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World Cup Warm-Up | World Cup Warm-Up
Aug 8, 2015 at 2.30pm UK
 
Wales
21-35
Ireland
Hibbard (37'), Tipuric (71'), Cuthbert (81')
FT
Heaslip (9'), Cave (23'), Earls (30'), Zebo (48'), Jones (54')

Live Commentary: Wales 21-35 Ireland - as it happened

Take a look back at Ireland's emphatic win over Wales in Cardiff with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report.
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Ireland's preparations for the Rugby World Cup got off to an emphatic start on Saturday as they earned a 35-21 triumph over Wales in Cardiff.

The visitors ran in five tries at the Millennium Stadium to earn a comfortable victory against a lacklustre Welsh side.

Wales will have the chance for revenge on August 29 when the two teams face each other again in Dublin for another warm-up fixture.

Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Wales and Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Today's clash represents a big chance for a handful of players to impress before the tournament, so this should be far from a tepid encounter. Let's take a look at the teams...

WALES: H Amos, A Cuthbert, T Morgan, S Williams, E Walker, J Hook, M Phillips, N Smith, R Hibbard, A Jarvis, J Ball, D Day, R Moriarty, J Tipuric, D Baker

WALES REPLACEMENTS: R Evans, K Dacey, S Andrews, J King, T Faletau, Ll Williams, G Anscombe, M Morgan

Wales coach Warren Gatland has named an experimental side for today's game, with four members of his starting XV making their debuts. Ross Moriarty, Tyler Morgan, Eli Walker and Dominic Day all win their first caps, while Scott Williams will captain the team. In total, Gatland has made 14 changes following Wales' last Six Nations game against Italy.

IRELAND: F Jones, A Trimble, K EarlS, D Cave, F McFadden, P Jackson, E Reddan, J McGrath, R Strauss, M Ross, I Henderson, D Ryan, J Murphy, T O'Donnell, J Heaslip

IRELAND REPLACEMENTS: R Best, D Kilcoyne, M Bent, D Tuohy, C Henry, K Marmion, I Madigan, S Zebo

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt makes 13 changes after seeing his side beat Scotland in the Six Nations back in March. Keith Earls and Donnacha Ryan are back in the starting XV for the first time since March 2013, while Andrew Trimble will feature for the first time in over a year.

Wales coach Warren Gatland: "There's a chance for some of the fringe players and even the more experienced players to go out there and perform.

"The other thing, too, is that if you want to impress, in front of 75,000 people with the roof closed at home, then there's no better opportunity. I'm trying to give these players the best possible chance to go out there and perform."


Ireland coach Joe Schmidt on cutting down his squad for the Rugby World Cup: "I want to have my mind made up now: it would make it a lot easier!

"There are some really tough decisions. Over the next week or so that inevitably has to happen. We've got to hone the group and those decisions are tough enough without even looking at the 31. We might end up with 38 or 39 in a week's time, and then we have to take it from there again."


It's worth pointing out that these two sides will meet again in another warm-up match at the end of the month in Dublin. As far as getting players sharp for the Rugby World Cup, both Wales and Ireland could do a lot worse than facing off against each other twice in a matter of weeks.

Wales have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent years, winning four of their last six clashes with Ireland. The last win that the Irish recorded was during the 2014 Six Nations when they trounced Wales 26-3 in Dublin. When it comes to the overall record, Wales lead Ireland 66-49.

The teams step onto the pitch at the Millennium Stadium to a fantastic reception from the fans inside. The magnificent arena is packed to the rafters as kickoff edges closer.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the anthems have been sung gloriously, and it will be Wales to get us underway in Cardiff. Here we go!

It's been a fairly even start so far, with both sides seeing a fair bit of the ball. Ireland eventually manage to pin Wales back, but the hosts have no problems playing themselves out of danger thanks to the boot of Mike Phillips.

