Wales v Ireland

:00:47. > :00:55.The lights are much brighter on a Friday night, but can welsh rugby

:00:56. > :00:58.forget all its troubles and cares? # When you're alone and light is

:00:59. > :01:04.making you lonely # You can always go downtown

:01:05. > :01:07.# When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry seems to help, I

:01:08. > :01:12.know # Downtown

:01:13. > :01:17.# Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city

:01:18. > :01:21.# Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty

:01:22. > :01:26.# How can you lose? # The lights are much brighter there

:01:27. > :01:30.# You can forget all your troubles # Forget all your cares

:01:31. > :01:35.# So go downtown # Things will be great when you're

:01:36. > :01:40.# Downtown # No finer place for sure

:01:41. > :01:46.# Downtown # Everything's waiting for you

:01:47. > :01:51.# Downtown. So, is everything waiting for Ireland to set up the

:01:52. > :01:55.potential championship decider in Dublin next week? The RBS Six

:01:56. > :02:01.Nations kicks off its fourth weekend here in Cardiff and when it comes to

:02:02. > :02:07.the big rugby occasion, no finer place, for sure. And so we kicked on

:02:08. > :02:14.towards the final weekend, this time in Cardiff, Rome and Twickenham, the

:02:15. > :02:20.roof is closed, as you can see, and the stage is set for what we hope

:02:21. > :02:26.will be a fantastic match, as the first three weekends have been. A

:02:27. > :02:29.palpable sense of excitement exuding across the table. And with good

:02:30. > :02:33.reason given what happened two weeks ago.

:02:34. > :02:47.Round 3. The middle round of muddled thinking. At first crystal clarity

:02:48. > :02:52.from Wales in one corner. Determination by Scotland not to be

:02:53. > :03:04.left behind. Sharp awareness of time and space in a second corner. But

:03:05. > :03:15.then the third corner. Hang on, one to go corner? Corner crisis. The

:03:16. > :03:28.fourth corner. Wales cornered. Scotland anything but trapped.

:03:29. > :03:28.Unleashed, breaking free. Out on the uplands where title challengers

:03:29. > :03:38.Rome. It wasn't so much a model in Dublin

:03:39. > :03:46.as making the most of the day while the weather lasted. Of building a

:03:47. > :03:51.protective cover until rain made matters muddy. And then to stay safe

:03:52. > :03:56.and use the water to cleanse the season point by point, to refresh

:03:57. > :04:10.title hopes, minute by minute. Italy about to be burned at

:04:11. > :04:23.Twickenham. Scorched, out of their league. Italy Sharp of mind, England

:04:24. > :04:29.in a model. -- in a muddle. What was going on? I am a referee I am not a

:04:30. > :04:33.coach. In the end England finding a way out of their conclusion. The

:04:34. > :04:40.bonus point secured, the Grand Slam dream still alive. Muddled Round 3

:04:41. > :04:46.when England's win was very much Italy's day.

:04:47. > :04:51.So, still several potential winners of the title, and for the first year

:04:52. > :04:56.in which bonus points have been introduced they actually could have

:04:57. > :04:59.a material impact on the final outcome. As you can see from the

:05:00. > :05:03.table realistically Wales cannot win the title. Tonight is a hugely

:05:04. > :05:08.important test for the team and also for their coaches. You've urged

:05:09. > :05:13.players to go out and redeem themselves, confident they will?

:05:14. > :05:17.Absolutely. Obviously they've been pretty honest with themselves since

:05:18. > :05:20.the Scotland game. We need to put the bronze of the last couple of

:05:21. > :05:27.weeks right tonight. Looking forward to the Irish game. The roof is

:05:28. > :05:31.closed, the conditions and the atmosphere inside the stadium is

:05:32. > :05:36.going to be brilliant. You've resisted calls for change, why not

:05:37. > :05:39.mix it up a bit? I'm a huge relief in giving players the opportunity to

:05:40. > :05:44.go out and put things right. They've been pretty honest with themselves.

:05:45. > :05:48.The coaches have as well. I think this group is a good team and

:05:49. > :05:52.tonight we are playing against a very experienced team. We are

:05:53. > :05:57.experienced as well. An opportunity to redeem ourselves and get a win

:05:58. > :06:01.which is much-needed. How much pressure is on? If things go awry

:06:02. > :06:02.wales could drop out of the top baby which would trigger another pool of

:06:03. > :06:10.death at the there is always pressure. If you

:06:11. > :06:18.look after the process the outcome will look after itself. Pressure,

:06:19. > :06:22.they say, is a privilege. I'm sure Rob Howley could do without that

:06:23. > :06:27.tonight. You can see how precarious the position is for Wales in the top

:06:28. > :06:29.eight. Obviously the match tonight and in Paris next week against

:06:30. > :06:35.France could be hugely influential in determining their final draw for

:06:36. > :06:39.the next World Cup. It's strange, Martin, there is a feeling around

:06:40. > :06:42.Cardiff that the end of the world is nigh and yet actually wales have

:06:43. > :06:49.only played one bad half in this championship, so why is that?

:06:50. > :06:54.Difficult to put your finger on. You were thinking it was the wales of

:06:55. > :06:58.old, doing a good job on Italy, superb performance against England

:06:59. > :07:02.but fell to pieces second half. People weren't happy the way we

:07:03. > :07:06.played in the autumn. It is a spill-over from the autumn

:07:07. > :07:08.internationals. I think that the feeling of the end is nigh is

:07:09. > :07:14.because of the performances. Yes, they had the results in the autumn

:07:15. > :07:17.but the performance did not fill you with confidence that this was a

:07:18. > :07:25.sight that would go on and win the Six Nations. It was not smooth, was

:07:26. > :07:30.not connected, was not synced. That has been a continuation, apart from

:07:31. > :07:33.the England game. Think they are lacking a spark. Defensively against

:07:34. > :07:36.England they were stunning but the cutting edge did not seem to be

:07:37. > :07:40.there. They seemed to be a little off the Mark Stone point at the end

:07:41. > :07:48.of at the end of the World Cup, time to

:07:49. > :07:52.blood new talent. If we look at the statistic here, this is

:07:53. > :07:57.extraordinary in reflecting how conservative wales have been since

:07:58. > :08:05.the last Rugby World Cup. It's incredible. Nobody retired after the

:08:06. > :08:09.World Cup. So instead of freshening things up it has been same old, same

:08:10. > :08:13.old and that is the frustration of the public. They want to see fresh

:08:14. > :08:18.faces. They have not been given the opportunity. George Smith has come

:08:19. > :08:24.in for flak. 19 players compared to three from Wales. Fundamentally if

:08:25. > :08:29.Wales are lacking the spark question must be asked, why can they not

:08:30. > :08:35.score more tries? They are making and giving opportunities but I think

:08:36. > :08:39.the execution is lacking. This is a great move, great decision to go

:08:40. > :08:42.down the left channel, because they've got more attackers than

:08:43. > :08:48.Scotland have defenders. The ball goes to Ken Owens, there is a set

:08:49. > :08:52.move. Attack the wide channel. Jonathan Davies coming on a dummy

:08:53. > :08:57.run. Supposed to collect the defenders and take that angle. Ken

:08:58. > :09:03.Owens does the right thing, passes the ball, but because nobody

:09:04. > :09:08.reacted, there has been no option to follow Jonathan Davies up. Owens and

