How’s it going, everyone?
It’s round three of the Six Nations, it’s Wales at the Aviva Stadium, AND IT’S LIVE!
…Well, the blog is live, anyway. The game will kick off in just over half an hour’s time.
Gavan Casey with you here and I’ll be bringing you live updates throughout the afternoon in the event that you can’t make it to the stadium, to a telly, or to the rajio.
Team news on its way shortly, but no word of any changes to either side that was named during the week so far, thankfully.
‘No tensing.’
Just a reminder of the teams ahead of kick-off.
Ciarán Frawley makes his first test start at 15 in place of Hugo Keenan, while Oli Jager is set to win his first cap off the bench having only returned to Irish rugby from New Zealand with Munster in December.
They, eh, don’t look nervous.
Ireland
- 15. Ciarán Frawley
- 14. Calvin Nash
- 13. Robbie Henshaw
- 12. Bundee Aki
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Jack Crowley
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Dan Sheehan
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. Tadhg Beirne
- 6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
- 16. Ronan Kelleher
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Oli Jager
- 19. James Ryan
- 20. Ryan Baird
- 21. Jack Conan
- 22. Conor Murray
- 23. Stuart McCloskey
For Wales, Sam Costelow comes in at out-half having missed the defeat to England, while uncapped Cardiff back-row forward Mackenzie Martin features on the bench.
Wales
- 15. C Winnett
- 14. J Adams
- 13. G North
- 12. N Tompkins
- 11. R Dyer
- 10. S Costelow
- 9. T Williams
- 1. G Thomas
- 2. E Dee
- 3. K Assiratti
- 4. D Jenkins
- 5. A Beard
- 6. A Mann
- 7. T Reffell
- 8. A Wainwright
Replacements:
- 16. R Elias
- 17. C Domachowski
- 18. D Lewis
- 19. W Rowlands
- 20. M Martin
- 21. K Hardy
- 22. I Lloyd
- 23. M Grady
About 15 minutes to go and there’s not much happening around the place, to be honest. The stadium is still about four fifths empty as last-gasp pints are consumed.
If something extraordinary happens during the pre-match entertainment, I’ll give you a shout. If not, catch you for kick-off!
Anthems finished — three rousing renditions, although there probably aren’t as many Welsh in town as there would be typically.
Here we go, so: Ireland against Wales: kick-off is seconds away!
1′ – IRE 0-0 WAL: Jack Crowley gets us underway at the Aviva Stadium.
Your man in the middle is Italy’s Andrea Piardi, who took Cardiff-Connacht last week.
2′ – IRE 0-0 WAL: Some stout midfield defence from the Welsh thwarts and Irish set play but Jamison Gibson-Park goes wide left off next phase. Robbie Henshaw makes serious yardage up the left before chipping ahead off his weaker foot. Ball goes over the goal-line, but not the dead-ball. Goal-line dropout to Wales.
3′ – IRE 0-0 WAL: Wales are making some good defensive reads and reaping rewards as they interrupt Ireland’s flow.
A green knock-on leads to an offside penalty, and Sam Costellow boots Wales between the Irish 10′ and 22′.
4′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: Bundee Aki stops Wales’ first attack with a jackal turnover between the 10′ and 22′. Good steal, penalty Ireland.
And they get another one from the ensuing attack as Nick Tompkins is pinged for grabbing an Irish player around the neck in contact — I think it might have been Van der Flier.
Peter O’Mahony tells Piardi, ‘Points, please.’ Jack Crowley delivers them from outside the Welsh 10′. Excellent kick from 45-odd metres at a slight angle.
Ireland lead in Dublin.
8′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: Andrew Porter ends Wales’ second visit into the Irish half with a brilliant jackal-penalty win.
Crowley takes Ireland up to the Welsh 10′.
9′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: Ireland go quickly at the lineout and Dan Sheehan, on a one-two, bursts down the left into the Welsh 22′.
Wales go offside and Aki’s eventual knock-on is brought back for the pen.
Crowley prods Ireland into the five. Big chance here for the hosts.