Wales have shown plenty of promise with the boot so far. Finding touch on a couple of occasions. James Hook, who expressed surprise earlier this week that he was included in the side for today's game, has looked lively in central areas.

CHANCE! Ireland squander a fabulous opportunity to take the lead as a quick break down the left gets them a few yards from the try line. However, a misplaced pass sees the move break down.

TRY! WALES 0-5 IRELAND (HEASLIP)

That missed chance a minute ago doesn't come back to haunt Ireland, who take the lead through Jamie Heaslip. The experienced number eight is given bags of space and time to saunter through the Welsh defence before touching down.

CONVERSION MISSED! Paddy Jackson should really be slotting those between the posts, but on this occasion he puts it wide.

Defensively, Wales are a bit all over the place at the moment. Ireland are being allowed so much space in the final third, and they're not shy to exploit it. Heaslip heads a break once more before play is halted and the hosts win back possession.

Ireland have been inventive in switching the play from one side of the pitch to the other so far, something which Wales are struggling to deal with. The hosts have done little to inspire their fans during the opening stages. It's a fairly low-key atmosphere inside the Millennium Stadium.

Reddan, Jackson and Earls all combine close to the try line, but Wales do just about enough to quell the danger and ease the pressure. The Irish passing has been crisp in key areas.

PENALTY! WALES 0-8 IRELAND (JACKSON)

Jackson missed a simple conversion for Ireland earlier, but he makes no mistake this time, slotting the ball between the posts for three points.

Ireland are forced to make a temporary replacement as Best takes over from Strauss following a bang to the head for the Leinster man.

TRY! WALES 0-13 IRELAND (CAVE)

It's all too easy for Ireland at the moment as Cave goes over to extend his side's lead. The centre gets on the ball following a scrum before powering over. Again, Wales were off the pace there from a defensive point of view.

CONVERSION! WALES 0-15 IRELAND (JACKSON) Jackson enjoys more success with the boot as he converts to make it 15-0 to the visitors.

It's difficult to see where Wales are going to draw inspiration from right now. This may be an experimental side that Warren Gatland has named, but too many of these players aren't giving him food for thought ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

TRY! WALES 0-20 IRELAND (EARLS)

Clinical stuff from Ireland as they stretch their lead even further thanks to a try from Keith Earls. A tackle from Trimble on Walker sees the loose ball picked up by Earls. From there, he dashes towards the line before touching down with ease.

CONVERSION! WALES 0-22 IRELAND (JACKSON) Ireland go 22-0 up thanks to another conversion from Jackson. The visitors are so dominant at the moment. Meanwhile, Wales are in serious trouble.

Wales are second best in pretty much every department at the moment. Kicking, lineout, scrum - you name it. Ireland are attacking with such ease you wonder how many tries they are going to score today.

PENALTY! WALES 0-25 IRELAND (JACKSON) Ireland rack up three more points as Jackson kicks over for a penalty. Meanwhile, Trimble limps off with what looks like a knock. Zebo is on in his place.

The crowd inside the Millennium Stadium are shell-shocked. They can't quite believe just how much Ireland are dominating at the moment. The atmosphere inside the ground is a world away from the blood and thunder that we're used to when matches are held here in the Six Nations.

TRY! WALES 5-25 IRELAND (HIBBARD)

Wales bring up their first points of the match as Hibbard goes over following an encouraging spell of pressure. The hooker was picked out on the left, and he had plenty of space to exploit before going over.

CONVERSION! WALES 7-25 IRELAND (HOOK) James Hook kicks between the posts, adding the extras to Hibbard's score. Are Wales about to launch a comeback?

HALF TIME: WALES 7-25 IRELAND

The half-time whistle goes, but not before Wales almost bag themselves a spectacular second try. Walker got on the end of a kick in the corner before acrobatically pouncing on the ball, only for the TMO to show that he didn't ground the ball properly.

