Ireland have defeated Wales on a scoreline of 40-12 in the U20 Six Nations in Cardiff this evening, earning their second victory of this year's competition.
Ireland entered the game hoping to follow up on the recent bonus point win over Scotland and continue a remarkable run at this level. Having won the Grand Slam in 2019, they had also won all three games in last year's tournament before it was halted before the pandemic.
They impressed against the Scots the last day out, but it was expected that the Welsh would provide a sterner test on this occasion playing on home soil.
Richie Murphy's side certainly started the better of the two, launching a lengthy assault on the Welsh line for much of the opening ten minutes.
Centre Cathal Forde would finally make the breakthrough in the 14th minute, touching down under the posts. Nathan Doak would knock over the resulting conversion to give Ireland an early 7-0 lead.
Cathal Forde barges over for the first try of the game #WAlvIRE #RTERugby - live on @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/KDmo2DJ8st
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) June 25, 2021
Incredible power.
While Wales grew into the contest somewhat after that, it was still Ireland who had the better of the play.
They would get their second try in the 26th minute, with winger Chris Cosgrave finishing off an excellent team move under the posts. Doak would tap over the conversion, followed by a penalty a few moments later as Ireland led 17-0 on the half hour mark.
Cosgrave grabs Ireland's second #WALvIRE #RTERugby - live on @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/itSTfsz35i
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) June 25, 2021
Taking that lead into the second half, Ireland would have a dream start not long after kick-off.
Scrum half Nathan Doak was the architect, producing a brilliant return to Wales' deep kick before trading two quick passes with Jamie Osborne and touching down for their third try of the evening.
Doak brilliance leads to Ireland's third #WALvIRE #RTERugby #RTESport - live on @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/7Bu9Rf545R
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) June 25, 2021
Wales would open their account with a try a few moments later, and after Ireland's Shane Jennings was sent to the sin bin for failing to roll away in the tackle, it looked as though the Welsh could come back into it.
While they would score a try soon after that yellow card, but Doak's third penalty of the night settled things down for the Irish.
They would chase the bonus point try in the closing stages, eventually getting it through Daniel Okeke after he drove the ball over in the maul.
They would repeat that trick in the closing minutes, with captain Alex Kendellen putting a exclamation point on the scoreline with an acrobatic effort. Doak would kicks the afters, with the game finishing 40-12 as Ireland won their tenth consecutive fixture in this competition.
Kendellen caps five-star performance #RTERugby #RTESport pic.twitter.com/81Zq5zkC5x
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) June 25, 2021
Richie Murphy and his players will now be looking forward to the game against England on Thursday, a fixture that is likely to go a long way in deciding the winners of this year's competition after they hammered Scotland earlier today.
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