:09:09. > :09:11.Webb the closest supporters. The three quickies should have been on

:09:12. > :09:17.his left hand side, simple passing for a quick try. There is still

:09:18. > :09:20.opportunity. Can't quite get the ball cleanly to Webb and the

:09:21. > :09:25.execution is not right. They are creating chances but not executing

:09:26. > :09:29.quickly enough or being efficient enough in attacking play. More facts

:09:30. > :09:36.and figures illustrating that. Wales need so much more possession in the

:09:37. > :09:40.opposition 22 to convert into a trite. Very few players were running

:09:41. > :09:45.a positive line, they are waiting for the tackle. Cutting edge, the

:09:46. > :09:49.spark we are used to from Wales, somebody getting over the gain line,

:09:50. > :09:54.somebody on the inside shoulder, it doesn't happen. Strange in the

:09:55. > :09:57.build-up to a match how one player almost inadvertently can become the

:09:58. > :10:03.talking point in every single platform. And before this game it

:10:04. > :10:08.happens to fall to Leigh Halfpenny. Easy to forget that four years ago

:10:09. > :10:10.he was the first name on the Lions team sheet, runner-up behind Andy

:10:11. > :10:17.Murray in sports personality of the year. Now people are throwing darts

:10:18. > :10:21.at him from all angles, why? Because of those statistics there. He tries

:10:22. > :10:25.he is scoring are not enough compared to all the other full-backs

:10:26. > :10:30.playing in international rugby. And it's the way Wales are playing. And

:10:31. > :10:31.he has missed two kicks in this championship and everybody says his

:10:32. > :10:42.kicking has gone off. Israel Folau, 47 games, 17 tries.

:10:43. > :10:51.Right at the bottom, Leigh Halfpenny, 32 games, no tries. It is

:10:52. > :10:54.extraordinary. Four years ago the style that was winning Grand Slams

:10:55. > :10:59.and winning games for Wales, Leigh Halfpenny was perfect. In his first

:11:00. > :11:03.11 games for Wales he scored seven tries on the wing. There has been a

:11:04. > :11:06.call for Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny to swap but the management

:11:07. > :11:13.are so stubborn, they are sticking with it. Are they stubborn, so

:11:14. > :11:19.therefore are they wrong? You need an attacking edge at 15. I think

:11:20. > :11:23.they are wrong, I think Liam Williams gives greater balance to

:11:24. > :11:30.the backline, better cutting-edge at 15. One person we must talk about,

:11:31. > :11:33.Justin Tipuric winning his 50th cap for Wales. He has been superb,

:11:34. > :11:38.similar to Lee Williams and Leigh Halfpenny about who should play

:11:39. > :11:44.where? We have had more button and to prick. He has stood up for Wales,

:11:45. > :11:52.because he is so good at all the other things, you overlook his

:11:53. > :11:57.physicality. It is how much ground he covers as well. Superb athlete

:11:58. > :12:02.with an unbelievable engine. He will cover every blade of grass this

:12:03. > :12:06.evening. What I want to see with Tipuric, all in hand. He is as

:12:07. > :12:14.creative as any other Welsh player in the team. Where Justin stands out

:12:15. > :12:17.for me, he is so clever. He understands the game, you can

:12:18. > :12:22.anticipate, he's ahead of the game. He's the future of whether ball is

:12:23. > :12:28.to be. Brevet Justin Tipuric is, you guarantee the ball will end up

:12:29. > :12:32.there. -- wherever he is. Lets go into the archives. Over the past

:12:33. > :12:36.decade or so this match has been pivotal in determining who wins the

:12:37. > :12:39.title on so many occasions. We brought together two great

:12:40. > :12:44.scrum-half and rivals to talk about drop-kicks and Phantom rugby balls.

:12:45. > :12:53.Wales against Ireland. This is that Celtic game that always

:12:54. > :12:57.brings the best out of both teams. Both sets of teams know each other

:12:58. > :13:02.really well. It's a good fixture. The venue, the sense of occasion you

:13:03. > :13:11.get from the principality stadium. I've never seen noise or heard noise

:13:12. > :13:17.like it. This game is huge. Simile fans in Cardiff that day. Wales

:13:18. > :13:23.haven't won Grand Slam for many years. You were always a few scores

:13:24. > :13:34.ahead. The Cardiff factor helped us, there. Massively. Jenkins is going

:13:35. > :13:51.to score! That try was huge from Gethin. Massive. He stolen a few

:13:52. > :13:56.extra yards. I feel sorry for Rog. Final game of the Six Nations,

:13:57. > :14:04.knowing the grand slam was at stake. He's done it! That surely is the

:14:05. > :14:14.grand slam. You still had a chance to win at the end with the kick. I

:14:15. > :14:19.really thought the game was over. Amazing those margins, if that goes

:14:20. > :14:24.another foot, it changes it. Is it long enough? It's not. Ireland are

:14:25. > :14:29.going to win this game, they are going to win the Six Nations title,

:14:30. > :14:36.and above all they are going to win the grand slam. The first in 61

:14:37. > :14:40.years. That was a long time coming. We had stumbled on a few occasions.

:14:41. > :14:49.To do it in Cardiff was pretty special.

:14:50. > :15:00.Phillips is away! Against Tommy Bowe. Wales have scored. Ireland are

:15:01. > :15:05.rushing up to the referee. Mike Phillips, clearly the ball was

:15:06. > :15:11.kicked into touch. The touch judge was so convinced it was the same

:15:12. > :15:21.ball. We had worked on that all week. You got very lucky that they.

:15:22. > :15:26.You could have tackled me but you missed. I probably should have.

:15:27. > :15:32.Tough game for Wales, confidence down a bit. They won't say it but it

:15:33. > :15:36.must be with two losses on the bounce. I think Ireland will be

:15:37. > :15:41.favourites. I think they will. Hugely interesting battles all over

:15:42. > :15:47.the pitch. Webb is probably the one everyone is looking at.

:15:48. > :15:54.With the way Ireland play and the structure they have, the way, can

:15:55. > :16:01.implement a game plan. Webb has been on great form for Wales. He can

:16:02. > :16:07.spark something. So quick, so sharp. It's a massive battle for the Lions

:16:08. > :16:13.jersey. Two of them are gunning for it and it's a big should to fill.

:16:14. > :16:19.Some of us get there, some of us don't.

