Head-To-Head: Ireland v Wales

2018 NATWEST 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, February 24

IRELAND (1st) v WALES (3rd), Aviva Stadium, 2.15pm (live TV3/UTV/ITV/S4C/FR2/DMAX/NBC/RTÉ Radio 1/IRFU Live Blog)

IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster).

Replacements: Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster).

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Liam Williams (Saracens), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (capt), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints).

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Matthew Carley (England)
Television Match Official: Rowan Kitt (England)

Head-To-Head:

Played – 125
Ireland Won – 50
Wales Won – 68
Drawn – 7

Ireland v Wales: IRFU Stat Zone

Ireland v Wales – Results Since 2000:

2000: Wales won 23-19, Lansdowne Road
2001: Ireland won 36-6, Millennium Stadium
2002: Ireland won 54-10, Lansdowne Road
2003: Ireland won 25-24, Millennium Stadium; Ireland won 35-12, Lansdowne Road
2004: Ireland won 36-15, Lansdowne Road
2005: Wales won 32-20, Millennium Stadium
2006: Ireland won 31-5, Lansdowne Road
2007: Ireland won 19-9, Millennium Stadium
2008: Wales won 16-12, Croke Park
2009: Ireland won 17-15, Millennium Stadium
2010: Ireland won 27-12, Croke Park
2011: Wales won 19-13, Millennium Stadium; Wales won 22-10, Westpac Stadium
2012: Wales won 23-21, Aviva Stadium
2013: Ireland won 30-22, Millennium Stadium
2014: Ireland won 26-3, Aviva Stadium
2015: Wales won 23-16, Millennium Stadium; Ireland won 35-21, Millennium Stadium; Wales won 16-10, Aviva Stadium
2016: 16-16 draw, Aviva Stadium
2017: Wales won 22-9, Principality Stadium

Biggest Wins:

Ireland: Points & Margin: 54-10, 2002 Six Nations

Wales: Points: 34-9, 1976 Five Nations; Margin: 29-0, 1907 Four Nations

Individual Records In The Series:

Most Points In A Match: Ireland 22 (David Humphreys 2002); Wales 20 (Neil Jenkins 1998)

Most Tries In A Match: Ireland 3 (Robert Montgomery 1887); Wales 3 (Johnnie Williams 1907, 1910; Bryn Williams 1920)

Most Appearances – Ireland v Wales:

16 Brian O’Driscoll
14 Rory Best, Mike Gibson, Gethin Jenkins, Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara
13 Jamie Heaslip, Donncha O’Callaghan
12 Ieuan Evans, Willie John McBride, Phil Orr
11 Billy Bancroft, Gordon D’Arcy, John Hayes, Robert Jones, Stephen Jones, Moss Keane, Donal Lenihan, Brendan Mullin, Jamie Roberts, Fergus Slattery, Peter Stringer

Top Points Scorers – Ireland v Wales:

113 Neil Jenkins
107 Stephen Jones
100 Ronan O’Gara
85 Jonathan Sexton
84 David Humphreys
62 Leigh Halfpenny
57 Eric Elwood
54 Phil Bennett
52 Michael Kiernan

Top Try Scorers – Ireland v Wales:

8 Johnnie Williams
7 Brian O’Driscoll
6 Gerald Davies, Ieuan Evans, Teddy Morgan
5 Gareth Edwards
4 Keith Earls, Rusty Gabe

Ireland – Form Guide From Start Of The 2017 Six Nations:

Lost 27-22 v Scotland away (Six Nations)
Won 63-10 v Italy away (Six Nations)
Won 19-9 v France home (Six Nations)
Lost 22-9 v Wales away (Six Nations)
Won 13-9 v England home (Six Nations)
Won 55-19 v USA away (Summer Tour)
Won 50-22 v Japan away (Summer Series)
Won 35-13 v Japan away (Summer Series)
Won 38-3 v South Africa home (GUINNESS Series)
Won 23-20 v Fiji home (GUINNESS Series)
Won 28-19 v Argentina home (GUINNESS Series)
Won 15-13 v France away (Six Nations)
Won 56-19 v Italy home (Six Nations)

