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22

2020 Ireland Go Two For Two With

12th,

February Impressive Bonus Point Win

| reland handed Wales their first to be nice and physical right
EXAMINER ItwoyearsasAndrewConway’s last week, especially when we
through (the game).
Guinness Six Nations defeat in
“We had some big moments
74th-minute bonus point try put
had to dig deep to hold on and
the seal on an astute team per-
IRISH formance. win the game but we got that
(level of intensity) 100% across
Andy Farrell’s men sit top of
the 80 minutes today. I thought
the table with France following
back-to-back home victories, we were excellent. We were on
giving themselves a shot at the front foot in defense and
Triple Crown success away to attack right throughout.”
England in two weeks’ time. The 130th Test meeting of
Jordan Larmour jinked over these teams was nip and tuck
to open the scoring in the 18th right from the off, Ireland
minute, and cancelling out a showing improved width to
Tomos Williams effort, Tadhg force Dan Biggar to concede a
Furlong was well supported as five-meter scrum - van der Flier
he thundered over for his followed up Jacob Stockdale’s
fourth try in eighth Tests, on chip through - before Wales
the half hour mark. responded with a penalty in the
Turning around with a 12-7 set piece. Robbie Henshaw takes on Hadleigh Parkes during Ireland's second round win over Wales in the Guinness Six
lead, captain Jonathan Sexton A well-won Wyn Jones Nations at the Aviva Stadium (INPHO)
landed his second conversion penalty at the breakdown foiled home defense for a slick 26th- soon opened up for Herring to first-up tackle.
after Josh van der Flier had another Irish surge, although minute try. Captain Alun Wyn charge up to just a few meters Time was not on the visi-
scrambled over from a lineout the hosts were making good Jones’ flat offload out of a tack- out. A close-in penalty was tors’ side, and with Conway
maul. Wales were a whisker headway with a greater share of le sent Biggar, the attack’s insti- kicked to the corner, and tapping back a searching kick
away from responding through possession. Robbie Henshaw gator, breaking through into Herring’s quick ball to Ryan at from Murray, Ireland gained
bustling center Hadleigh Parkes and Stockdale were both the 22 and he had Williams up the front allowed the forwards some good meters thanks to
who knocked on. prominent with the attack in support to finish smartly to to swarm through, driving van robust carrying from Kilcoyne
With CJ Stander in man-of- showing more zip and cohesion the right of the posts. der Flier over. Sexton convert- and the newly-introduced
the-match form again, the hosts than last week. Biggar’s conversion was the ed superbly following a TMO Ronan Kelleher and Andrew
got back on the front foot and a Bundee Aki and Biggar difference between the sides for consultation. Porter, on the 70-minute mark.
neat line of passes set up swapped turnovers as play only a short while, Conway’s That well-worked score Murray was swallowed up
Conway for the clinching try. swung swiftly between both chip and chase - coupled with a gave Ireland some breathing on a burst off a scrum in front of
Justin Tipuric’s last-minute con- 22s, the latter’s poach coming Williams fumble - quickly get- space at 19-7, and they needed it the Welsh posts, with debu-
solation score reduced the win- after Conor Murray’s peach of a ting Ireland back into try-scor- as Wales came hurtling right tante Max Deegan now packing
ning margin to 10 points in the pass had released Stockdale up ing range. Playing advantage back at them. They enjoyed a down on the blindside flank. As
end. into the 22. Henshaw also from a scrum penalty, Aki car- purple patch in the hosts’ 22 Wales tried to break from deep,
Pleased with the improve- starred in the build-up with a ried hard before Furlong mus- and Parkes, coming on a trade- a George North knock-on
ments in Ireland’s play just a couple of well-directed offloads. cled his way over, with Rob mark hard line, was so close to handed possession back to
week on from a hard-fought Having leaked a breakdown Herring and Peter O’Mahony stretching over for a close range Ireland and they needed no sec-
win over Scotland, head coach penalty to a well-positioned on the latch. 55th-minute try. ond invitation.
Farrell said: “I think we’re in a Stander, Wales held out again Sexton was successful with A turnover-searching Aki took it up off a scrum in
great place. We had a great thanks to Taulupe Faletau’s the conversion this time, and Stander was whistled up twice the 22, a few phases later it was
week’s preparation and good, canny defending of a maul. the Welsh handling let them as he attempted to break up the van der Flier on an incisive line
honest feedback from the boys Ireland kept pressing though, down in their attempts to Welsh momentum. They in midfield, and then whipped
in the aftermath to last week’s their reward finally coming respond, this time tighthead remained right on the cusp of a passes out to the right from
display against the Scots. And when Larmour stepped inside Dillon Lewis’ knock-on score until a crucial series of John Cooney, Ross Byrne and
we saw an improved perform- and wriggled free of both Nick allowed Conway to curl away a five-meter scrums. After a cou- Larmour freed up Conway to
ance today. Tompkins and scrum half great touchfinder following the ple of resets, replacement Dave finish in the right corner past
“But we all know, the coach- Williams and crashed over the scrum. Kilcoyne got the better of Johnny McNicholl’s last-ditch
es and the players, there is still line past two more defenders. Into the second half, Stander Lewis, who was guilty of col- tackle.
plenty more in us. That’s what The young full-back’s well- claimed another turnover lapsing, and Sexton was able to The wind prevented Byrne’s
we will be looking forward to finished try - his seventh at this penalty and Aki enjoyed more kick clear. conversion from curling in
address over these next three level - went unconverted as running meters, albeit that his One of Ireland’s best attack- from the right touchline, and
days. Still, look, it was an Sexton’s kick went well wide. center partner Henshaw’s ing passages followed, the maul Ireland ended the game down
improved performance - the Launched forward by another game was ended prematurely. snaking up to halfway before to 14 men as a sin-binned
start was the complete reverse Stander-snaffled penalty, Keith Earls came on for his first Earls’ quick hands in midfield Stander paid the price for
to last week. Ireland were thwarted by Jake appearance of the 2020 tourna- led to Stockdale kicking and repeated breakdown offenses.
“Whereas last Saturday, we Ball pinching a lineout ball from ment, while Wales also lost chasing back into the Welsh 22. Wales used another penalty to
were a little bit passive at the James Ryan’s grasp at the sec- Biggar to a head injury. On the opposite wing, Conway drive through from a lineout,
start of the game, today we got ond attempt. The home side had the bit was impressively efficient again Tipuric grounding the ball for
an early foothold into it. From Despite losing Josh Adams between their teeth, O’Mahony under the high ball and then Leigh Halfpenny to convert
our point of view, we wanted to injury, Wales unlocked the stealing a lineout and space floored Jarrod Evans with a with the final kick. C