| Wales: (6) 21 |
| Tries: North, Rees-Zammit Cons: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 3 |
| Ireland: (13) 16 |
| Tries: Beirne Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 2, Burns |
Wales took advantage of Peter O’Mahony’s 14th-minute red card to beat Ireland in their Six Nations opener.
Flanker O’Mahony became the first Irishman to be sent off in the Six Nations following a reckless elbow to the head of prop Tomas Francis.
Ireland bounced back to lead 13-6 at half-time through a Tadhg Beirne try and Johnny Sexton’s boot.
Tries from George North and Louis Rees-Zammit and 11 points from Leigh Halfpenny sealed success for Wales.
But they nearly lost it at the death, with a penalty giving Billy Burns the chance to kick for the corner and a potential match-winning line-out drive, only for the replacement Ireland fly-half to kick the ball dead, to Wales’ huge relief.
It was a fourth win for Wales coach Wayne Pivac in 11 competitive matches and the first against a leading nation following previous successes against Italy and Georgia.
— to www.bbc.co.uk