10′ IRE 3-0 WAL: Ireland go to the maul and attempt to roll it to the openside but Wales do brilliantly to sack it and win a scrum.
Savage effort from their front row and locks, there, in particular.
12′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: Ireland put pressure on the first scrum but Wales get it away to safety quickly.
They’re eventually pinged for going off their feet just inside their own 10′.
Crowley to touch, and he brings Ireland into the 22′. Skewed that one slightly — he’d usually ping them to about six or seven from there.
15′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: Ireland go nowhere and Wales win a jackal pen outside their own 22′.
They make a balls of the ensuing lineout, however, and Ireland take a scrum inside their own half. They duly win a penalty advantage and start making inroads into the Welsh half.
18′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: The Welsh defence has been exceptional so far. Some huge hits. They’re getting after Ireland, as they promised.
19′ – IRE 3-0 WAL: Ireland have finally lost a lineout in this championship! Dan Sheehan overthrows Peter O’Mahony, who knocks it on in the air.
…But Ireland crucify the Welsh scrum and win a penalty.
From a kickable position, Crowley kicks to touch and takes Ireland to within six of the Welsh line.
Another big chance, here.
20′ – IRE 8-0 WAL: TRYYYYY! DAN SHEEHAN!
Ireland run the exact same lineout maul as the one Wales turned over earlier, but this time they get better purchase on their initial shove.
Wales actually do brilliantly to halt its momentum shy of the line, but the Irish backs — including Jack Crowley — pile in and get Sheehan over the paint.
Crowley nails a tricky conversion from the left, too, and Ireland are out to a 10-0 lead despite Wales’ strong defensive efforts.
29′ – IRE 10-0 WAL: Another Irish lineout goes askew — it looked like a mistimed lift, there, on Joe McCarthy — and Jamison Gibson-Park spills the loose ball forward.
Wales scrum on their own 10′… and this time Ireland win a free kick for… a delayed Welsh put-in? Hmmm…
Ireland take the scrum the other way and annihilate Wales — but Piardi doesn’t give a penalty. Gibson-Park snipes and sets Lowe away, but Ireland are eventually pinged for a forward pass near the Welsh line as Lowe was about to be bundled into touch.
Wales lock out the Irish scrum on their own 5′ and eventually clear.
30′ – IRE 10-0 WAL: Ireland win a penalty in front of the posts, between the Welsh 22′ and 10′.
They decline the three again and Crowley pings a beauty into the Welsh 5′.
Chance, again, for Ireland, who are utterly dominant here without being spotless.
32′ – IRE 17-0 WAL: TRRYYYYY! JAMES LOWE!
Ireland batter and batter and batter at the Welsh line, but again the visitors show unbelievable heart in defence.
Ireland swing it all the way to the right edge where Nash is stopped for a loss, but then they swing back left a couple of phases. It’s Nash who pops up on the other side with a lovely little offload over the top of a tackle to Lowe, who dots down in the left-hand corner.
Crowley nails the conversion again from the touchline, and this is looking ominous for Wales now.
35′ – IRE 17-0 WAL: Wales win a penalty outside the Irish 22′ as Gibson-Park infringes at the breakdown.
Costelow pops them to within about 10 yards of the Irish line.
36′ – IRE 17-0 WAL: Ireland stop Wales at the maul but Aki is penalised for putting hands on the ground before he wins a jackal. Huge hit in there by Van der Flier on Josh Adams, too.
Wales go again to the line but their attack breaks down when Dafydd Jenkins is pinged for latching. That’s a heartbreaker for them.
40′ – IRE 17-0 WAL: An Irish attack inside their own half goes from side to side without gaining real momentum and Jack Crowley calls half-time by prodding the ball into touch before they get stung with a penalty or something daft.
It’s been one-way traffic at the Aviva, where Wales have scrapped diligently but Ireland have a three-score lead going into the break.
Andy Farrell’s side still need two more tries for a bonus point, and the Welsh don’t look like they’re ready to give up the ghost quite yet, so let’s see what the second 40 brings.
Catch you in a few!
41′ – IRE 17-0 WAL: Sam Costelow brings us back underway to start the second half.