:16:20. > :16:25.The choirs and the crowd starting to get in good voice. Paul O'Connell

:16:26. > :16:31.and Jonathan Davies have replaced our other three wise owls. When

:16:32. > :16:38.Stephen Jones kicked that penalty eight years ago, did you watch or

:16:39. > :16:41.turn away? I turned away, I had my back turned. He kicked a penalty

:16:42. > :16:48.from that range early so I thought we had blown it. As soon as I saw it

:16:49. > :16:51.drop I went mental. I was normally fairly reserved after we won but I

:16:52. > :16:57.thought we'd blown it. We'd come so close many times before. To win at

:16:58. > :17:00.this stadium, the atmosphere, an incredible day. You knew it was a

:17:01. > :17:05.sneaky Welsh trick with the extra ball, didn't you? When it happened,

:17:06. > :17:11.I wondered why Stringer didn't chase it flat out, and he said it was the

:17:12. > :17:19.wrong ball. The referee didn't want to know. If we talk about today, I

:17:20. > :17:21.know one of the key moments, as an international captain you know about

:17:22. > :17:25.making the right decision in the heat of battle, we've got some

:17:26. > :17:33.example is of one player making the right call and one making the wrong,

:17:34. > :17:39.and once on such small margins are games won and lost. He's right on

:17:40. > :17:43.the touchline, he steps off his foot, he makes no yardage, but he

:17:44. > :17:48.keeps the ball, stays in play and keeps the ball. Clever and simple

:17:49. > :17:52.piece of play. Here we have George North, obviously a fantastic player

:17:53. > :17:58.and a big man, he gets the ball with about four metres and is sluggishly

:17:59. > :18:02.taken into touch and it is a turnover, set piece to Scotland. A

:18:03. > :18:05.massive moment and you are giving the opposition a leg up by doing

:18:06. > :18:10.things like that. It's a little contrast but it says a lot. You look

:18:11. > :18:14.at the decision-making in the game, I think that's where Ireland have

:18:15. > :18:18.the advantage over Wales. They are clinical. The half-backs do

:18:19. > :18:22.exceptionally well. The other kick against England should have gone

:18:23. > :18:26.into touch, two defensive errors against Scotland stepping out of the

:18:27. > :18:31.line. The decision-making has to improve. More decision-making here.

:18:32. > :18:35.Is this instinctive or just going to gameplay? This is really good play

:18:36. > :18:39.and Wales are a good team playing badly. Bit of pressure here and they

:18:40. > :18:44.release it, turnover with the off-load from Biggar. This is a

:18:45. > :18:50.great little piece of play from Rhys Webb. Heartbreak, off-load again,

:18:51. > :18:54.intercepted by a Scottish player. We've seen this from Wales this

:18:55. > :18:58.year. Same again, another line break, feeds Liam Williams, now

:18:59. > :19:02.turns it over by giving away a silly penalty. No need to give it. Now we

:19:03. > :19:08.have a five Metre Drive. Another great chance to score. That is a

:19:09. > :19:12.penalty and it's fairly easy for the referee to see. I think Wales are

:19:13. > :19:16.playing well but just giving the opposition a leg up. We saw that in

:19:17. > :19:20.the English game as well. Peter Stringer and Mike Phillips talking

:19:21. > :19:24.about Lions selection. Some interesting battles, Biggar against

:19:25. > :19:29.610 at ten, and at nine, Conor Murray against Rhys Webb. Probably

:19:30. > :19:33.the two players in pole position as far as the Lions are concerned. Talk

:19:34. > :19:39.about the strengths of these two guys. Highest compliment I can pay

:19:40. > :19:43.Conor Murray, I played with Terry Holmes, the greatest player ever,

:19:44. > :19:48.and he reminds me so much about him. His kicking game is exceptional, his

:19:49. > :19:51.passing game is good. He keeps the back row honest. I think that's his

:19:52. > :19:56.biggest attribute. He is brilliant at keeping the back row honest which

:19:57. > :19:59.gives space to the outside backs. He's a very different, Rhys Webb,

:20:00. > :20:05.he's clever, he watches where the props are, who is ball watching when

:20:06. > :20:10.he goes. They are different players and both at the moment in a key

:20:11. > :20:12.position for the Lions. I think they are very different and would bring

:20:13. > :20:17.something different to the Lions on their game. But they'll be key

:20:18. > :20:23.today. Again the packs have got to lay the foundation for them. That's

:20:24. > :20:30.important. He will be watching both players keenly. Warren Gatland.

:20:31. > :20:35.We've mention the Welsh players, a lot of them have got to play

:20:36. > :20:40.individually well to get recognised for the Lions. I think we can now

:20:41. > :20:43.hear from the Ireland coach. If Ireland lose here, that's it in the

:20:44. > :20:48.hunt for the title, so does that concentrate a few minds? I think the

:20:49. > :20:52.mines, you are playing Wales in a Test match, minds are pretty

:20:53. > :20:56.concentrated anyway. We've got a lot of respect for them. There's a bit

:20:57. > :21:01.of competitive nature. We all play in the Pro12 together. There's a lot

:21:02. > :21:05.of guys who have even played together in Lions teams, or play

:21:06. > :21:09.together on a weekly or annual basis in what is a huge fixture for us.

:21:10. > :21:14.I've just been outside and given the roof is shut, no rain on it but the

:21:15. > :21:19.pictures really wet, is that a concern for you? It's a surprise to

:21:20. > :21:23.us, certainly. We expected try conditions. I think it's been

:21:24. > :21:30.watered heavily, is the point. Yeah, well I guess we just adapt to the

:21:31. > :21:33.conditions and it might try out a bit before kick-off. It's certainly

:21:34. > :21:37.not what we expected. Wales have got their backs to the wall. What sort

:21:38. > :21:42.of game are you expecting to night given that they can ill afford to

:21:43. > :21:46.lose as well? Yeah. I think it won't be too different to be honest. As I

:21:47. > :21:53.said earlier it's the Wales Ireland Test match. They are always very

:21:54. > :21:57.competent. Therefore it's just ramped up a little bit. We can't

:21:58. > :22:02.afford to lose for different reasons they can't afford to lose either. So

:22:03. > :22:05.when you are both in a position like that, there's going to be a degree

:22:06. > :22:15.of desperation in the way that the game is played. It's probably going

:22:16. > :22:17.to be a scramble. Good luck. Thanks. Well, the outstanding player for

:22:18. > :22:21.Ireland so far in this championship has been the man from George in

:22:22. > :22:24.South Africa who went to the University of pictorial but who now

:22:25. > :22:35.considers himself almost as Irish as Keith Floyd.

:22:36. > :22:41.Growing up you would have wanted to play for the Springboks like any

:22:42. > :22:49.young South African? I was selected for a Springboks training camp. I

:22:50. > :22:57.was told I was too small. Was it as direct as that? There was talk about

:22:58. > :23:00.moving to hooker and trying me out there, I just felt that was not

:23:01. > :23:06.something for me. The opportunity came up to go to monster.

:23:07. > :23:17.-- to go to Munster. I said if you want to go, we will support you all

:23:18. > :23:25.the way. He is still playing there and has not moved to another

:23:26. > :23:28.position. When you moved did it enter into your head that you could

:23:29. > :23:32.play internationally for Ireland? In the beginning, no. When I started

:23:33. > :23:37.playing I could feel the passion from the players. I had that passion

:23:38. > :23:43.for the Munster jersey. If I could get into a team like that, it was

:23:44. > :23:49.unbelievable. A lot of pride for this jersey and people work hard to

:23:50. > :23:55.get here. The first try in Ireland covers for CJ Stander. We support

:23:56. > :24:01.him all the way. If he is playing for Ireland we will support Ireland.

:24:02. > :24:05.We are used to players standing up for the anthem, we wonder if they

:24:06. > :24:10.feel the same pride, you seem to feel it as much as anybody? It's a

:24:11. > :24:14.special song. I sat down and thought about maybe singing it, maybe not. I

:24:15. > :24:20.learned the song, I could see the history before it. He was summoned

:24:21. > :24:26.to push me every day to sing it. It got to a point when we were in a

:24:27. > :24:30.room, I was singing it. I didn't want to just go out and sing the

:24:31. > :24:35.words, anybody can do that. I want to show that I know what is going on

:24:36. > :24:40.here. Some people like it, some don't, but you can't keep everyone

:24:41. > :24:44.happy. When you hear criticism that you are depriving a genuinely Irish

:24:45. > :24:49.player of a place, do you understand that? I understand where that is

:24:50. > :24:53.coming from but I feel I have done my dues, I did not just come into

:24:54. > :25:00.the team straightaway, I went through Munster, learned the system.

