Wales left the Millennium Stadium harbouring twin frustrations after they slipped to a 19-9 defeat to RBS 6 Nations title favourites Ireland.

WALES coach Gareth Jenkins saw his side’s defeat at the Millennium Stadium as an opportunity lost and believes Ireland will get better as the season progresses.

THREE tries to nil and a 19-9 winning margin on foreign soil suggest a competent all-round performance by Ireland at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.

Wales 9 Ireland 12

Perfect conditions greeted RBS 6 Nations favourites Ireland as they launched they title challenge with a tricky opener at the Millennium Stadium.

NEW ZEALANDER Steve Walsh will referee the first rugby Test match to be played at Croke Park.

Wales 29 Australia 29

Scotland 19 Argentina 23

Gavin Henson finds himself in a familiar position as the centre of attention today, but for all the wrong reasons.

WALES forward Ryan Jones has been summoned to join the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand amid growing concerns over Simon Taylor’s fitness.

Clive Woodward launched his first media campaign of the tour just a day before the Lions face their biggest challenge yet by calling for touch-judges to stop interfering in the referee’s business.

Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy improved his chances of making the Lions’ Test team with a impressive display in today’s victory over Taranaki.

Taranaki 14 British and Irish Lions 36

EVER since France were unceremoniously dumped from the World Cup at the semi-final stage by England, one sensed that this Six Nations Championship offered a route to redemption.

ITALIAN coach John Kirwan was the last man in the queue to buy a drink for New Zealand referee Kelvin Deaker after Saturday’s RBS Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

Ireland 19 Italy 3

Ireland: Dempsey, S. Horgan, D’arcy, O’Driscoll, Murphy, O’Gara, Stringer, Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, O’Kelly, O’Callaghan, S. Easterby, Gleeson, Foley.

Uruguayan coach Diego Ormaechea, whose side returned from the last World Cup with a win under their belts after beating Spain, is adamant Uruguay are learning and will emerge a better team once their campaign is over.

WORLD champions Australia take on Argentina tonight (11.15pm Irish time) looking to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing defeat they suffered at the hands of the Pumas when they last played in South America five years ago.