As it happened: Ireland make it three wins out of three in Six Nations against determined Wales

Ireland will be looking to make it three wins out of three in this year's Six Nations.
As it happened: Ireland make it three wins out of three in Six Nations against determined Wales

Bundee Aki of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

4.14pm A win for Ireland.

Three out of three now for Ireland in this year's Six Nations. A triple crown in the bag and a step closer to reclaiming a third Six Nations title in a row.

And whisper it but it's another step closer to landing another Grand Slam.

But they were made to work for it by Wales. Report, reaction and analysis to come from Simon Lewis at the stadium.

FULL TIME: WALES 18 IRELAND 27

82mins Ireland regain possession and Prendergast kicks it out.

79mins Penalty Ireland and that will surely be that. Prendergast aims to add to his and Ireland's tally. He sends it wide though and Wales play on.

79mins Jamison Gibson-Park is named the man of the match.

WALES 18 IRELAND 27

78mins Sam Prendergast surely wins it for Ireland.

77mins Penalty Ireland. Bundee Aki has made a huge difference for Ireland since coming on.

77mins Wales looking to build. Only a converted try will do for them now.

74mins Great Irish scrum. And now a penalty. Ireland will get the chance to clear the danger.

73mins Knock on. No try. Relief for Ireland.

73mins It doesn't look like Ellis Mee has complete control of the ball but it is very close.

73mins Wales think they've scored a try in the corner but it's going to be checked. Looks close.

73mins Wales pressing forward deep into Irish territory.

72mins Substitution for Ireland. Jack Boyle replaces Andrew Porter.

71mins The Fields of Athenry is ringing around the stadium. I think for the first time this afternoon. Sums up the game and how good Wales have been.

WALES 18 IRELAND 24

70mins Prendergast nails the kick from distance. Big score. Brilliant strike.

69mins Bundee Aki wins a big penalty for Ireland. Prendergast to kick from a long way out.

68mins Referee deems that it isn't an illegal hit. Chest on head from the Welsh player. Right decision.

68mins TMO checking for a yellow card for a potential foul on Andrew Porter.

WALES 18 IRELAND 21

66mins Hansen just denied behind the line. Ireland going to kick the penalty. Prendergast fires over from close-range to edge the visitors in front.

65mins Prendergast kicks deep into the Wales half.

63mins Wales continue to cause Ireland massive problems. They are nearly in through Llewelyn but it is knocked on and Ireland have a scrum.

61mins Another Wales penalty. Another strong kick to the corner.

WALES 18 IRELAND 18

56mins Jamie Osborne scores on his debut. Great work from Lowe to bat the ball into his path after a high kick to the corner by Prendergast. Brilliant try. Prendergast sends the conversion wide though.

TRY FOR IRELAND!

55mins Brilliant crossfield kick into the corner by Sam Prendergast to within a few meters of the line.

51mins Big turnover for Ireland thanks to Henshaw. Ireland back to the full compliment of 15 men.

50mins Substitution for Ireland. Finlay Bealham replaces Thomas Clarkson.

WALES 18 IRELAND 13

49mins Penalty Ireland and Prendergast is going to fire it over from close-range to give Ireland a bit of momentum.

44mins Substitution for Ireland. Ryan Baird is on for Jack Conan. Baird was a late replacement for Cian Prendergast, who couldn't take his place on the bench through illness.

Mack Hansen of Ireland and Jac Morgan of Wales, left, contest a high ball. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Mack Hansen of Ireland and Jac Morgan of Wales, left, contest a high ball. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

WALES 18 IRELAND 10

43mins Another Ireland mistake and Wales take full advantage through Tom Rogers. Great finish after great work by Murray. Anscombe misses the conversion.

TRY FOR WALES!

41mins Substitution for Ireland. James Ryan comes in for Joe McCarthy, who seemed to suffer a head injury.

41mins Ringrose's yellow card has been upgraded to a 20-minute red. Ireland will stay at 14 men for another 10 minutes.

Second half is underway

The teams are back out on the pitch for the second half.

HALF TIME - Wales 13 Ireland 10

43mins The pressure finally tells and Wales edge in front. They edge over the line and it looks like it's Jac Morgan who has got it. Anscombe kicks the conversion.

TRY FOR WALES!

42mins Brilliant defending by Ireland on their line. So far.

41mins Another Wales penalty and they kick into the corner. Great pressure being applied from the home side. Crowd are on their feet.