42′ – IRE 17-0 WAL: A couple of harsh penalty calls against Ireland at the breakdown, to be honest, and Wales take it up towards the five for a lineout.
They go to the tail and set up the maul. Ireland halt them once — but there’s a second surge!
The visitors bundle over but Piardi doesn’t have a grounding…
There was a penalty advantage against Ireland, however, and Piardi is checking upstairs both for a grounding and for a potential penalty against Tadhg Beirne for changing his bind.
43′ – IRE 17-7 WAL: TRYYYY! Piardi gives a penalty try and Tadhg Beirne heads to the bin for his infringement.
Game on?
The Aviva makes some proper noise for the first time this afternoon as Costelow prepares his restart.
49′ IRE 17-7 WAL: A lengthy spell of ball-in-play time. Sides trading possession but nothing of note coming from it.
Wales are giving it a right go and Ireland have become a bit rudderless in attack in the last few minutes.
52′ – IRE 17-7 WAL: Ireland concede a couple of stupid penalties near midfield and Costelow boots Wales up to the Irish 22′.
Elliott Dee takes a short one-two off the lineout and makes ground. Ireland pinged for offside and Ciarán Frawley eventually plucks a Welsh chip out of the air.
Wales pen deep in the Irish 22′ — and Costelow goes to touch again.
54′ – IRE 17-7 WAL:Wales maul it towards the Irish line! But Tadhg Beirne — just out of the bin — says ‘nope!’ He comes through the middle of the maul and rips it back to the Irish side.
Unbelievable steal by the Munster lock.
55′ – IRE 17-7 WAL: Wales knock on the door again outside the Irish 5′.
Andy Farrell, meanwhile, has brought on Rónan Kelleher, Oli Jager, James Ryan and Ryan Baird for Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy and O’
Mahony.
Kelleher makes an immediate impact with a jackal-penalty win deep in his own territory!
60′ – IRE 17-7 WAL:
Ireland think they have a settler as Bundee Aki crashes over under the sticks after some electrifying attack — but the TMO spots a knock-on by Robbie Henshaw in the build-up.
Wow! It’s the correct call, and Wales are still in it.
They have a scrum on their own 5′, where Henshaw flicked it forward.
61′ – IRE 17-7 WAL: Wales lock out the scrum and clear.
And here come Ireland again — until Beirne spills forward.
Wales boom one downfield again and put Lowe under untold pressure, but he weathers contact well and buys time for his forwards to clear out the breakdown.
Gibson-Park clears up to the Irish 10′.
67′ – IRE 17-7 WAL: A brilliant Irish attack down the blind is thwarted by a Welsh penalty, and it really should have been a yellow card. Crowd going nuts, and rightly.
Ireland go to the five through Crowley.
68′ – IRE 24-7 WAL: TRRRYYYYY! AND IT’S CIARÁN FRAWLEY ON HIS FIRST START!
Ireland roll it up to within inches, recycle, and attack the openside.
Eventually, Gibson-Park gives Frawley no option but to cross the whitewash.
Crowley pops over the conversion from close range — and that should be that!
71′ – IRE 24-7 WAL: Kelleher — who has been sensational since coming on — offloads to Ryan Baird who makes his customary 30-yard burst upfield.
He takes it again a couple of phases later but eventually spills forward while attempting his own offload.
Wales, then, win a penalty at the scrum against Oli Jager.
76′ – IRE 24-7 WAL: Wales hammer at the Irish line for what feels like an infinite number of phases.
Ireland infringe three times and James Ryan will sit out the rest of the game — he’s yellow carded.
Some incredible defence in there, and some heavily illegal defence too!
Wales tap and go from the 5′.
77′ – IRE 24-7 WAL: And Ireland hold them up! Cian Healy, Caelan Doris and Jack Crowley deny the Welsh a try and earn a goal-line dropout.
79′ – IRE 24-7 WAL: Huge work in the tackle and at the breakdown by Stuart McCloskey and he effectively wins a penalty.
