Ireland 24 Wales 14: Larmour, Conway, Van der Flier and Furlong tries give Irish bonus point
WALES’ eight match winning run in the Six Nations came to a shuddering halt as they crashed to an all-too-predictable defeat in Dublin.
But with wing Andrew Conway’s late try completing a bonus point triumph for Ireland, they are serious Six Nations title contenders – and can even dream of repeating their Grand Slam triumph of two years ago.
They face tough visits to Twickenham and Paris either side of a home game against Italy, but won at both venues when they completed the clean sweep in 2018.
Wales have managed to win just once in their last eight visits to the Irish capital – a 2012 victory that proved the first leg of a Grand Slam triumph – and they never looked like improving on that record.
Defensive errors handed Ireland to rack up early tries from full back Jordan Larmour and prop Tadgh Furlong as the home team took advantage of being allowed the first chance to exploit the strong wind whipping down the Aviva Stadium pitch.
And when they hit Wales with a sucker blow just four minutes into the second half – sending over flanker Josh van der Flier from a well-worked lineout move – there was no way back for Wayne Pivac’s team.
Wales had struck an early blow themselves when a brilliant offload from skipper Alun Wyn Jones allowed Dan Biggar to send half back partner Tomos Williams galloping over for a 27th minute try.
But Biggar, so influential in the 42-0 crushing of Italy a week earlier, lasted just 44 minutes before staggering off to be replaced by Jarrod Evans.
Wales missed Biggar’s tactical nous when they mounted a second half onslaught , and they were also deprived of the cutting edge of Josh Adams.
Adams, who maintained his incredible try-scoring exploits with a hat-trick against Italy, limped off after just 25 minutes here.
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Wales had to score quickly after van der Flier’s try, and almost managed it when Hadleigh Parkes crashed over from close range.
But the TMO ruled he had lost control of the ball as he dotted it down one-handed, and that was the end of any hopes of a Welsh fightback.
Justin Tipuric did allow Wales to have the final word by crossing from a rolling maul in the last move of the game. But Ireland will be high on confidence when they take on England on February 23.