40mins Penalty advantage Wales but they're going for the line. They almost get there but for a brilliant tackle from Clarkson.

39mins Chance for Wales as Ireland concede their 7th penalty of the first half.

36mins Penalty Ireland. Prendergast is going for it but he hits the upright. Decent effort from distance. Unlucky.

Wales 6 Ireland 10

36mins Wales fire over the penalty through Gareth Anscombe. There are now just four points between the sides.

35mins Ringrose has been yellow carded but it will be reviewed by the bunker. The referee deemed he could have been lower making the challenge.

Wales' Tomos Williams takes a kick. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Wales' Tomos Williams takes a kick. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

33mins Wales opt to head for the corner. Their fans are roaring them forward yet again.

32mins Wales penalty. Long way out but they may have a go for the posts.

30mins Ireland squander a great chance for a try. Ringrose would have been certain to find the line but Osborne somehow fails to find him in acres of space over on the left flank.

29mins A great kick from Lowe gets Ireland 35 metres further up the pitch.

25mins Tomos Williams looks certain to score a try for Wales but he drops it just as he looked to be racing clear for the line. Let off for Ireland.

24mins Wales are growing in confidence and their fans are now getting behind them.

Wales 3 Ireland 10

23mins Wales open their account thanks to a penalty from the returning Gareth Anscombe.

Wales 0 Ireland 10

21mins Prendergast coolly fires between the posts and extends Ireland's lead.

20mins Finally some joy from a scrum as Ireland win a penalty. Prendergast to kick for the posts.

17mins Penalty for Wales. Three scrums lead to three Welsh penalties.

16mins Lowe races towards the line but he fails to offload the ball before he is tackled. 

13mins Quick kicks in behind from Prendergast and Osborne almost have Ireland in for another try but Wales deal with the danger.

Wales 0 Ireland 7

7mins Jack Conan with a strong one-handed finish for his 12th try for Ireland. Perfect start for Ireland as Sam Prendergast adds the conversion.

7mins TRY IRELAND!

Ireland line up before the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Saturday February 22, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Wales. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.
Ireland line up before the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Saturday February 22, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Wales. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.

6mins James Lowe almost crosses the line but he is held up short. Ireland have a penalty though which is kicked to the corner.

5mins A great kick to the corner now has Ireland on the attack 12 metres out from the line.

4mins It comes to nothing and Wales hammer the ball clear with their penalty. The home side are now on the attack.

3mins Ireland have a scrum just inside the Welsh half.

Kick-off Ireland get the game underway in their changed white strip.

2.13pm Great atmosphere ahead of kick-off, the roof being closed always seems to add to it.

2.11pm And now it's time for the Welsh anthem, which will be sung loudly and proudly as ever. Hard to beat it.

Ireland fans in the stands ahead of the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium. Pic: David Davies/PA Wire.
Ireland fans in the stands ahead of the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium. Pic: David Davies/PA Wire.

2.10pm Here we go, the teams are out on the pitch. Time for the anthems and first up is Ireland's Call.

2.05pm Ten minutes until kick-off, almost time for the anthems.

1.51pm Below is a video from Simon Lewis as the atmosphere builds in the stadium ahead of kick-off.

1.31pm And in some interesting news closer to home. JJ Hanrahan is set for a return to Munster next season, the Irish Examiner understands.

Click here to read more about the news.

1.17pm Cian Prendergast has been ruled out for Ireland with illness, he is replaced on the bench at No.20 by Ryan Baird. Simon Lewis

READY TO GO: Irish fan’s ahead of the match. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.
READY TO GO: Irish fan’s ahead of the match. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

1.12pm Welcome to our liveblog as Ireland head to Wales looking to make it three wins out of three in the Six Nations.

My name is Andrew Horgan and I will be talking you all through the best of the action as Ireland look to take a step closer to winning a third successive Six Nations title, and maybe even another Grand Slam.

Simon Lewis is in position in the press box at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and he will also be sharing his thoughts throughout the game.

In the meantime, here is some pre-match reading for you to enjoy.

Donal Lenihan says that amid pent-up Welsh energy, Ireland's biggest danger is in the top six inches.

Simon Lewis believes that Ireland are in no way underestimating challenge that awaits within Cardiff cauldron.

And Jamison Gibson-Park has said that he 'couldn’t kick snow off a rope when I arrived in Ireland'.

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