframe.
Louis Rees-Zammit and Taine Basham are superb additions to their team. But so is Mack Hansen to the Ireland side. Andy Farrell’s blend of youth and experience – the rugby version of Benjamin Button at out half, the young hookers, Kelleher and Sheehan, the formidable front row of Porter, Kelleher and Furlong, augurs well.
Key to the Welsh win in Cardiff last year was the sending off of Peter O’Mahony. Red cards also helped their cause against Scotland last spring and against the Wallabies in the autumn. Ireland need to keep their cool. On a freezing day in Dublin 4, that shouldn’t be too difficult.
Kick-off is fast approaching. Here are the teams below – and let us know your thoughts on the match in the comments section.
Ireland:
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Andrew Conway
- 13. Garry Ringrose
- 12. Bundee Aki
- 11. Mack Hansen
- 10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Rónan Kelleher
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Tadhg Beirne
- 5. James Ryan
- 6. Caelan Doris
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
- 16. Dan Sheehan
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Finlay Bealham
- 19. Ryan Baird
- 20. Peter O’Mahony
- 21. Conor Murray
- 22. Joey Carbery
- 23. James Hume
Wales:
- 15. Liam Williams
- 14. Johnny McNicholl
- 13. Josh Adams
- 12. Nick Tompkins
- 11. Louis Rees-Zammit
- 10. Dan Biggar (captain)
- 9. Tomos Williams
- 1. Wyn Jones
- 2. Ryan Elias
- 3. Tomas Francis
- 4. Will Rowlands
- 5. Adam Beard
- 6. Ellis Jenkins
- 7. Taine Basham
- 8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
- 16. Dewi Lake
- 17. Gareth Thomas
- 18. Dillon Lewis
- 19. Seb Davies
- 20. Ross Moriarty
- 21. Gareth Davies
- 22. Callum Sheedy
- 23. Owen Watkin
Referee: Jaco Peyper [SARU]
Assistant refs: Mathieu Raynal [FFR] and Angus Gardner [RA]
TMO: Stuart Terheege [RFU].
Just in case anticipation isn’t already at fever pitch, here’s RTÉ’s opening montage ahead of the tournament kick-off:
Six Nations 2022 - Let the games commence #rtesport pic.twitter.com/0VOCMx15bZ
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
Fifteen minutes to kick off, so let’s have those predictions please. The pre-match spread makes Ireland 14-point favourites, for what it’s worth. Are you that optimistic?
Poll Results:
Here come the teams — Johnny Sexton, winning cap number 102, leads Ireland out into a packed Aviva Stadium.
Before kick off, there will a moment’s silence in memory of Munster and Ireland rugby legend Tom Kiernan, who died earlier this week at the age of 83. May he rest in peace.
Optimism — but of the cautious variety — ahead of kick off:
KICK OFF: Dan Biggar gets us underway but Wales knock it on immediately and Ireland’s still-nicknameless front row will get straight to it with the first scrum.
2 mins – What an introduction to international rugby for Mack Hansen! Sexton’s chip through is tipped but falls into Hansen’s hands on the left wing and he races 50+ yards down the pitch. He tries a little chip through but the Welsh cover scramble it into touch for an Ireland lineout.
3 mins — TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 7-0 Wales (Aki try, Sexton conversion)
It’s the perfect start for Ireland and it’s Bundee Aki who dives over in the corner to score the opening try of the 2022 Six Nations.
Ireland secure possession from the lineout and drive through a few phases towards the Welsh line.
Johnny Sexton plays it out the back to Mack Hansen — who is having a dream debut so far — and he plays a skip pass to Aki on the wing, who makes no mistake.
Sexton converts and Ireland have an early seven-point lead.
Ireland's attack picks up where it left off.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) February 5, 2022
BIG carry from Doris to get momentum there. Nice link pass from Beirne out the back, Hansen gives Aki a handy finish. #IREvWAL
8 mins – Big turnover from Andrew Porter! Aaron Wainwright is left exposed at the breakdown and Porter is in the perfect position to pounce to win the penalty. This will definitely be within Johnny Sexton’s range…
10 mins – Sexton pulls his shot at goal right and wide.
Here’s that opening Ireland try:
TRY IRELAND - What a start to the game as Bundee Aki crosses for an early try#IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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13 mins – Ireland are seemingly picking holes in the Welsh defence at will, and Garry Ringrose makes a big break up the middle. Taine Basham is pinged for offside and Sexton will have a quick opportunity to make amends — just inside the 10m line, a little bit right of centre…
14 mins – And it’s another miss from Sexton as this one starts right and stays right, much to the Ireland captain’s frustration. It’s hard to know how much of an impact the wind is having at pitch level.
