Young guns blaze trail for Ireland

Wales U20 6 Ireland U20 9

But the next generation handed the senior team a much-needed boost by holding on for a sweet success in Llanelli.

And while Declan Kidney’s men will wake up this morning aiming to secure their first Grand Slam in 61 years, they will have been buoyed by the young guns’ performance in west Wales.

Ireland were praying on Italy doing them a huge favour by beating France and pull off a shock win to secure their own championship crown but that failed to materialise.

Fly-half Andrew Burke booted three penalties in a match dominated by the boot and lacking in any genuine quality at Parc y Scarlets.

Ireland coach Allen Clarke made two changes from the defeat in Scotland last weekend with prop Adam Macklin and centre Shane Gahan included.

The pair were joined by lock Ciaran and flanker Rhys Ruddock, who lined up for Ireland in Wales where father Mike led the Dragons to a Grand Slam in 2005 as head coach.

And Worcester coach Ruddock and wife Bernadette were in the crowd to watch the forwards in action among the 3,523 crowd.

Wales had gained their first win of the season against Italy last weekend and were boosted by the return to fitness of Newport Gwent Dragons full-back Jason Tovey following a calf strain.

Both sides had different objectives with Clarke and his assistants checking on the scoreline from Italy praying that their title dreams were still alive, while Wales were looking to secure a mid-table finish.

But the visitors fell behind in the sixth minute when Tovey booted home a routine penalty after Ireland failed to roll away in the tackle.

The Irish were level just three minutes later and capitalised on ill-discipline from Ashley Beck who shoved Shane Garan in the back.

And late replacement fly-half Andrew Burke saw his sweetly-struck penalty from distance fly through the posts.

Burke punished Beck again for another infringement to add his second successful kick in the 12th minute and hand Ireland the lead.

Tovey missed a straightforward chance to level the scores three minutes later, but he made amends with his second penalty at the end of the opening quarter.

Ireland regained the lead with a third penalty from Burke on 22 minutes. Burke had two more attempts in the opening half either side of Tovey’s failed penalty effort which crashed against the right-hand post as Ireland led 9-6 at the break.

Ireland’s fly-half missed another simple chance in the 44th minute before David Langdon took over the kicking duties for Wales.

Langdon struck the post twice with long-range penalty attempts, before he was denied a try by a Paddy McAlister superb covering tackle in the 56th minute.

The hosts were in the ascendancy but time and time again they failed to make the breakthrough.

And then Ireland closed the Dragons out in the final quarter with a gutsy and defiant defence to clinch victory and set up the weekend perfectly for the men in green.

Scorers for Wales: J Tovey 2 pens.

Scorers for Ireland: A Burke 3 pens.

WALES: J Tovey; J Loxton, S Williams, A Beck, N Reynolds; D Langdon, T Knoyle; A Coundley, R Williams, S Andrews, J King, A Sweet, J Thomas, R Pitman, J Tipuric (capt).

Replacements: J Leadbetter for S Williams (57), M Jarvis for Langdon (64), R Downes for Reynolds (73).

IRELAND: I Madigan; R O'Mahony, S Gahan, E Sheridan, M Keating; A Burke, M Healy; J McGrath, T Sexton, A Macklin, C Ruddock, J Sandford, R Ruddock, P O'Mahony (capt), D Ryan.

Replacements: P McAllister for Macklin (55), M Flanagan for Sandford (60), C Murray for Healy (64).

Referee: Greg Garner (RFU).