'We dug ourselves out' — Easterby praises Irish resilience after crowning Cardiff comeback

'We would have certainly taken this a few weeks back,' insisted the interim Ireland coach as Triple Crown is secured with a gritty win over resurgent Wales after Garry Ringrose had seen red

SILVER SERVICE: Ireland captains Dan Sheehan, right, and Caelan Doris lift the Triple Crown trophy during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Simon Easterby praised Ireland’s ability to dig themselves out of a hole as they came from behind to beat Wales 27-18 at Principality Stadium on Saturday to keep their Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam bid alive heading into the final two games.

Ireland were trailing 18-10 after Wales wing Tom Rogers scored his country’s second try in a six-minute spell either side of half-time before full-back Jamie Osborne’s 55th-minute try and three nerveless penalties from fly-half Sam Prendergast saw Ireland home to their third win in a row in 2025 to deliver a Triple Crown and consign a brave Welsh side to 12th-consecutive Test defeat.