Heartbreak for Ireland as Halfpenny penalty gives Wales win at Aviva

Ireland 21 Wales 23

Leigh Halfpenny kicked a final-minute penalty to snatch a dramatic late victory for Wales over Ireland in their RBS 6 Nations opener at the Aviva Stadium.

A thrilling Test was settled in controversial circumstances after flanker Stephen Ferris was dubiously penalised for a dangerous tackle on Ian Evans, giving Halfpenny his chance.

Try-scorer George North was Wales’ star with Jonathan Davies crossing twice, while Rory Best and Tommy Bowe breached the whitewash for Ireland.

Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts started Wales’ RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland at Aviva Stadium despite concerns over their fitness.

Priestland and Roberts, two stars of the World Cup, were troubled by knee problems but were given the green light to play on Friday.

Sam Warburton led the side but Wales, second favourites to win the Six Nations, were missing Dan Lydiate, Gethin Jenkins, Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones to injury.

Ireland chose Fergus McFadden to replace Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre after Keith Earls was withdrawn from the match on Friday due to personal reasons.

Fly-half Jonathan Sexton was preferred ahead of Ronan O’Gara as the Irish sought to avenge their World Cup quarter-final defeat by Wales.

Sharp footwork from Leigh Halfpenny swept Wales out of trouble in the opening minute after Sexton had failed to find touch.

The Ireland fly-half atoned by landing a long-range penalty, but his side soon came under heavy pressure as Bradley Davies broke free from a line-out.

Wales pounded away when Davies was eventually tackled with George North, Mike Phillips and Roberts all charging within inches of the line.

Timely intervention from wing Tommy Bowe prevented a certain try and it was only the strength of Donncha O’Callaghan and Rory Best that stopped Ryan Jones touching down.

Wales continued to take the game to their dazed opponents and deservedly surged ahead in the 14th minute.

Priestland dispelled any fears over his fitness by taking two defenders out with a decisive run before slipping a wonderful offload to Jonathan Davies.

Bowe was absent as he had been sucked into tackling Priestland rather than staying with Davies and the Wales centre capitalised by diving in at the corner.

Priestland missed the conversion and then struck the left upright with the easiest of penalties.

Ireland’s provinces have excelled in the Heineken Cup this season, but the national side was struggling to make any impression on Wales.

Miscommunication resulted in Sexton kicking the ball away aimlessly, but the Leinster back came to his team’s rescue by sweeping up with North threatening.

He then pulled a routine penalty kick wide of the right post as Ireland sought to reclaim the lead.

Robust defending kept the Irish competitive, but Wales continued to be the dominant force until the closing six minutes of the half when the home side burst into life.

The Welsh defence was stretched by wave after wave of attacks, creating space down the left that was brilliantly exploited by Bowe in the 37th minute.

Bowe had come off his right wing to storm down the opposite flank, selling a dummy before supplying the scoring pass to Best with Sexton converting.

Wales suffered a blow at half-time when Warburton was replaced by Justin Tipuric because of a dead leg, while James Hook came on for Alex Cuthbert, who appeared to have paid the price for his failure to tackle Bowe at the end of the first half.

Ireland stretched their lead to eight points through a second Sexton penalty and when Wales had the chance to respond, Priestland was well wide once more.

Inevitably, Halfpenny took over the kicking the duties when the next opportunity arose and the full-back made no mistake from long range.

Ireland were left to lament their poor defending in midfield as Wales ran in their second try in the 55th minute.

The ball was fed to North from the line-out and he cruised between Gordon D’Arcy and McFadden before finding Davies who raced over.

Halfpenny converted, but Wales’ lead was only brief as Sexton booted a tricky penalty.

A grandstand finish beckoned and Ireland were in the driving seat when Bradley Davies was sin-binned in the 65th for dropping Donnacha Ryan on his head.

Davies was desperately lucky to escape a red card for the spear tackle, an incident that will surely interest the citing officer.

The match was finely poised and it took a touch of class from Ireland to breach the whitewash once more.

Standing deep, first Sexton and then Kearney delivered long, fast passes that gifted Bowe, who was positioned on the touchline, an easy finish.

Sexton missed the conversion and a penalty – both difficult kicks – and then watched as Wales cut the deficit to a single point.

The irrepressible North was the source of Wales’ third try as he bullied a trio of Irish backs to force his way over the line.

Victory beckoned but Halfpenny narrowly missed the touchline conversion.

Another chance soon arrived, although Ireland will feel aggrieved at how it came about.

Flanker Stephen Ferris was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Ian Evans in the final minute, although it looked a harsh decision.

More importantly, Halfpenny was presented with a second chance to win the match and this time he delivered in a dramatic conclusion.