After a few hairy moments, we got there in the end.
Ireland’s quest for a Grand Slam and Triple Crown in this season’s Six Nations continues after a very hard-earned victory over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
There was a definite sense of anxiety with Ireland’s position as comfortable favourites going into the game and the 80 minutes proved why, as Warren Gatland’s side made Ireland fight for what could be a crucial victory.
With Jonathan Sexton having a rare off day with the boot, Ireland needed tries and they got enough of them to warrant a bonus point, with Jacob Stockdale (2), Bundee Aki, Dan Leavy and Cian Healy all crossing the whitewash.
Joe Schmidt’s men looked in a comfortable position after Healy’s try early in the second half, but an Aaron Shingler try led to a tetchy closing quarter.
Conor Murray, taking over kicking duties from Johnny Sexton, looked to have put the game beyond doubt with a penalty to extend Ireland’s lead to 10 points, but Steff Evans responded with a try almost immediately and Leigh Halfpenny’s conversion reduced the gap to three.
Right at the death, a Jacob Stockdale intercept try sealed a 37-27 victory and the hard-fought nature of the contest should be of huge benefit for the men in green with two massive games to come.
Here’s some of the best reaction to a tense but satisfactory day at Lansdowne Road.
Some battle great effort from the lads!
— Sean O'Brien (@SeanOBrien1987) February 24, 2018
Grandslam dreams are still alive!!!
— jamie heaslip (@jamieheaslip) February 24, 2018
What a game. Twickenham is the day after Cheltenham, right?
— John Duggan (@JohnDugganSport) February 24, 2018
Anyone else exhausted??! Well done Ireland. Huge game #IREvWAL
— Dermot Whelan (@TheDermotWhelan) February 24, 2018
Oh my Lord! What a finish! What a game…. #IREvWAL
— Colm O'Gorman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇮🇪 (@Colmogorman) February 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/RefJK/status/967429915044929541
Should never have been that close #IREvWAL
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) February 24, 2018
Ireland,Ireland together standing tall, shoulder to shoulder you answered Ireland’s call….. 🏈🇮🇪☘️#fourproudprovincesofireland #stockdale #try
— Paul McGrath (@Paulmcgrath5) February 24, 2018
This big man picks up a deserved MOTM on 6 Nations debut #IREvWAL 👏👏👏👏👏 @Farrell_C93 pic.twitter.com/knuq8J0k3e
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 24, 2018
Ireland beat Wales to retain the David Gray Trophy
— David O'Doherty (@phlaimeaux) February 24, 2018