Ireland get one last shot at the BP from the Welsh 22′…
82′ – IRE 31-7 WAL: TRRRYYYYY! AND THERE’S THE BONUS POINT! TADHG BEIRNE!
Ah, it’s a bit harsh on Wales’ second-half effort, to be honest. But it’s a well crafted score by Ireland, who retained the ball for umpteen phases in the Welsh 22′ before the visitors eventually cracked.
Some nice work in there by Crowley among others — and it’s Ireland’s 10 who has the final word as he splits the post for the fifth time from five this evening.
Jaysus, it became hard enough work in the end, but ultimately Ireland run out as 24-point, bonus-point winners over a Welsh side who promised chaos and produced a fair bit in that second half.
I’ve to run here and record a podcast so that’s it for me. Keep an eye on The 42 for reaction and analysis.
‘Til next time, take it easy!
Underused and undervalued talent in an era where we were desperately lacking flair and real skill. Thanks for everything Wes, especially that goal against Sweden.
@Evan Cunningham:
His skill on the ball and vision will be sorely missed not to mention goals like against Sweden.
@Donal Hanley: the ball for Brady v Italy is the stand out for me
@Evan Cunningham: A class act when there was so little of it around. Go raibh maith agat Wes.
Eamonn, u ok hun?
Thanks for everything Wessiah. Poor oul dunphy will never be the same after this
One silver lining: Won’t have to listen to Dunphy whinge about his first-name-basis obession Wes for much longer
@Shane Gleeson: It was Andy Reid before Wes, now what savior of Irish football will Eamo champion?
@Dave McAuliffe: the best player that’s left off the field I suppose.
@Dave McAuliffe: My opinion is McClean will get dropped and Dunphy will go ballistic “his courage , his passion , we need more players like him”
@William Motley: McClean is not a good footballer. I can’t see him in the Premiership next season.
He made a great career for himself. Nobody wanted him when he was running rings around full backs at Shels. Livingston? Jesus. He was unlucky that the first half of his career coincided with a period when everyone thought power and pace were the 2 attributes needed for quality midfield players. It took Iniesta and Xavi to turn that theory on its head and Wes was finally appreciated. Probably had the best ball control of any Irish player since Brady. I hope he gets a few more years with Norwich.
@Armchair Follower: never a truer word said use to watch him myself at Tolka and the masses never knew anything about him until he went to England and all the prima donnas
Sad to see you go Wes. You never got a fair crack of the whip.
@pats brandon: Scored in a tournament and one of the greatest Irish assists ever. More than 99% of Irish players have done!
Emergency services called to the home of a former international player turned pundit….
The Argentines boasted Messi whereas we proudly boasted our Wessi.
Cheers for the incisive football – and epic entertainment – that we greatly needed in our national team over the years!
Good good player.
It’s a shame we (arguably) never got the best out of him when he was starring for Norwich in the premier league. Still had great moments though. I’ll never forget that goal against Sweden!
He was a footballer. That’s what distinguished him. The wheat from the chaff.
He certainly had his limitations , he was never world class, but he was brave enough to put his foot on the ball, look up and pick a forward pass. Imaging if every Irish player was capable of that.
I would pay in to watch Wes and that’s the difference.
Have a happy retirement safe in the knowledge that you actually contributed to the sport we all love
Trap and O Neill underused and undervalued this excellent playmaker with their negative and pig headed attitude. Apart from being 35, can’t help thinking O Neill staying on wasn’t in any way an incentive to continue wearing the green shirt he always wore valiantly and always gave 100%
He wasn’t a good player,he was a great player…baby
Here’s a few more that should retire:
The whole team
The manager
John Delaney
Tony Donoghue
Aine Lawlor.
Irelands greatest ever footballer?
@Clay Davis: come off it. paul mcgrath was far better. just ask the italian playes in 94
@Clay Davis: Calm down there a bit.
@Paul Lynch: double whoosh on this thread
@Clay Davis: jackie carey, john giles, paul mc grath, roy keane, ronnie whelan, liam brady to name but a few and many more besides
@Clay Davis: Richie Sadlier…..Need I say more?