:25:01. > :25:04.You can't keep everybody happy. Some days it's not good to hear but we

:25:05. > :25:12.are all professionals here. You have a job to do every weekend. Stander!

:25:13. > :25:18.Ooh, hat-trick for CJ Stander. You scored the hat-trick in that game

:25:19. > :25:26.the public that is my first hat-trick ever in any game.

:25:27. > :25:33.So it was a good feeling. Not something I worked towards. Just in

:25:34. > :25:36.the right place at the right time. Most of those tries were Conor

:25:37. > :25:43.Murray putting the in the right place. In the back row you will face

:25:44. > :25:48.a tough test? Year. Back row is one of the best in the world. Moriarty

:25:49. > :25:53.just acting and is doing a great job. Going to have to look after the

:25:54. > :25:57.boys like that because they bring magic to the game, all three of

:25:58. > :26:00.them. These are the games you want to play, you want to test yourself

:26:01. > :26:05.at its the best and know where you stand in the world. Playing Wales in

:26:06. > :26:09.Cardiff is going to be a tough job. Well, the spin box didn't want him

:26:10. > :26:14.because he was too small but he is six feet, one inches, 18 stone, are

:26:15. > :26:22.you glad he is Irish? We are quite happy to taken. The law is the law

:26:23. > :26:26.and he is a guy who is fully integrated into Limerick, into

:26:27. > :26:31.Munster and into the Ireland jersey. A quick word about what's going to

:26:32. > :26:36.happen here tonight. What's your instinct? My instinct is the way

:26:37. > :26:40.Ireland have been playing, their experience, for me they have the

:26:41. > :26:44.best half-backs combination in the competition with Murray and Sexton,

:26:45. > :26:49.that is the brains of the site. They have great organisational skills.

:26:50. > :26:56.Right attacking shed. They almost a doing. All the pieces are in place.

:26:57. > :26:59.They play with such intensity. Stander, his combination with Hislop

:27:00. > :27:04.and O'Brien, the work they get is phenomenal. These guys are another

:27:05. > :27:07.level. If that continues and Wales do not get up to the intensity that

:27:08. > :27:11.they found against England, it's Ireland all the way. Ireland

:27:12. > :27:15.obviously want to win, would like to win, need to win as far as next

:27:16. > :27:18.weekend is concerned. Is it fair to say, Martin, that Wales have to win

:27:19. > :27:22.tonight because of everything else that is going on around us? After

:27:23. > :27:25.the England game when Wales lost was a lot of sympathy because they

:27:26. > :27:30.played so well. That will go out the window tonight if Wales lose this

:27:31. > :27:33.game. The axe will be out again. By picking the same team I think that

:27:34. > :27:36.could galvanise Wales. All those players will just feel so

:27:37. > :27:39.galvanised, given a second opportunity to put their runs right

:27:40. > :27:45.at Murrayfield. But they've got to be smarter. They've been daft,

:27:46. > :27:48.particularly last week. If they're smart they could well win this game.

:27:49. > :27:52.Ireland have done the same, picked the same team for the very simple

:27:53. > :27:56.reason they think that the team that is able to dismantle the opposition,

:27:57. > :27:59.think their way around the field. Ireland haven't started well in the

:28:00. > :28:05.Six Nations this year. They are looking for a big start now. We can

:28:06. > :28:09.see Alun Wyn Jones, there. From the captaincy put a view, a lot of

:28:10. > :28:12.people were questioning Alun Wyn Jones and his leadership in the

:28:13. > :28:20.match of Scotland couple of weeks ago, he's got a point to prove

:28:21. > :28:23.tonight as well? Yeah, I guess we'll get a good feeling about what is

:28:24. > :28:28.going on. As a player in his performances I don't think he has to

:28:29. > :28:31.do any more than he is already. He is a high level consistent

:28:32. > :28:35.performer, world-class ranking. If he continues to do the same he's got

:28:36. > :28:40.a great chance of getting on the Lions tour, even captaining. 50 caps

:28:41. > :28:44.for Justin Tipuric, and an indication of the modern game that

:28:45. > :28:47.he has actually only started 24 games for Wales but it's his 50th

:28:48. > :28:54.cap tonight. Didn't happen in your days, Keith. Absolutely not. It's a

:28:55. > :28:59.great time and a great moment for him. You always wanted to start. You

:29:00. > :29:07.never wanted to come off, you never wanted to give a guy and easy cap.

:29:08. > :29:10.There are no easy caps any more. It has been the poorest part of the

:29:11. > :29:15.Welsh team, there has been no impact off the bench whatsoever. They need

:29:16. > :29:19.a big impact figure to win this. We've had a rousing rendition of

:29:20. > :29:23.Delilah. Now we've got a rousing rendition of pyrotechnics as well.

:29:24. > :29:27.The teams are going to line up in just a moment or so. I think it is

:29:28. > :29:31.fair to say the jury is still out a bit on Friday night internationals

:29:32. > :29:36.and I'm sure one or two people in the crowd this evening are cursing

:29:37. > :29:40.spending half the day getting over the Severn Bridge. I think there was

:29:41. > :29:44.14 miles of stationary traffic. But once you get here, the atmosphere is

:29:45. > :29:48.fantastic, and what a great way to kick off the sporting weekend for

:29:49. > :29:51.all of us, because we've got some tantalising FA Cup ties on BBC over

:29:52. > :29:52.the weekend and obviously some appalling rugby internationals today

:29:53. > :30:02.and tomorrow. Amid the anticipation and excitement

:30:03. > :30:08.we have moments that force all of us to pause and reflect. We will have a

:30:09. > :30:15.moment's applause for three members of the Welsh rugby community who

:30:16. > :30:19.have died. The former captain Lloyd Williams, one of eight brothers who

:30:20. > :30:37.played for Cardiff who died this week at the age of 83. Emeris Evans.

:30:38. > :30:42.And the Welsh international Ellie who also died at about accident, the

:30:43. > :30:47.youngest of all players in 2014 World Cup. She was just 20 years

:30:48. > :30:48.old. The applause will celebrate their lives and love of and

:30:49. > :32:10.contribution to the game. enormously and moving tribute to the

:32:11. > :32:13.three people who have lost their lives.

:32:14. > :32:18.National pride and potential titles at stake in a moment. Commentary

:32:19. > :32:20.will come from Jonathan Davies, Paul O'Connell and Eddie Butler, after

:32:21. > :32:24.the anthems. # Come the day and come the hour

:32:25. > :32:30.Come the power and the glory # We have come to answer

:32:31. > :32:39.Our country's call # From the four proud provinces of

:32:40. > :32:48.# Ireland, Ireland Together standing tall

:32:49. > :33:01.# Shoulder to shoulder We'll answer Ireland's call

:33:02. > :33:07.# Ireland, Ireland Together standing tall

:33:08. > :33:19.# Shoulder to shoulder We'll answer Ireland's call

:33:20. > :33:48.# Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

:33:49. > :33:59.# Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri

:34:00. > :34:16.# Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad

:34:17. > :35:11.Friday night rugby at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff,

:35:12. > :35:15.Wales at home to Ireland, Ireland in the hunt for the title.

