Ireland hold off resurgent Wales to stay on course for title

Guinness Six Nations 2025

Wales (13) 18

Tries: Morgan, Rogers Cons: Anscombe Pens: Anscombe 2

Ireland (10) 27

Tries: Conan, Osborne Cons: Prendergast Pens: Prendergast 5

Ireland clinched their 14th Triple Crown and remain on course for a record third successive Six Nations title after beating a resurgent Wales in a thrilling game in Cardiff.

Ireland centre Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card in the 34th minute for a high tackle on Wales' Ben Thomas.

The visitors shrugged this off as they recovered from an 18-10 deficit. Ireland scored tries by Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne with fly-half Sam Prendergast kicking 17 points.

Wales produced an outstanding performance under new interim coach Matt Sherratt with tries from inspirational captain Jac Morgan and Tom Rogers and eight points from recalled Gareth Anscombe.

Ireland will hope to complete a Grand Slam as they host France before finishing the tournament in Italy against Rome, while Wales will hope to avoid a Wooden Spoon when they face Scotland and England in their final two games.

Wales' losing international sequence has reached 15 games and this was a record ninth successive tournament loss.

But this occasion will be remembered as an inspirational performance to help restore some much-needed faith in Welsh rugby.

The Welsh team were unrecognisable from the side that lost against France and Italy, which led to the departure of head coach Warren Gatland.

Sherratt has taken over and transformed the side despite having only four sessions and less than a week to prepare against the tournament's defending champions.

He was meant to be celebrating his brother-in-law's 50th birthday at Cardiff rugby club before he was given the call by Wales.

Instead he took charge of Wales and made multiple changes, recalling individuals Gatland had discarded such as Anscombe and Max Llewellyn and picked others players in their regular positions, including Ben Thomas at 12 instead of fly-half.

It resulted in a much more cohesive attacking performance, while Wales enjoyed first-half scrum dominance. Wales were written off as 25-1 no-hopers by some bookmakers with most observers expecting a comfortable Irish victory.

An Irish podcast suggested their side could win with 13 men or send over their Under-20s side. Wales have proved what they can achieve with some structure and belief while Wales U20s beat their Irish counterparts on Friday night.

Both sides were in the strange scenario of having caretaker coaches.

Gatland stepped down last week after a 22-15 defeat by Italy condemned Wales to a 14th successive loss and a 20th defeat in 26 matches in his second stint in charge. This followed his first 12-year stint in which he led Wales to three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals.

Sherratt was placed in charge on an interim basis, but insisted he will only be in charge for the remaining Six Nations tournament having signed a long-term deal with Cardiff.

Easterby, who is overseeing Ireland while Andy Farrell prepares for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, had masterminded victories over England and Scotland.

The former Ireland flanker, who lives in Wales and played for Scarlets, responded to reports he is a contender to take over from Gatland by insisting he is committed to Ireland and stated he had yet to be approached by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Sherratt and Easterby made multiple changes for different reasons. Sherratt made eight personnel changes from the side beaten by Italy which included a debut for Nottingham-born Scarlets wing Ellis Mee, who impressed in only his 11th professional game.

It also included the return of Gloucester duo Llewellyn and Anscombe, with the fly-half making his first Six Nations start since 2019.

There were two further positiona; alterations with Thomas switched from fly-half to centre and captain Morgan moved from open-side flanker to blind-side to accommodate Tommy Reffell.

Ireland made seven changes due to a mixture of injury and rotation with 12 Leinster players in the starting side.

Hooker Dan Sheehan was captain for the first time after Caelan Doris was ruled out by a knee injury. Doris had played in his nation's previous 42 internationals, but British and Irish Lions Test number eight Conan slotted in.

Full-back Osborne made his Six Nations debut, there was a maiden Test start for Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson, while lock Joe McCarthy, centre Ringrose and wing Mack Hansen were recalled.

The Principality Stadium roof was closed and Ireland were playing predominantly in white to help supporters impacted by colour blindness, with the traditional green shirts having in the past clashed with Wales' red.

The new-look Wales front-row of Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and WillGriff John won three early scrum penalties, while Taulupe Faletau started brightly.

A clever Ringrose 50-22 kick provided an early attacking platform for Conan to eventually power over with Prendergast converting before slotting over a penalty after the hosts were penalised for their first scrum infringement.

Anscombe slotted over Wales' first three points before the hosts spurned a try opportunity when Tomos Williams dropped a pass from Morgan, which in any case might have been forward.

The home side were looking more cohesive in attack than the opening two games with centre Llewellyn prominent.

Ireland also blew an attacking chance when a long pass from Osborne to Ringrose went astray with the Welsh line at his mercy.

Resurgent Wales continued to pressurise Ireland with Ringrose initially shown a yellow card for his high tackle on Thomas with the decision sent to the bunker.

Anscombe reduced the deficit to four points with his second penalty before Prendergast hit the post with a long-range effort.

Wales piled on the pressure and eventually Morgan burrowed over to give the hosts a half-time lead. During the interval, Ringrose's 20-minute red card was confirmed.

Wales utilised their extra man with a free-flowing move started by a huge Will Rowlands carry.

That laid the foundations for full-back Blair Murray to set up Scarlets team-mate Rogers, who produced a spectacular finish in the corner.

Prendergast reduced the deficit to five points with his second penalty before centre Bundee Aki came onto the field to level up the numbers as the 20-minute red card was completed.

Ireland levelled the score with a second try that came from a superb 50-22 kick, this time from Prendergast.

An ensuing cross-kick from player-of-the-match Jamison Gibson-Park was palmed by James Lowe into the hands of the onrushing Osborne to score.

Ireland gained the ascendancy as Hansen was held up over the Wales line by Murray, but Prendergast slotted over a penalty to restore the Irish lead before an excellent long-range effort set up a six-point advantage.

Wales refused to give up and Mee looked like he had scored a brilliant try on his debut in the corner, but it was justly ruled out by the English television match official (TMO) Ian Tempest for a knock on.

Ireland rallied and Prendergast's fifth penalty clinched the win.

Wales: Murray; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Mee; Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Smith, Dee, John, Rowlands, Jenkins, Morgan (capt), Reffell, Faletau.

Replacements: E Lloyd, G Thomas, H Thomas, Teddy Williams, Wainwright, R Williams, J Evans, Roberts.

Ireland: Osborne; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Clarkson, J McCarthy, Beirne, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: G McCarthy, Boyle, Bealham, Ryan, Baird, Murray, Crowley, Aki.

Red-card: Ringrose 34

Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)

Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)

Television Match Official: Ian Tempest (Eng)

Foul Play Review Officer: Matteo Liperini (Ita)