Ireland And Wales Share The Spoils

In a hugely entertaining and intensely physical encounter at the Aviva Stadium today Ireland and Wales played out a 16-16 draw in the first round of the 6 Nations Championship.

And who else was on hand to pick up the man of the match award? Only Munster's CJ Stander who announced himself to the international stage with an impressive 80 minute debut performance.

Ireland will be disappointed with relinquishing a 13-point lead, however, credit to Wales who fought back to tilt the momentum in their favour before half-time, reducing the margin to 3 points at the break, before replacement out-half Rhys Priestland kicked the sides level early in the second half.

The second half produced a further exchange of penaltie between Priestland and Sexton and the game was on a knife-edge in to the final minutes with both sides looking to break the deadlock. 

The opening forty saw Munster and Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray sneak in for Ireland's only try after throwing a brilliantly-executed dummy pass while Newport Gwent Dragons' number 8 Taulupe Faletau delivered the 5 points for his side after taking advantage of a dominant Welsh scrum to dot down in the final minutes of the half.

Asked about Sexton, Earls and O'Donnell who were all taken off during the second half, Head Coach Joe Schmidt stated: “Johnny's fine, he's just a bit bruised. Keith Earls may have suffered a concussion, we just need to follow that up.

“Tommy O'Donnell went off for a head injury assessment but passed it without any problems.”
  
Ireland Scorers: Tries – C Murray; Con – J Sexton 1; Pens – J Sexton 3

Wales Scorers: Tries – T Faletau; Con R Priestland 1; Pens – R Priestland 3

Ireland:  Simon Zebo; Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls (Dave Kearney ’71), Jonathan Sexton (Ian Madigan ’75), Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best (Sean Cronin ’75), Nathan White (Tadhg Furlong ’63), Mike McCarthy (Donnacha Ryan ’63), Devin Toner, CJ Stander, Tommy O’Donnell (Rhys Ruddock ’49), Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements not used:  James Cronin, Kieran Marmion.