:35:16. > :35:23.Wales with something to prove after two defeats. Alun Wyn Jones wears

:35:24. > :35:34.five, the captain. Wales head for the corner. It is the same Welsh

:35:35. > :35:40.team that face Scotland. Not so much a vote of confidence as a demand to

:35:41. > :35:47.make amends. They 50th cap for Justin Tipuric. George North's

:35:48. > :35:51.singled out as one who must do more. High risk man management. Rhys Webb

:35:52. > :36:02.singled out as a scrum-half in prime form. Ireland are also unchanged. It

:36:03. > :36:07.is a vote confidence. In forwards like CJ Stander nobody has carried

:36:08. > :36:12.more than him in the Six Nations. Keith Earls has scored five tries in

:36:13. > :36:22.his last five games. Conor Murray against Rhys Webb could be a

:36:23. > :36:27.personal duel of the championship. Paddy Jackson has been the most

:36:28. > :36:29.successful kick in test rugby in the past year. Sam Davies will bring his

:36:30. > :36:55.running game to the last quarter. Tonight's referee from England.

:36:56. > :37:05.Wales in red, Ireland in green, a traditional Celtic fixture. Joe

:37:06. > :37:15.Schmidt, Rob Howley, the coaches. Round 4 of the Six Nations. Wales

:37:16. > :37:21.against Ireland. Simon Zebo waits, catches.

:37:22. > :37:33.Conor Murray. Safely into touch. Good evening, Paul O'Connell. Good

:37:34. > :37:40.evening, very interesting, Ireland were ready to lift Robbie Henshaw

:37:41. > :37:45.and Garry Ringrose. The front line covered. Wales weblog. Justin

:37:46. > :37:52.Tipuric within the line-out ball. So nearly an interception.

:37:53. > :38:04.Ireland have stolen it. Rory Best. The first turnover to the men in

:38:05. > :38:22.green. Johnny Sexton on the loop and longer

:38:23. > :38:31.to Simon Zebo. Down goes Leigh Halfpenny. George North, having been

:38:32. > :38:32.quiet against Scotland, has everything to do against Ireland in

:38:33. > :38:46.the first minute and a half. They brief moment of calm allowing

:38:47. > :38:55.Rhys Webb to kick as far as Keith Earls only.

:38:56. > :39:09.Scrum advantage Ireland. The tallest man on the pitch, Devin Toner.

:39:10. > :39:18.You will see a feud rocked balls. All the chat about the roof, they

:39:19. > :39:21.watered the pitch today and the ball is like a bar of soap. There has

:39:22. > :39:32.been a lot of dropped ball already. One interesting thing I saw, Sean

:39:33. > :39:39.O'Brien did the same as against England. It was a tackle and he went

:39:40. > :39:44.in between. Between nine and ten of Wales. They must be careful because

:39:45. > :39:58.Ireland might adapt and varied that tactic.

:39:59. > :40:10.Sweet ball for Conor Murray from the scrummage.

:40:11. > :40:27.Good tackle on CJ Stander by Sam Warburton.

:40:28. > :40:40.Wales trying to hold up. Islands do get it to ground. Sean O'Brien,

:40:41. > :40:47.again. High it goes from Sexton and George North is underneath it.

:40:48. > :41:03.Good covering work by Rhys Webb on the ground.

:41:04. > :41:22.We can breed. Interesting the variety of Sexton's play, going wide

:41:23. > :41:30.first of all from a runaround and then a little move from the first

:41:31. > :41:31.set piece, and when the ball is slow, a brilliant kick. It is

:41:32. > :41:42.competition time. And attacking throw. Rory Best the

:41:43. > :41:53.captain between Wales' ten metre line and their 22.

:41:54. > :42:00.Devin Toner in the middle of the field and options either side. CJ

:42:01. > :42:08.Stander could not get it away, advantage Ireland. The knock-on

:42:09. > :42:17.followed by a high tackle. Scrum becomes a penalty. Big line speed

:42:18. > :42:25.from Wales. A challenge for Ireland to hold onto the ball if Wales are

:42:26. > :42:28.getting off the line really hard. Going back into the autumn, Ireland

:42:29. > :42:32.would have taken these into the corner every time and at the start

:42:33. > :42:37.of the championship these kicks have gone to the corner so an interesting

:42:38. > :42:44.change of tactic. There was a knock-on in the tackle. The Irish

:42:45. > :42:51.attack asking questions of the Wales defence. Keeping them honest with

:42:52. > :42:55.inside balls. Good line speed. This is the respect they have. They play

:42:56. > :42:58.against each other so offered in the Pro12, they know each other well. --

:42:59. > :43:12.so often. Not a breath of wind in the stadium.

:43:13. > :43:13.There is still a layer of smoke from the fireworks above the head of

:43:14. > :43:30.Johnny Sexton. It held its line and Ireland take

:43:31. > :43:52.the lead. Looking across the front line of

:43:53. > :43:57.Ireland, Jamie Heaslip was ready to lift Henshaw and Rory Best ready to

:43:58. > :44:01.lift Garry Ringrose. Instead, again it is Zebo who takes the ball.

:44:02. > :44:29.George North is the first to arrive. Another interception. Dan Biggar's

:44:30. > :44:49.pass picked off by Johnny Sexton. The touchline a refuge for Wales.

:44:50. > :44:54.Great line speed from Ireland doing what Wales are doing to them.

:44:55. > :44:58.Excellent intercept. Well played and Earls puts it into the corner. Great

:44:59. > :45:05.line speed, very clever. The second time. They have to hold their depth

:45:06. > :45:15.or run inside shoulder. They can see the guy going for the intercept. Ken

:45:16. > :45:21.Owens. A defensive operation here. Ross Moriarty. The first charge for

:45:22. > :45:32.the number eight. It has got to be offside. The old Italian tactic.

:45:33. > :45:38.That was a ruck. New Zealand vary it because they shout out tackle all

:45:39. > :45:40.ruck. On that occasion, clearly a ruck. When they do it they let the

:45:41. > :46:02.referee no. There is a case to be made. Once he

:46:03. > :46:07.is back up competing it is a ruck, now.

:46:08. > :46:27.Wales have found space. George North smashes through Rob Kearney. Keeping

:46:28. > :47:00.the ball alive in the field of play. Robbie Henshaw with a crunching

:47:01. > :47:40.tackle. Leith -- Leigh Halfpenny was outside

:47:41. > :47:50.George North. Alun Wyn Jones. He can go on.

:47:51. > :47:55.Rhys Webb was on his own. The defence saw him coming. Good

:47:56. > :48:06.presentation. Moriarty drove it up. Through the

:48:07. > :48:18.forwards again, through Evans. Wales suddenly go from left to

:48:19. > :48:47.right. Rory Best with the tackle and

:48:48. > :48:55.Ireland double up to stop any further progress. Has it gone

:48:56. > :49:04.forward, it has. Excellent Ireland 's defence. Some massive hits from

:49:05. > :49:08.Ireland but Wales, somebody could play, they held the ball and kept

:49:09. > :49:14.going at them and made yards. Eventually Ireland forced the error.

