Ireland scrape past plucky Wales to claim Triple Crown

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MATCH REPORT: Ireland survived a strong Welsh onslaught at the Millennium Stadium to earn a hard-fought 27-18 victory in Round Three of the Six Nations.

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The result also sealed the Triple Crown for Ireland but they would not be too happy with their own performance, with Wales playing their best rugby in a long time despite coming out on the losing side.

Wales showed a lot of fight and energy from the outset, and despite some handling errors, the hosts earned the first scrum penalty on an Ireland feed in the third minute.

*To recap all the action CLICK HERE

Ireland earned a penalty for offside and opted to go for the attacking line-out.

Wales defended bravely but the dam wall had to burst in the sixth minute when Jack Conan forced his way over the line to score the opening try which Sam Prendergast converted.

Ireland attacked relentlessly but Wales stood up strong in defence, with their scrum proving to be a great get-out-of-jail card when required earning three penalties in the first 15 minutes.

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The momentum shifted in the 20th minute when Ireland earned a scrum penalty on a Wales feed which Prendergast slotted a minute later to get his side into double figures.

Wales, however, earned a penalty for offside moments later after looking sharp on attack.

Veteran flyhalf Gareth Anscombe stepped up to get Wales on the board in the 22nd minute and reduced the deficit to seven points.

Ireland had a two man overlap around the 30th-minute mark but Jamie Osborne's final pass to Garry Ringrose went into touch with nothing but space in front of him - much thanks to the rush defence from the hosts.

Wales earned a penalty on halfway and found themselves in a good attacking position before referee Christophe Ridley gave the infamous double-blast on the whistle in the 34th minute.

Centre Garry Ringrose was sent for an off-field review for a head-on-head clash with Ben Thomas as Anscobe chipped away at Ireland's lead slotting the penalty in front of the posts.

Ireland earned a penalty on halfway but Sam Prendergast couldn't convert it into points as his attempt hit the right-hand upright.

Wales were hot on the attack following that missed penalty but knocked the ball on.

They had a penalty to work with and and opted to roll the dice and went for the line-out.

Wales formed a powerful maul and won another penalty as the clock went into the red.

The hosts went to the corner again and formed another powerful maul as the backs joined in but were stopped just short of the line.

Ireland defended bravely with their line under siege but to no avail as two minutes post the 40-minute mark captain Jac Morgan burst over the line to get his side ahead as Gareth Anscombe's conversion gave Wales a three-point lead at half-time.

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The second half started with drama as referee Christopher Ridley made the call that Garry Ringrose's yellow card had been upgraded to red.

A turnover ball saw Wales go coast-to-coast after a strong initial carry by Will Rowlands to get over the advantage line.

The pass from Ben Thomas to put Blair Murray into space set Tom Rogers perfectly up for the try in the corner which went unconverted in the 43rd minute.

Ireland hit back moments later through Sam Prendergast in the 48th minute through a penalty goal as the visitors couldn't penetrate the gritty Welsh defence.

Sam Prendergast nailed a 50/22 in the 54th minute and Ireland struck back with Jame Lowe slapping back a cross-field kick by Jamison Gibson-Park into the hands of Jamie Osborne to tie the score at 18-all as Prendergrast failed to convert.

Mack Hansen went over for Ireland in the 65th minute but was held up in the tackle under penalty advantage for offside.

Ireland opted for the shot at goal and Prendergast slotted the kick to reclaim the lead for the visitors in the 67th minute.

Bundee Aki won a breakdown penalty on the halfway line and Sam Prendergast nailed it down the middle to extend Ireland's lead to six points with 11 minutes of play to go.

Sam Prendergast gave Wales a lifeline when his kick went straight into touch after being taken back into the 22.

Wales attacked with great intent and vigour as debutant Ellis Mee got the ball on the outside and dotted down.

After a lengthy TMO consultation, it was ruled to be knocked on and Ireland got out of jail with eight minutes to go.

Wales attacked from their own half, but a counter-ruck by Ireland saw the visitors get the penalty for playing the ball on the ground.

Flyhalf Prendergast slotted a 78th-minute penalty to take the lead beyond seven points and effectively put the nail in Wales' coffin.

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Player of the match: Despite one or two mistakes, flyhalf Sam Prendergast showed great maturity in tough conditions to steer his side to a vital victory.

Villian of the match: Garry Ringrose - His red card put his side under enormous pressure and could have cost them the Triple Crown and their Six Nations title hopes

Scorers

For Wales:
Tries: Morgan, Rogers
Cons: Anscombe
Pens: Anscombe 2

For Ireland:
Tries: Conan, Osborne
Cons: Prendergast
Pens: Prendergast 5

Red card: Garry Ringrose (Ireland: Dangerous play - head-on-head contact in the tackle 34')

Teams

Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Joe Roberts.

Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne , 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson , 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Cian Prendergast, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Bundee Aki.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Image credit @Irishrugby