@Clay Davis: Would you stop..? Stephen Ireland, Clinton Morrison, Paul McShane…. all overlooked.
@Clay Davis: Technically in the modern era, But we have had some dirt in fairness.
@Clay Davis: George best by a mile.
@Sean Conway: he was Northern Irish though!
@An Observer: The paul mcshane who let henry in behind him to score with his hand?
@Clay Davis: Mark Kennedy.
@Sean Conway: Better then Gary Breen he was…
@Clay Davis: you must be very young or very stupid
@Sean Conway: Henry didn’t score that goal, Galas if I remember correctly
@An Observer: I forgot Gary Breen! Apologies
@Clay Davis: That’s quite alright. Strange how you could forget Gary Breen though since we had a whole team of them..
@Sean Conway: silly comment !! its not mcshanes fault that henry cheated !!! and he didnt score with his hand,gallas scored !!
Never given a chance to shine Shame on the Irish Management.
Average player, played for average clubs and below average achievements.
@George Costanza: Says somebody with a profile based on a hopeless loser from Seinfeld. I’m sure your achievements far exceed little Wes in the real world.
@Bingobango: George costanza’s character is based on the real life experiences of Larry David. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Hardly a loser.
@George Costanza: prettay prettay prettay good comeback there cantstandsya
Staunch Shelbourne man.
Has anybody checked on Poor Eamonn?
Eamon dunphy inconsolable this morning
Dunphy will need councilling.
Whatever about Martin O’Neill, It was that moron Trapattoni who really should be condemned for not using Wes when he was at his best. Thanks Wes.
Thanks Wes.
Weso for Ireland!! Remember those days in Tolka!! Didn’t think we would have to wait so long!!
He was good maybe deserved a few more caps.i thought he wasn’t a 90 minute man but still the most skilful player we’ve had since brady
Thank god.. in a nice way, we don’t have to listen to these media vs management debates of wether he should or shouldn’t play a match
Fabulous player, dark days ahead, where the top deck of the stand will be the only place to see the ball.
Dustin The Turkey
@DustinOfficial
2h2 hours ago
More
Eamonn Dunphy calls on the government for a month of mourning starting today.
#weshoolahan
Most over rated footballer of a generation,championship player at best.
@Brian Kenny: That’s why he did well in the Premiership
Shame wes wasn’t 10 year’s younger excellent ball retention and can see a pass that no one else in the Irish squad can see,dunphy is going to have to change the record now…always laugh when I hear brady rabbiting on about wes not getting picked…trap didn’t pick him either!!
43 caps is all, the guy should have had close to 100 caps for Ireland , trappatoni has a lot to answer for in regards to his ignorance towards wes
Wes…brilliant! Will miss ya bud!
Wessi the Irish Messi.
Mixed feel
Its gonna be a long long time before we see his level of control and guile in an Ireland jersey, a sad day indeed. And just for the record, my favourite was this one from almost 5 years ago.A frendly vs. Poland but tell that to the defender after Wes chests it down lets it bounce and with the outside of the left curls it across the keeper. Too much skill in 1 goal..
https://youtu.be/ZPmf9PGguM8
@Noel Beirne: beauty, great ball in too, plus didn’t the keeper do well to caress it ..?
I bleedin love yiz weso!
@Anto Whelan: A reflection on the quality of player produced by Ireland in the last 20 years when this guys retirement is being treated as that of Baggio or Zidane.
Will always remember his goal vs Sweden in Paris where he announced himself on the big stage. Such a shame that he was overlooked throughout Trap’s reign but at least he got to show his potential in the last 2 campaigns
Should have got a lot more caps. Good luck lad. Hope there’s more to follow him. Whelan O’Shea etc!
Who?
Good luck Wes in future
We are rightly screwed now!
We
Seen him play against Villa in tournament back in early 2000’s . Was head and shoulders best player on pitch . Couldn’t believe Villa didn’t take him then ( or was it Leeds )
@Tranceformer: are these my feet?
What him in the FA Cup a couple a weeks ago.93rd min seriously still flying around and bossing the midfield.
A footballers footballer