:49:15. > :49:19.Big moment to see Sean O'Brien. It is voracious. You can hear their

:49:20. > :49:25.hits. The grasping from the crowd. As a Welshman, to see the ball in

:49:26. > :49:26.George North's hand. He is looking angry, ball in hand he looks

:49:27. > :49:40.dangerous. Johnny Sexton finds touch. It has

:49:41. > :49:45.been a breathless start. A lot of that breath has been knocked out of

:49:46. > :49:49.the players. Jonathan Davies that was a noncontact situation but, for

:49:50. > :49:59.domain, it has been about this. Line speed of both sides is fantastic.

:50:00. > :50:03.Zebo high to Keith Earls, puts it in an awkward position. He had no

:50:04. > :50:10.option but to kick. Good line speed from even Devin

:50:11. > :50:43.Toner. Zebo hazard! Skips out of the tackle

:50:44. > :50:49.of Rob Evans. It is a 22 drop out. Well played by Dan Biggar. Not the

:50:50. > :50:56.position you want to be in. When it rolled dead? And Irish player

:50:57. > :51:02.following year. He watches, goes to ground, and cajoles the ball over

:51:03. > :51:07.the line. Very good play. The perfect way to kick. He waits and

:51:08. > :51:15.waits. Brilliant play, brilliant play. Dangerous but brilliant. Cool

:51:16. > :51:21.nerves. Absolutely. Great play. And he is back on his feet. Sending

:51:22. > :51:26.it long down over the halfway line and Keith Earls waiting. Sexton

:51:27. > :51:35.sending it high, up into the layer of smoke. It has gone loose from Dan

:51:36. > :51:43.Biggar. Scott Williams cannot stop CJ Stander. He will not be stopped.

:51:44. > :51:48.Ireland five metres from the Welsh line. It is a penalty advantage to

:51:49. > :52:08.Ireland. Rob Kearney. Penalty advantage still being

:52:09. > :52:14.played. It is out of play. Ireland with no advantage. Penalty kick. He

:52:15. > :52:21.is lucky. It could have been a yellow card. That is in the red

:52:22. > :52:27.zone. What a run by this guy. We are getting used to it every week. Again

:52:28. > :52:35.going to the corner. Every time now they seem to back themselves to

:52:36. > :52:38.score from five metres out. Early in the game two years ago when we lost

:52:39. > :52:42.at the Millennium Stadium, and it will be interesting to see if

:52:43. > :52:50.Ireland can pull it off. Jack McGrath and Rory Best conferring.

:52:51. > :52:54.Ross Moriarty comes away with it and has a charge at Johnny Sexton. That

:52:55. > :53:03.is not what Ireland's outside-half wanted. Wales can clear their lines.

:53:04. > :53:10.Not Dan Biggar's best but it bounces and it could go anywhere and

:53:11. > :53:16.Warburton arrived first. Ireland do well to get the ball away. Rory

:53:17. > :53:32.Best, for a moment there was an over lap.

:53:33. > :53:41.Sexton again went high, towards the posts, trying to land it in front of

:53:42. > :53:48.them. It has gone dead. A big moment. Five metre Drive. He steals

:53:49. > :53:52.it. Outstanding play. When you are five metres out it is a tough place

:53:53. > :53:59.to defend and if you can turn the ball over it is a big moment, a

:54:00. > :54:03.relief. A scrum to Wales now. Thinking of Wales in Scotland,

:54:04. > :54:10.kicked for the corner and nothing came of it and here it goes wrong.

:54:11. > :54:14.Alun Wyn Jones. The skipper. At the opposite end of the field two years

:54:15. > :54:21.ago Sam Warburton stole one from us and it was such a big moment in the

:54:22. > :54:28.game. You have to put a check on the Irish line speed. You have to turn

:54:29. > :54:30.them by a chip or grubber kick because it is causing problems for

:54:31. > :54:49.the Welsh attack. Wales making ground at the scrum.

:54:50. > :54:53.They could have numbers. That was well read by Johnny Sexton.

:54:54. > :55:09.Preventing the tackle being made. Toner brought down by Warburton.

:55:10. > :55:15.Sexton stays down. Murray hat to clear.

:55:16. > :55:27.Johnny Sexton will have time to get himself sorted. A couple of big

:55:28. > :55:31.tackles. I saw Sam Warburton's eyes light up when he saw the chance to

:55:32. > :55:37.smash Sexton earlier. He goes to ground. I think he copped one on the

:55:38. > :56:00.eye, look at his left eye. The left knee. I do not know what he

:56:01. > :56:08.did. It is an undignified place for and outside-half. He seems to be in

:56:09. > :56:13.the wars every game. It is not something Ireland need in a big game

:56:14. > :56:19.like this. We want the experienced man on the field. Paddy Jackson will

:56:20. > :56:24.come on, because Johnny Sexton has to go off for the head injury

:56:25. > :56:30.assessment. I am sure he will be OK. He has had a huge influence so far,

:56:31. > :56:32.the variety of his play, asking questions of the Welsh defence. They

:56:33. > :57:27.are coping admirably at the moment. It is sort of the name of the game,

:57:28. > :57:39.really. I heard Wayne Barnes describe it as a rugby collision. He

:57:40. > :57:43.has come all the way from New Zealand. He wants to be here on

:57:44. > :57:58.television! Now, now. Always worth a check. Jonathan Davies relieved it

:57:59. > :58:03.did not go against him. Off we go again and Ken Owens throwing. Sam

:58:04. > :58:12.Warburton wins the line-out. Scott Williams is through. A long pass to

:58:13. > :58:25.Leigh Halfpenny. To George North. North is back with a vengeance! It

:58:26. > :58:32.is like they listen to Jeremy Guscott pre-match analysis. He was

:58:33. > :58:37.just beside Scott Williams as he made the break. Here he is. That is

:58:38. > :58:42.what Jeremy Guscott was talking about. Fantastic pass. And a great

:58:43. > :58:48.finish. This is what you want to see. What a finish, a brilliant

:58:49. > :58:55.finish. I am happy to see great support play. Brilliant vision. This

:58:56. > :59:00.is the support they have lacked impasse games. What a finish. What

:59:01. > :59:10.does it mean to the wing to be back in that fashion? Joe Schmidt talked

:59:11. > :59:15.about George North. A world-class player that does not play well, do

:59:16. > :59:21.you assume he will not play well again? Probably not. He is a

:59:22. > :59:25.fantastic player and this was the worry for Ireland. Welsh players,

:59:26. > :59:27.world-class players criticised all week. They were always going to

:59:28. > :59:44.respond. Set piece play but one of the tries

:59:45. > :59:48.of the championship so far, and it has been a good championship. All

:59:49. > :59:53.the way through there have been talking points, intrigue, drama.

:59:54. > :59:59.Leigh Halfpenny. He misses the conversion. Wales, though, are in

:00:00. > :00:06.the lead. One of the great skills. How late he delivers the pass. Rhys

:00:07. > :00:10.Webb gives the past late. He has the vision to go wide and that is what

:00:11. > :00:16.has been lacking, the support play. But that had some finishing to do

:00:17. > :00:25.and what a finish. Very well taken by Rob Kearney. Ireland up to the 22

:00:26. > :00:28.through Devin Toner. And forced back. Paddy Jackson has gone

:00:29. > :00:46.forward. Halfpenny says, let's get downfield

:00:47. > :00:49.but only as far as Rob Kearney. Rare for the Irish fullback. Does not

:00:50. > :00:56.catch it at the first attempt, but does at the second. Dan Biggar has

:00:57. > :01:06.two scamper back. A manufactured difficult kick. A very good kick.

