Caelan Doris, James Ryan, James Lowe and Josh van der Flier score tries as Ireland post a first Six Nations victory in Cardiff for a decade; Ireland scored a record 27 first half points in the Welsh capital; Warren Gatland's first game in charge of Wales in his second stint falls flat
Saturday 4 February 2023 19:35, UK
Ireland made an ideal start to their 2023 Six Nations campaign, as they secured a first championship victory over Wales in Cardiff since 2013, notching a bonus-point 34-10 win to spoil Warren Gatland's return.
Ireland, despite being without key duo Robbie Henshaw (wrist) and Tadhg Furlong (calf) due to injury, and losing scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park and replacement loosehead Cian Healy on the day of the Test due to hamstring injuries, flew out of the traps under a closed roof at the Principality Stadium and never looked back from there.
Outstanding No 8 Caelan Doris, lock James Ryan - firmly back to his form of 2018 - and wing James Lowe each scored first-half tries, before flanker Josh van der Flier added the bonus-point clinching fourth try with seven minutes to play. Skipper Johnny Sexton landed all five of his kicks at goal, while Ross Byrne added one conversion.
Wales registered points through a Dan Biggar penalty and converted Liam Williams try, but they also lost Williams to a sin-binning and were firmly second best, leaving Gatland and co with much work to do.
One second from the two-minute mark, Ireland made the perfect start to the contest when impactful back-row Doris, with all his physicality and work-rate, couldn't fail to score off quick Conor Murray service near the try-line, after the Irish forwards had made good ground at pace within the 22 via tight carries.
The chance had come about from a sliced Josh Adams clearance after Ireland wing Lowe had cleverly kicked ahead in the first attack of the Test, while Wales' first attack in response was snuffed out and into touch by powerful centre Stuart McCloskey and a strong visiting defence.
Instead, it was Ireland who would score again next amidst a quietened home support, as second row Ryan forced his way over with Tadhg Beirne on his shoulder in the ninth minute after Sexton and co had chosen to attack from five metres rather than kick a close-range penalty, as more positive phase-play and hard carrying knocked Wales back repeatedly.
A brief moment of controversy soon followed as Wales' first big chance of the Test arrived: debutant wing Rio Dyer kicking and racing ahead into open grass after an Ireland attack near halfway had gone to ground.
The speed and work of Hugo Keenan to clear up stopped a certain try, and though Ireland's players were adamant the original attack leading to the opening had broken down because of a Wales knock-on in the tackle, no reprieve was forthcoming by ref Karl Dickson or TMO Tom Foley.
Wales had the chance to attack off a five-metre scrum as Keenan had carried back over the try-line, and the hosts chose to take the penalty kick on offer when Ireland infringed offside instead of another attack in the 22, as Biggar kicked through for a 14-3 deficit.
Ireland clicked back into gear straightaway, though, and when tighthead Finlay Bealham forced a scrum penalty in the Wales 22, Sexton added three more points to the lead off the tee.
That 14-point advantage was soon a 21-point one, as Wales' next attack just outside the Ireland 22 was picked off and intercepted by left wing Lowe, who scampered away 80 metres or so to Wales' in-goal untouched.
Sexton added the most difficult of his three conversions to that point, before magnificent defence from centre Garry Ringrose to tackle Biggar near the try-line - after a stumble no less - and then a breakdown jackal from Lowe saw Ireland come away with the ball in a sequence as vital as a try.
Sexton added another penalty on 28 minutes when further one-way traffic and physical dominance continued to see Wales infringe at the breakdown - No 8 Taulupe Faletau the guilty party. With six minutes of the opening half to play, however, Ireland passed up a glorious chance for a fourth try when Doris knocked on a yard from the try-line after Dan Sheehan had been stopped just short.
Wales forced the consequent scrum into a penalty, and soon earned another decision from the referee - this time at the breakdown through Williams - allowing them to have the final big chance of the half.
Though dynamic back-row Jac Morgan went close attacking off a lineout in the 22, outstanding defensive work from loosehead Andrew Porter saw the ball held up and a score averted, leaving Ireland content to head in with their highest tally of first-half points ever registered in the Six Nations in Cardiff.
Wales began the second period on the front foot as they badly needed to, and just six minutes in they were over for their only try when Williams crossed by the posts after quick hands by impressive 20-year-old centre Joe Hawkins.
A late Porter tackle as the try was being scored meant Wales began the restart with a penalty on halfway, too, but a subsequent crooked lineout delivery from skipper Ken Owens sapped all the excitement and momentum built up.
A cheap penalty conceded by Lowe for obstructing Adams as the ball was in the air saw Wales planted in the Ireland 22 again soon after, only for Doris to force a choke tackle maul and win possession back in the shadow of the away side's own posts.
Much improved from their first-half display, Wales continued to probe as a stirring Williams break almost saw them in down the left, but great defence from Keenan and co shut the door as Justin Tipuric overthrew a pass.
A needless penalty conceded from Ireland replacement lock Iain Henderson, moments after he entered the play, saw Wales kick into the Ireland 22 to attack again, but once more they got no change as North and Dyer knocked on between them.
An ill-advised Sexton cross-field kick-pass towards Peter O'Mahony from deep soon saw Dyer intercept and sprint down the left, but superb one-on-one Mack Hansen defence halted the chance, before Ireland's defence forced another knock-on through a combination of Porter and Van der Flier.
A Doris breakdown win gave Ireland some much-needed territory in the second half, before sustained phase-play brought another penalty when Wales' Biggar knocked on intentionally. Sexton kicked to the corner instead of for points, but the move came to nothing when Rhys Carre turned over the ball near his own try-line.
A brilliant Ryan five-metre lineout steal halted Wales' next chance, before the door was shifted ajar for Ireland to claim a fourth try when Williams was sin-binned for a high tackle on Sexton after a TMO review. Once Ireland built up a head of steam in the 22 via 15 phases, Van der Flier was on hand to dive over under the posts and crown off a hugely positive day for those in green.
Wales next travel to face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh next Saturday, February 11 (4.45pm kick-off GMT), in Round 2 of the Six Nations.
Ireland, also in action next Saturday for the second round of the championship, host defending champions France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (2.15pm kick-off GMT).