Wales looked like they were getting themselves back in the match during the final five minutes of that half, but make no mistake: Ireland deserve their big lead. The visitors have been ruthless, taking advantage of some sloppy defending from the home side. They could have even had a couple more tries to their name were it not for some mishandling.



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SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out and it will be Ireland to kick us off for the second half. Wales have made a change during the interval, with Toby Faletau replacing Dan Baker.

Wales have enjoyed a positive start to the second half, though their handling has let them down on a couple of occasions so far. Ireland have yet to flex their attacking muscles.

YELLOW CARD! Wales are temporarily down to 14 men as Moriarty is sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Zebo. A video replay of the incident was needed, but it looked to be the right call despite the groans from the Welsh fans.

TRY! WALES 7-30 IRELAND (ZEBO)

Ireland touch down again as Simon Zebo goes over to extend the visitors' lead. The Irish remained patient around the five-metre line before the ball was spread to Zebo on the left to score. Jackson is unable to convert, so the score remains 30-7.

Wales make a double change as Hook and Phillips are replaced by Lloyd Williams and Anscombe, who comes on for his debut. Half an hour left to play in Cardiff.

TRY! WALES 7-35 IRELAND (JONES)

This is getting embarrassing for Wales now as Ireland touch down yet again. It's Jones who crosses over after Zebo finds him with a looped pass out on the left. That was incisive play from Ireland, who picked through the Welsh defence with ease (and not for the first time this afternoon). Jackson misses the conversion, though.

A lot of these Irish players are giving Joe Schmidt a welcome selection dilemma ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Keith Earls in particular has been excellent so far today. He's been incredibly dynamic when going forward, but he's also been extremely assured at the back.



YELLOW CARD! He's not been on the pitch for long, but Ireland back-row Chris Henry is sent to the sin bin. The visitors are temporarily down to 14 men.

Wales are huffing and puffing away, though they're still second best in every department. Warren Gatland must be slightly concerned. He surely wasn't expecting this kind of trouncing for his side this afternoon. The hosts still have time to restore some pride, but it's Ireland who are looking the most likely to score.

This is better from Wales as we head towards the final 10 minutes in Cardiff. The passing is zippy, while the overall movement is a bit more lively.

TRY! WALES 12-35 IRELAND (TIPURIC)

What a fantastic try from Wales to reduce the deficit! The hosts attack Ireland on the counter, with Morgan, Amos and Tipuric all showing quick hands down the left before Tipuric goes over. That was what this crowd in Cardiff have been waiting for all afternoon.

CONVERSION! WALES 14-35 IRELAND (ANSCOMBE) Anscombe scores his first points at international level, converting Tipuric's try.

Ireland have been woken up a bit by that Wales try following an ineffective spell from the visitors. They edge closer towards the five-metre line before the move eventually breaks down with a knock-on.

It's bad news for Ireland back-row Tommy O'Donnell, who is stretchered off after taking a hefty bump. He doesn't look to be in a huge amount of discomfort, though it's hard to tell the extent of the injury at this stage.

Both teams are still showing plenty of attacking intent as we near the full-time whistle. Ireland certainly aren't taking their foot off the gas at this stage. They fancy another try, which would only be rubbing salt into the Welsh wounds.

TRY! WALES 19-35 IRELAND (CUTHBERT)

Wales finish with a flurry as Cuthbert goes over in the corner following a persistent attacking move. A high, looping pass was collected by the winger before he dived over the line.

CONVERSION WALES 21-35 IRELAND (ANSCOMBE) Anscombe adds the extras with a superb kick from the right touchline, ending the afternoon on a high note for the hosts.

FULL TIME: WALES 21-35 IRELAND

The full-time whistle goes, bringing the end to a one-sided affair in Cardiff. Wales may have finished with that try, but the day has belonged to Ireland. Joe Schmidt's side were dominant from the first kick, punishing Wales at almost every opportunity.

That's all from our live text coverage of this afternoon's game, we hope you've enjoyed it. Thanks for your company!

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