Ireland end 10-year Cardiff drought to make World Cup statement
MATCH REPORT: Ireland, the world's top-ranked team, ended a 10-year wait for a win in Cardiff to put down a big marker in the opening match of the Six Nations.
Outscoring hosts Wales four tries to one, for a commanding 34-10 win, the Irish showed why they are one of the favourites for the World Cup in France next year.
That status will again be tested when they host defending Six Nations champions France in Dublin next week.
* To recap all the Cardiff drama, CLICK HERE!
It was an impressive start by Ireland, with the 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier securing the bonus point with a fourth try late on to make it a miserable start for Wales coach Warren Gatland in his second spell in charge.
It was Ireland's biggest win in Cardiff since they won 36-6 in 2001 and the perfect launching pad for hosting defending champions France next Saturday.
The Welsh will travel to Scotland, with the only consolation being they ended up champions in 2013 after the opening loss to the Irish.
Ireland justified their No.1 world ranking from the outset scoring quick early tries through Caelan Doris and James Ryan.
James Lowe's try from an interception put the visitors out of sight before half-time.
"We came out, started really well which was really important having not won here for ten years," fullback Hugo Keenan said in his post-match reaction.
"We probably slipped off a bit in the second half so there's still plenty to work on but we're delighted to get a bonus point and start the Six Nations with a win.
"These are the occasions you want to be part of, in this stadium against a tough side."
Andy Farrell's side was clinical and ruthless as they kicked-off their campaign with a bonus-point victory.
Farrell had to change his starting lineup before kick-off when scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park pulled out with a hamstring strain - veteran Conor Murray came off the bench to replace him.
Gatland's last Six Nations game in 2019 had been against Ireland in Cardiff when Wales completed the third Grand Slam of the Kiwi coach's 12-year stint in charge.
He had started his initial reign in 2008 with a win at Twickenham over England, but there was no repeat.
"We're disappointed. We lacked discipline and accuracy in that first half and that put us under pressure," Wales captain Ken Owens said.
"We showed character in the second half, we kept pushing but mistakes at key moments let us down against the best team in the world.
"We've got to learn from this quickly on the hoof," he added.
Ireland went onto the offensive from the kick-off and struck from their first attack with Doris crashing over.
Skipper Johnny Sexton converted and the Welsh crowd were immediately silenced.
Six minutes later it was second row James Ryan who barged over in similar style from close range and Sexton doubled the lead with his conversion.
Keenan then thwarted Wales' best chance of the opening quarter when he beat Rio Dyer to the ball as it dribbled over the line after a kick and chase.
Dan Biggar did get the home side off the mark with a simple penalty, but his kick was matched four minutes later by Sexton.
As Wales grew into the game, their hopes of getting back into the contest were dashed when James Lowe picked off a pass by Biggar and raced 70 metres for an interception try that made it 22 points in 21 minutes.
Sexton added the extras and then kicked a penalty to make it 27-3 at the break.
The Welsh began the second half more positively and when Williams dived over under the posts six minutes after the re-start the fans were hoping for a revival. Biggar converted, but that was as good as it got.
Van der Flier ensured the Irish left with a fourth try from close range and Ross Byrne rounded things off with the conversion.
Man of the match: George North, Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens were all good value for Wales. Hugo Keenan took his carries into double figures and his metres close to triple figures. Garry Ringrose was solid in the midfield, Jonathan Sexton pulled the strings from flyhalf and Conor Murray had an admirable performance, given he was a late addition to the starting XV. Bundee Aki made a massive impact off the bench. Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Beirne were among the most productive Irish forwards. Our award goes to Ireland lock James Ryan - for his enormous workrate, especially his line-out efforts, stealing a crucial ball on the Welsh throw just five metres from his own line at a crucial stage in the game.
Moment of the match: The Caelan Doris try in the second minute set the tone for Ireland's early dominance and the James Ryan five-pointer in the ninth minute emphasised the visitors' superiority. The score that sealed the deal was the James Lowe intercept at the end of the first quarter to make it a 21-point lead. From there Wales struggled to get a foothold in the game. Despite a more competitive second half, that three-try lead was always too big a mountain to climb for the home team.
The villain of the match: It was a match generally played in good spirit, but Ireland prop Andrew Porter showed a particularly nasty streak - his handful of penalties included one for diving in a prone opponent in the in-goal area after a try had already been scored. He was very fortunate not to have been carded.
The scorers
For Wales
Tries: Williams
Cons: Biggar
Pens: Biggar
For Ireland
Tries: Doris, Ryan, Lowe, Van der Flier
Cons: Sexton 3, Byrne
Pens: Sexton 2
Yellow card: Liam Williams (Wales, 65 - foul play, high tackle)
Teams
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 George North, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tomos William, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gareth Thomas..
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Alex Cuthbert.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jonathan Sexton (captain), 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Bundee Aki.
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia) & Luke Pearce (England )
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
* Additional reporting by AFP