:01:07. > :01:15.Fantastic kick by Dan Biggar. Ireland are winning the aerial

:01:16. > :01:24.battle. They are getting the better of the high-kicking game. Warren

:01:25. > :01:30.Gatland. An onlooker. Purely in a Lions capacity, of course. Rory Best

:01:31. > :01:47.with bruises. From the fray. A good drive from Ireland. The first

:01:48. > :01:57.time they have varied their tactic. Taking on Wales upfront. Conor

:01:58. > :02:04.Murray goes back to the aerial game. North coming forward for it.

:02:05. > :02:10.Crossing in front. The aerial game continues to go Ireland's way. It is

:02:11. > :02:17.one thing you have to do when you play Wales over here. They are

:02:18. > :02:22.pumped up, coached by Shaun Edwards, you know you will meet the line

:02:23. > :02:26.speed. Often you take their opportunities of a for line speed by

:02:27. > :02:29.kicking and you will see kicking early in the game. This is the

:02:30. > :02:39.obstruction. There we are. Rhys Webb. That is a silly play because

:02:40. > :02:46.they did not take the kick off, put him under pressure and now another

:02:47. > :02:51.penalty. A good long kick. Devin Toner setting up the maul.

:02:52. > :02:59.They will have some counter driving to do to stop this Irish maul. CJ

:03:00. > :03:13.Stander has his hand on it. Five metres short, two metres short.

:03:14. > :03:24.Conor Murray weights. One metre short now, right at the corner.

:03:25. > :03:31.Murray looks at all the options. CJ Stander is just about held back.

:03:32. > :03:36.Murray again, so dangerous from short range. Back to five metres

:03:37. > :03:47.away from the Welsh goal-line. Jamie Heaslip driven back by Biggar and

:03:48. > :03:51.Sam Warburton. No advantage, penalty Ireland. Interesting, what would you

:03:52. > :03:57.do? It will be interesting. Let's see where it is. From there you will

:03:58. > :04:03.probably go for the corner. I reckon they will definitely go for the

:04:04. > :04:09.corner. There is no hesitation. This comes from a clumsy penalty by Rhys

:04:10. > :04:13.Webb. Wales giving teams a leg up with silly bits of play. They've had

:04:14. > :04:25.some amazing play but that is really clumsy. Five metres from the line.

:04:26. > :04:31.Toner again sets up the driving maul.

:04:32. > :04:51.CJ Stander against Tipuric. Another penalty against Tipuric. He's got to

:04:52. > :05:04.release the ball when he's tackled him. Caution wins the day and

:05:05. > :05:09.Ireland are going for the posts. It's an easier kick as well. Take

:05:10. > :05:15.the three points and put your nose in front. Got to release, haven't

:05:16. > :05:35.they? Paddy Jackson, well, he can't miss

:05:36. > :05:44.at the moment. I would not wish to put the curse on him. 13 out of his

:05:45. > :05:47.last 13. 14 out of 14. Ireland take the lead at the printer parity

:05:48. > :06:05.stadium. Sexton is back on as well. Wales

:06:06. > :06:11.playing really well but it's very hard when they give them like that.

:06:12. > :06:16.Johnny Sexton back on. Conor Murray. Two men waiting to

:06:17. > :06:50.lift and Zito must be 30 yards back. Just drop it behind the guy waiting

:06:51. > :07:02.to catch, he's in the 22, it's an easy clearance for Conor Murray.

:07:03. > :07:10.Biggar again, it's another interception. Johnny Sexton is

:07:11. > :07:17.reading the Welsh place. Comes away with it. Scott Williams, it's

:07:18. > :07:21.another interception by Keith earls. So, Wales are playing a flat game

:07:22. > :07:27.but it's a dangerous game and Ireland are picking them off.

:07:28. > :07:35.Serious line speed, it will be interesting to see if he was onside.

:07:36. > :07:38.Exchanging some verbals. If you see someone running out of the line

:07:39. > :07:45.you've got to try and get inside of Johnny Sexton, there. You've got to

:07:46. > :07:49.get an inside ball, early pass. You can see what the Irish are doing.

:07:50. > :07:55.Running up and making a nuisance of themselves on the line. Suffocating

:07:56. > :08:00.them for space. That's why at this stage of the game sometimes you've

:08:01. > :08:04.got to kick the ball a little bit more. Wait until the running has got

:08:05. > :08:21.out of their legs a little bit. Ross Moriarty from a steady scrum.

:08:22. > :08:23.Biggar again, prepared to go through the hands. Scott Williams takes it

:08:24. > :08:50.up. Liam Williams at scrum-half. Wales going the full width of the

:08:51. > :08:53.pitch. Webb. Little bit of progress now but slowed up by Ireland. Alun

:08:54. > :09:17.Wyn Jones. Biggar to Tipuric. Biggar hard and

:09:18. > :09:27.flat to George North. Conor Murray is down. Looks to be his wrist he is

:09:28. > :09:31.clutching. Wales in possession. Biggar back for the kick, here is

:09:32. > :09:41.the change in tactics. Leigh Halfpenny takes off against Zito.

:09:42. > :09:55.Doesn't look good for Conor Murray. Big collision. Here it is. Big

:09:56. > :10:02.collision, hard to see what happened. We see him a lot wider

:10:03. > :10:08.since Andy Farrell has taken over with Ireland and he's very good and

:10:09. > :10:15.reads the game very well. Could be a bad injury for a lot of teams, not

:10:16. > :10:20.just Ireland, but for Munster and the Lions as well. The thing is,

:10:21. > :10:23.George North has got good feet. Just got his head on the alongside,

:10:24. > :10:31.caught the hip. His body angle was wrong. On one thing, it's so good to

:10:32. > :10:36.see him wanting the ball. On the Irish defence, Johnny Sexton

:10:37. > :10:43.sprinting out of the line, Wales have got to work this out. You've

:10:44. > :10:48.got to put inside ball, outside ball because if he shoots out of the

:10:49. > :10:53.line, that's where the gaps are. One of the themes of this 6-nation, a

:10:54. > :10:58.puzzle posed and then asking the question, find your way out of this

:10:59. > :11:05.one. Italy against England and now how do Wales escape from the

:11:06. > :11:09.intercepted pass situation? This is Wales at their best, George North

:11:10. > :11:14.scoring. Three times they have been intercepted. You need problem

:11:15. > :11:20.solvers on the pitch that can give them the information. The big thing

:11:21. > :11:26.is to get a man off the shoulder of Dan Biggar and he doesn't have to

:11:27. > :11:31.throw the long pass. He can throw the short, tight pass if he needs

:11:32. > :11:40.to. The former Wales captain, there he is, Colin.

:11:41. > :12:18.Conor Murray, his bicep seems to be OK. For the moment.

:12:19. > :12:27.Good scrummage for Wales. George North gets over the advantage line.

:12:28. > :12:36.Moriarty gets a little further over the advantage line. Biggar. Goes

:12:37. > :12:45.through the lakes of big, tall Devin Toner. Onto the Irish 22. Webb has a

:12:46. > :12:50.little look himself, feeds Jake Ball and meter into the Irish 22. The

:12:51. > :13:17.past two more Conor Murray can't track him down.

