Ireland lost their grip on a 13-0 first half lead but showed impressive battling qualities to eek out a 16-all draw with Wales, as Jonathan Sexton’s 74th-minute penalty proved to be the final score of a pulsating RBS 6 Nations clash.
The capacity Aviva Stadium crowd were gripped by a thunderous Celtic derby which ebbed and flowed throughout. Ireland seized the initiative early on with half-backs Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray combining for 13 points, including a sniping try from the latter after 26 minutes.
Debutant and eventual man-of-the-match CJ Stander looked right at home in the Irish back row, making six power-packed carries inside the opening 12 minutes and playing a key role in the lead up to Murray’s score. It was the scrum half’s second try in his last three Tests.
Tommy O’Donnell and Jamie Heaslip were also heavily involved in defence and attack as Ireland opened up a 13-point gap in breathless fashion, with Sexton landing two penalties and a conversion and centres Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne both getting over the gain-line.
However, an apparent tackle infringement by Keith Earls kick-started a strong Welsh spell in the 10 minutes before half-time. Their scrum got on top and number 8 Taulupe Faletau scrambled over off a close-in set piece for a timely try. Rhys Priestland, on for ankle injury victim Dan Biggar, converted to add to his earlier penalty.
It was very much ‘game on’ at 13-10 and Wales kept up their momentum early in the second period, forcing a penalty from Ireland’s new captain Rory Best who was harshly pinged by referee Jerome Garces at a ruck. Priestland levelled with the three-pointer.
Big leg-pumping carries from Heaslip and O’Donnell and a cracking counter-attacking run from lively full-back Simon Zebo got Ireland back on the front foot, however their execution let them down in the Welsh 22 as a couple of knock-ons allowed the visitors to clear.
Ireland had another line-break when Sexton carved open the Welsh midfield and passed wide for Andrew Trimble, who had a fine game on his return, but Tom James did well to tackle the big Ulsterman into touch.
The wind and rain became more of an issue in the final quarter and in such a war of attrition, with no quarter given or asked, both benches were in regular use. Wales did find some holes with Jamie Roberts and late call-up Liam Williams, who started at full-back, standing out as their most effective runners with ball in hand.
Defences were very much on top despite some strength-sapping phases of tackling and rucking. The breakdown was ferociously competitive and it was no surprise to see a ruck penalty set up the next score as Priestland nailed a 72nd minute kick to move Wales in front for the first time.
Crucially, Ireland managed to respond within two minutes as Welsh replacement Tomas Francis was whistled up for not retreating for a kick and Sexton, despite suffering from bruising, coolly slotted the penalty from the 10-metre line.
As tension gripped the stadium, both sides still showed admirable eagerness to run the ball from deep and seek out a match-winning score. Priestland sent a hurried drop goal effort wide and Ireland had no further scoring opportunities as this bruising battle ended in a stalemate.
The first draw between the two nations since 1991 – and the first in Dublin since 1974 – leaves defending champions Ireland and Wales with a point apiece after the RBS 6 Nations’ opening weekend. Although the Grand Slam and Triple Crown is out of the reckoning now, Joe Schmidt’s men still have a third Championship title in three years to aim for.
Young Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong came on for the final 17 minutes, making it three Six Nations debutants on the day as international newcomer Stander and Nathan White were also getting their first taste of Championship action.
Giving his reaction after the hard-fought draw, Ireland head coach Schmidt said: “I did sense to be honest that we were a little bit vulnerable, to be honest. We had Dev (Toner) and Rory back and apart from that it was a very new group.
“When you put those new players in…it’s just going a little bit deeper into your resources. While we’ve got real confidence in what we’re developing there, it’s a time thing. There’s guys who I thought acquitted themselves really well today.
“You certainly can’t feel elated (with the result), a little bit deflated because we built that 13-0 advantage and I thought it was on the back of some really strong work both sides of the ball.
“I thought our defence was superb in that first half. Particularly the first 30 minutes when we kept them off our line and it wasn’t really until they got the couple of scrums near our line that they managed to get over.
“At the other end I felt that we got down there three or four times in the first half and converted three scores to get that 13 points. So there’s some things to be positive about.
“I thought the way we fought back (from 16-13 down) is testament to the amount of effort that was going in from the lads. Considering the disruptions during the week and a bit of lack of experience I thought it was made up for in the energy levels.
“Wales created a number of opportunities. Both sides just rolled their sleeves up defensively and managed to shut down a couple of opportunities that were created.
“I think the players believed till the end; they kept playing well past the 80-minute mark. That was probably indicative of their belief that they could grab it out of the fire.
“I’m sure both teams are a little bit deflated. I think with the firepower they brought to the table we’re reasonably happy with the way that the lads responded.”
Asked about Sexton, Earls and O’Donnell who were all taken off during the second half, Schmidt stated: “Johnny’s fine, he’s just a bit bruised. Keith Earls may have suffered a concussion, we just need to follow that up.
“Tommy O’Donnell went off for a head injury assessment but passed it without any problems but at that stage Rhys Ruddock (his replacement) had sort of grown in to the game.”
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