19 minutes Superb offload from Furlong in a move that leads to an Ireland penalty. Sexton made a half-break to set up Conway who darted in from his line to set Ireland up in Welsh territory. Sexton opts to kick at goal rather than at the corner.
20 minutes PENALTY IRELAND (SEXTON) Ireland 10-0 Wales
And Sexton nails the kick from in front of the posts.
22 minutes – Decent kick from Dan Biggar puts the Welsh into Ireland’s 22.
23 minutes – brilliant Irish defence allows Ireland to cope with the Welsh threat – Beirne with a great tackle to force the turnover. Ireland scrum inside their own 22 now.
24 minutes – decent Welsh scrum but Ireland, via Gibson-Park, clear their lines. Another scrum is awarded to Ireland, Rees-Zammit with the knock-on.
28 minutes scrappy piece of play from both sides, Biggar launches a Garryowen, Keena fails to gather it; Rees-Zammit also knocks on. Not the greatest spectacle any of us have ever seen.
30 minutes – Jack Conan forces a turnover after Williams broke off a Welsh scrum. Key moment just as Wales were beginning to force a bit of momentum
32 minutes A number of handling errors have crept into this game. Memories of Bundee Aki’s try have faded. Wales are retaining possession cleanly enough but their play is lateral. Van der Flier put in a decent hit just now; scrum to Ireland.
35 minutes Hansen makes his second half-break in as many minutes, then re-appears on the other wing to send a neat pass out to Gibson-Park. Van der Flier keeps the move going, then Ringrose. Hansen gets involved for a third time in the move to get the ball into the Wales 22 and then ……………. Ireland lose it.
35 minutes Sexton getting treatment.
36 minutes They are strapping his left knee but he should be able to continue by the looks of things.
36 minutes Ireland steal a Wales lineout. Kelleher carries into contact; Ireland get a scrum after a knock-on at the lineout.
37 minutes Ireland win a scrum penalty. Kudos to Porter, Kelleher and Furlong. Sexton kicks his penalty into the Wales 22.
39 minutes Some decent play from Ireland, Furlong and Porter make the most notable carries in the move but it ends with Gibson-Park firing a loose pass at Hansen which ends in touch.
HALF-TIME IRELAND 10-0 WALES
Whistle blown. One try for Bundee Aki and a Sexton penalty are the scores from a scrappy first half, one where Ireland have edged things in the scrum, have disrupted the Welsh line-out and who look the likelier of the two teams to score.
The Irish backrow has enjoyed the upperhand in the opening half hour, this time Jack Conan winning a breakdown penalty #IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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Here is that try from Aki – check out the pass by Hansen.
TRY IRELAND - What a start to the game as Bundee Aki crosses for an early try#IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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There was a lot to like about Hansen’s first-half performance.
What a first touch for winger Mack Hansen in Test rugby #IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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Here are some of the best images from the first half.
Kelleher gets acquainted with Rees-Zammit.
And how good is this – to see fans inside the stadium again?
Second half about to get underway here.
So here we go, Sexton kicks off.
41 minutes Ireland win a penalty just inside their own half – Josh Adams pinged for offside. Bundee Aki is bossing midfield. Sexton kicks to the corner.
43 minutes – Good work by James Ryan at the lineout – Ireland maul functions well; penalty won.
44 minutes Beirne collects this lineout – after Sexton kicks the penalty to the corner – Conway touches down – TMO will check if it is legitimate or not. Great play by Sexton in the build up
Onfield is no try – TMO to check.
44 minutes – TRY IRELAND (CONWAY)
TMO overrules referee and Ireland now have a 15-0 lead.
44 minutes - Ireland 17-0 Wales
Sexton adds the conversion from the touchline. Great kick. Curls it in – judges the wind perfectly.
45 minutes – so credit to Sexton and Ringrose for the lead-in to that try – but Conway’s finish – surrounded by three Welsh defenders – was exceptional, especially his ability to stretch to the line.
Wales are in trouble now.
49 minutes A lot of sideways play from Wales – seven phases and they win a penalty; Adams receives a blow to the head after Josh Adams’ shoulder connects with Sexton’s chin.
