Ireland 19 – Wales 10, Aviva Stadium Dublin.
Although you don’t want to over analyse these warm-up games, it was a good afternoon for Ireland and a concerning one for Wales. Chief among Wales’ concerns will be a Head Injury Assessment for Rhys Patchell. This compounds the bad luck already suffered by one of Wales’ outside halves, Gareth Anscombe. There was also a lack of creativity amongst the Welsh backs resulting in the Welsh wings not really getting into the game.
Late on Irish pressure led to Wales losing their usual defensive discipline. Several penalties were conceded including a yellow card for substitute Adam Beard.
Wales started the game reasonably well and had the lions share of first half possession. They narrowly led at half-time but this was, as the cliche goes, ‘a game of two halves’. The Irish second half performance was much better and they deservedly won the game.
Ireland now top the rugby world rankings but they benefit, like Wales did previously, from the World Cup warm-up games coming thick and fast which has given their rankings a boost.