Wales – Form Guide From Start Of The 2017 Six Nations:

Won 33-7 v Italy away (Six Nations)
Lost 21-16 v England home (Six Nations)
Lost 29-13 v Scotland away (Six Nations)
Won 22-9 v Ireland home (Six Nations)
Lost 20-18 v France away (Six Nations)
Won 24-6 v Tonga neutral (Summer Tour)
Won 19-17 v Samoa away (Summer Tour)
Lost 29-21 v Australia home (Autumn Series)
Won 13-6 v Georgia home (Autumn Series)
Lost 33-18 v New Zealand home (Autumn Series)
Won 24-22 v South Africa home (Autumn Series)
Won 34-7 v Scotland home (Six Nations)
Lost 46-15 v England away (Six Nations)

International Championship All-Time Records:

Points –
557 Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
546 Jonny Wilkinson (England)
467 Stephen Jones (Wales)
406 Neil Jenkins (Wales)
403 Chris Paterson (Scotland)
363 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
338 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
322 Owen Farrell (England)
288 Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
270 David Humphreys (Ireland)
250 Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
232 Paul Grayson (England)

Tries –
26 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
24 Ian Smith (Scotland)
22 Shane Williams (Wales)
18 Gareth Edwards (Wales)
18 Cyril Lowe (England)
18 Rory Underwood (England)

Caps –
65 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
63 Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
62 Sergio Parisse (Italy)
60 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)
57 Rory Best (Ireland)
56 Mike Gibson (Ireland)
56 Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
55 Ross Ford (Scotland)
54 John Hayes (Ireland)
54 Jason Leonard (England)
53 Willie John McBride (Ireland)
53 Chris Paterson (Scotland)
51 Marco Bortolami (Italy)
51 Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
51 Martyn Williams (Wales)
50 Stephen Jones (Wales)
50 Philippe Sella (France)
50 Rory Underwood (England)

Ireland – Most-Capped Players:

133 Brian O’Driscoll
128 Ronan O’Gara
108 Rory Best
108 Paul O’Connell
105 John Hayes
98 Peter Stringer
95 Jamie Heaslip
94 Donncha O’Callaghan
92 Malcolm O’Kelly
82 Gordon D’Arcy
82 Girvan Dempsey
80 Rob Kearney
75 Cian Healy
72 David Humphreys
72 Geordan Murphy
72 David Wallace
71 Eoin Reddan
70 Kevin Maggs
70 Jonathan Sexton
70 Andrew Trimble
69 Tommy Bowe
69 Mike Gibson
67 Marcus Horan

Ireland – All-Time Leading Points Scorers:

1083 Ronan O’Gara
664 Jonathan Sexton
560 David Humphreys
308 Michael Kiernan
296 Eric Elwood
245 Brian O’Driscoll
217 Ollie Campbell
195 Paddy Jackson
158 Tom Kiernan
150 Tommy Bowe
145 Denis Hickie
135 Keith Earls

Ireland – All-Time Leading Try Scorers:

46 Brian O’Driscoll
30 Tommy Bowe
29 Denis Hickie
27 Keith Earls
21 Shane Horgan
19 Girvan Dempsey
18 Geordan Murphy
17 Brendan Mullin
17 Andrew Trimble
16 Ronan O’Gara
15 Kevin Maggs
15 Keith Wood
14 George Stephenson
13 Jamie Heaslip
13 Rob Kearney
12 Keith Crossan
12 David Wallace

Wales – Most-Capped Players:

129 Gethin Jenkins
115 Alun Wyn Jones
104 Stephen Jones
100 Gareth Thomas
100 Martyn Williams
95 Adam Jones
94 Colin Charvis
94 Mike Phillips
94 Jamie Roberts
92 Gareth Llewellyn
87 Neil Jenkins
87 Shane Williams
81 James Hook
76 Dwayne Peel
75 Leigh Halfpenny
75 Ryan Jones

Wales – All-Time Leading Points Scorers:

1049 Neil Jenkins
917 Stephen Jones
671 Leigh Halfpenny
352 James Hook
304 Paul Thorburn
290 Shane Williams
211 Arwel Thomas

Wales – All-Time Leading Try Scorers:

58 Shane Williams
40 Gareth Thomas
33 Ieuan Evans
30 George North
22 Colin Charvis
20 Gareth Edwards
20 Gerald Davies
20 Tom Shanklin

World Rugby All-Time Top Points Scorers:

1598 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
1246 Jonny Wilkinson (1179-England, 67-Lions)
1090 Neil Jenkins (1049-Wales, 41-Lions)
1083 Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
1010 Diego Dominguez (27-Argentina, 983-Italy)
970 Stephen Jones (917-Wales, 53-Lions)
967 Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand)
911 Michael Lynagh (Australia)
893 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
878 Matt Burke (Australia)
873 Florin Vlaicu (Romania)
835 Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia)

World Rugby All-Time Top Try Scorers:

67 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
64 David Campese (Australia)
60 Shane Williams (58-Wales, 2-Lions)
50 Rory Underwood (49-England, 1-Lions)
49 Doug Howlett (New Zealand)
47 Brian O’Driscoll (46-Ireland, 1-Lions)
46 Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
46 Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand)
46 Julian Savea (New Zealand)
44 Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)
41 Gareth Thomas (40-Wales, 1-Lions)
40 Chris Latham (Australia)

(Note: Daisuke Ohata scored 69 tries for Japan, but not all against major international opposition)

The ‘100 Caps’ Club:

148 Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
141 Brian O’Driscoll (133-Ireland, 8-Lions)
139 George Gregan (Australia)
134 Gethin Jenkins (129-Wales, 5-Lions)
132 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
131 Sergio Parisse (Italy)
130 Ronan O’Gara (128-Ireland, 2-Lions)
129 Stephen Moore (Australia)
127 Victor Matfield (South Africa)
124 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
124 Alun Wyn Jones (115-Wales, 9-Lions)
119 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)
119 Jason Leonard (114-England, 5-Lions)
118 Fabien Pelous (France)
118 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
116 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)
116 Nathan Sharpe (Australia)
115 Paul O’Connell (108-Ireland, 7-Lions)
112 Marco Bortolami (Italy)
112 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
111 Ross Ford (110-Scotland, 1-Lions)
111 Philippe Sella (France)
111 John Smit (South Africa)
111 George Smith (Australia)
110 Stephen Jones (104-Wales, 6-Lions)
109 Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
109 Chris Paterson (Scotland)
109 Kieran Read (New Zealand)
108 Rory Best (Ireland)
108 Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia)
108 Florin Vlaicu (Romania)
107 John Hayes (105-Ireland, 2-Lions)
106 Mauro Bergamasco (Italy)
106 Davit Kacharava (Georgia)
105 Sean Lamont (Scotland)
104 Martyn Williams (100-Wales, 4-Lions)
103 Matt Giteau (Australia)
103 Andrea Lo Cicero (Italy)
103 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
103 Gareth Thomas (100-Wales, 3-Lions)
102 Stephen Larkham (Australia)
102 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
101 David Campese (Australia)
101 Alessandro Troncon (Italy)
101 Vasco Uva (Portugal)
101 Alessandro Zanni (Italy)
100 Giorgi Chkhaidze (Georgia)
100 Catalin Fercu (Romania)
100 Jamie Heaslip (95-Ireland, 5-Lions)
100 Adam Jones (95-Wales, 5-Lions)
100 Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)