49 minutes – Yellow card for Josh Adams for a ‘reckless’ challenge on Sexton. Wales are now in even bigger trouble.
51 MINUTES TRY IRELAND (ANDREW CONWAY)
Penalty reversed. Wales – ready to get their first points of the game – and now on the halfway line with James Ryan collecting Kelleher’s throw. Off that phase Hansen gets the ball out to COnway; van der Flier makes a subsequent break.
James Ryan leads a charge – and misses a two-man overlap to his left; Beirne carries close to the line and eventually Conway scores in the corner.
52 MINUTES Ireland 24-0 Wales
Sexton nails the conversion from a similar angle to his previous one – by the right touchline. He swerves the ball right to left – judging the wind perfectly.
53 minutes – Finlay Bealham has come in for Furlong; Peter O’Mahony has replaced Jack Conan with Caelan Doris going to No8.
54 minutes That moment of unnecessary aggression from Josh Adams has really cost Wales. They could either have kicked for touch – and controlled territory from inside Ireland’s 22 or else taken the points. Instead of 17-3 or, at best, 17-7 – they now trail 24-0. The game has gone away from them.
56 minutes – Brilliant steal from Beirne at the Welsh line-out. They have struggled in this department all afternoon.
Here is the second Conway try.
TRY IRELAND – A second Andrew Conway try in 10 minutes as Ireland make 14-man Wales pay the price #IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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This is the Adams’ decision.
After many, many, many video replays, Josh Adams is sinbinned for leading with the shoulder into Johnny Sexton. #IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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The first Conway try.
58 minutes – Sexton has just kicked superbly to the corner but then after securing their own ball from the lineout – Doris pinged for a deliberate offside.
TRY IRELAND (GARRY RINGROSE)
60 minutes – Ireland 29-0 Wales
Right, so in a nutshell; Andrew Porter ripped possession away; Sexton set Hansen free in midfield, Hansen releases Ringrose and away he went – the No13 shirt gliding through the Wales defence reminding you of a certain B O’Driscoll Esq. Conway offered a decoy outside him which kept the Welsh defence honest. Ringrose darted back inside to score.
61 minutes Ireland 29-0 Wales
So bonus point secured but Sexton misses the conversion. Dan Sheehan has arrived onto the field for Kelleher; James Hume is also on the field.
64 minutes – Peter O’Mahony makes a great steal on the Ireland 22 – it is incredible to think Ireland can afford to have a player as good as this on the bench. Sexton off, Carbery on.
65 minutes – Poor crossfield kick from Carbery leads to an Ireland lineout after Adams carries the ball into touch.
66 minutes – Bonus point secured, but Ireland really need to stay ruthless and add as many points as possible. They could need them by the end of this championship. Ryan Baird has come in for Ryan; Cian Healy is in for Porter.
This is the Ringrose try.
TRY IRELAND – Sensational team score. Turnover, quick passing and a high-quality finish from Garry Ringrose. Bonus point secured #IREvWAL #rtesport
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 5, 2022
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68 minutes Another five-metre lineout leads to O’Mahony collecting Sheehan’s throw; maul moves forward but Sheehan is penalised for an accidental offside and Wales have a small victory. How they needed it. Gibson Park goes off; Conor Murray comes on.
69 minutes – Ireland win a scrum penalty five metres from the Wales line – great work by Finlay Bealham there. Ireland take a quick tap-and-go but Cian Healy knocks on as the line beckoned.
Ringrose’s reaction to his try does not need any words. His facial expression says it all.
74 minutes TRY WALES (Taine Basham) Ireland 29-7 Wales
Wales have the play inside the Ireland 22 and then make a shocking handling error. Just when it looks like they will end this game with no points on the board, Beirne makes a careless pass that Basham intercepts before scoring under the posts.
Mack Hansen has been named player of the match.
Hansen’s stats: Nine carries, 130 metres made.
FULL TIME – Ireland 29-7 Wales
So a bonus-point win for Ireland, a day when Mack Hansen excelled on his debut, when Garry Ringrose played supremely well and when the same thing can be said for Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki and Andrew Conway.
Conway with two, Aki and Ringrose got the tries. At no point did Ireland look in trouble – Basham’s late try was a mere consolation. What will please Andy Farrell most is the impact of the bench – O’Mahony, Bealham and Conor Murray all did well. It shows the depth Ireland now have.
As for Wales, they were shockingly poor. Fifth place is as high as they are likely to finish.