:13:18. > :13:26.Definitely holding his left arm at the moment. Looks like it. Webb,

:13:27. > :13:34.long, gets away with it to Tipuric. Wales a yard back from the 22. They

:13:35. > :13:41.find a way into the 22. Forward pass. Very well-placed. Just to see

:13:42. > :13:52.how important Johnny Sexton is to the team. Making an awful lot of

:13:53. > :13:55.tackles. He is obviously a fantastic attacker, kicks well, directs the

:13:56. > :14:04.team around the pitch. Dig leader defensively as well. The pass, Rhys

:14:05. > :14:14.Webb to Liam Williams, Ford. Top tackler for Ireland. But that's

:14:15. > :14:23.good for Wales, if he's tackling, he's less effective in attack. Taken

:14:24. > :14:27.on Bone and he's been off, Conor Murray has taken a blow. Always nice

:14:28. > :14:47.to have your half-backs on the opposite side a bit beaten up. Good

:14:48. > :14:52.Irish scrum, solid. It came up just before 90, it turned on its axis.

:14:53. > :15:00.It's great to see scrum is not going down, really solid scrums and teams

:15:01. > :15:06.being able to play and have a go at the scrum. Rory Best with the white

:15:07. > :15:17.scrum cap, Ken Owens opposite him. Furlong, one of the breakthrough

:15:18. > :15:24.players of the Irish game, of the European game.

:15:25. > :15:52.No progress for the flanker. Sexton says enough now, let's clear for the

:15:53. > :15:59.kick. Good pressure from Scott Williams. That has gone high.

:16:00. > :16:08.Halfpenny comes for it but Rob Kearney beats him to it and then is

:16:09. > :16:19.put down by Liam Williams. Dancing his way in Field, 15 metres.

:16:20. > :16:27.Bracelet, that was bound to happen. Tadhg Furlong drops the ball.

:16:28. > :16:34.Commentator's curse again. We've seen quite if you've dropped balls.

:16:35. > :16:42.Here it is. Very unlike him. Rob Kearney has been sensational in the

:16:43. > :16:44.air. I suppose all the chat about the fallback position is about

:16:45. > :16:50.Stuart Hogg at the moment. But he is absolutely world-class in the air.

:16:51. > :16:56.Two standout players so far in the competition, Warburton and CJ

:16:57. > :17:08.Stander. They are giving it everything against each other.

:17:09. > :17:21.Looks as though Conor Murray is not very comfortable. He is negotiating

:17:22. > :17:26.with the doctor now. They don't want him going off, do they? Less than

:17:27. > :17:27.five minutes to half time, see if he can stay on and assess him at

:17:28. > :17:43.half-time. Exactly. Put in for Wales. Good position.

:17:44. > :17:51.Plenty of room on both sides. Left-hand side of the field. Our

:17:52. > :18:00.nearside is empty. Liam Williams is standing directly behind the scrum.

:18:01. > :18:11.Ross Moriarty gets it out. Here is Liam Williams, one-on-one against

:18:12. > :18:18.Kiefer also. -- against Keith earls. Liam Williams has made good ground

:18:19. > :18:28.into the Irish 22. Webb looks up. It is through the forwards. Alun Wyn

:18:29. > :18:37.Jones almost squirmed out of the tackle. Biggar. There is the change

:18:38. > :18:39.of direction. Scott Williams. Webb, short to Tipuric. Gets the pass

:18:40. > :18:56.away. Moriarty. Jake Ball again. Good Irish defence,

:18:57. > :19:09.stops the lock in his tracks. Wales keeping it tight. Not many options

:19:10. > :19:14.of width. This is where division has got to be. Warburton, Jake Ball.

:19:15. > :19:25.Penalty for Wales at last. Jonathan Davies a foot short. Advantage

:19:26. > :19:52.again, yellow card. Clearly killed the ball on the line.

:19:53. > :20:00.Johnny Sexton is going into the bin, clearly killing the ball on the

:20:01. > :20:05.line. Williams gives him a pat. Wayne Barnes gave Wales the option.

:20:06. > :20:12.Penalty in the corner or in front of the posts. They are taking the one

:20:13. > :20:15.in front of the posts. If I was the kicker I think I would take the same

:20:16. > :20:22.option. Further option by Rhys Webb. You look at nine and ten of Ireland,

:20:23. > :20:29.they are looking for half-time. He's off for ten minutes, Conor Murray

:20:30. > :20:38.will have to be looked at. It's a patch up job.

:20:39. > :20:42.I'm surprised Wales didn't try and get the ball wide. They hadn't

:20:43. > :20:49.identified Conor Murray was struggling. That is the kind of

:20:50. > :20:52.things the Kiwis are good at doing, identifying injured players and

:20:53. > :20:58.running at them. Getting treatment now. I think if Wales had managed to

:20:59. > :21:01.get out and stopped Williams running at him or Jonathan Davies running at

:21:02. > :21:07.him, he wouldn't have been able to make the tackle. As it is Leigh

:21:08. > :21:11.Halfpenny lands the penalty. It has been an exhilarating half, it's had

:21:12. > :21:17.a bit of everything. They very near try. Jonathan Davies so close to the

:21:18. > :21:22.line. Jonathan Sexton on the ground. He is caught there. No place for an

:21:23. > :21:28.outside-half to be, really. He cannot get out of there. There's no

:21:29. > :21:36.way he can get out. Wayne Barnes saying a few times, you are holding

:21:37. > :21:47.him in. Tough call. It means Simon Zebo has to take the restart down

:21:48. > :21:55.the middle. Dan Biggar waits. Zebo back.

:21:56. > :22:14.Murray is not comfortable. Left arm left hanging by itself. And again.

:22:15. > :22:19.Henshaw held up. Jack McGrath does very well from an unpromising start

:22:20. > :22:25.to make ground. CJ Stander very good at making ground. Sean O'Brien. Zebo

:22:26. > :22:42.again. Easier for Murray to pass that way.

:22:43. > :22:51.Keith Earls the tackle of Rhys Webb. Jake Ball try to get over the ball.

:22:52. > :23:02.Still therefore Ireland. Taking it up. Henshaw again. Heaslip knocks it

:23:03. > :23:09.on, comes loose, bounces away from Rob Kearney. Not on, half-time.

:23:10. > :23:13.Well, there haven't been that many points but it's been full of just

:23:14. > :23:14.about everything you want from a Friday night game in the Six

:23:15. > :23:29.Nations. STUDIO: What a fantastic half of

:23:30. > :23:35.rugby. Only one try, from George North. He had been on a final

:23:36. > :23:38.warning to improve, goodness me, he answered his critics this evening.

:23:39. > :23:41.I'm sure it's the kind of Friday night game where a lot of you said,

:23:42. > :23:47.we'll watch the first 15 minutes and then we'll go out, and you are still

:23:48. > :23:52.in front of the telly, not going anywhere. 141 tackles made in that

:23:53. > :23:56.first half. One of the most fascinating things, I've got some

:23:57. > :24:05.paper in my hand which shows the first 15 minutes, 57 tackles made in

:24:06. > :24:10.the first 11 minutes. 42 of them by Ireland. The first ten minutes or so

:24:11. > :24:17.was extraordinary. Absolutely crazy game of rugby. The tension from the

:24:18. > :24:22.start was fantastic. The line speed of both teams, targeting each other,

:24:23. > :24:30.huge contact. You could hear the noise appear it was incredible.

:24:31. > :24:35.There is precious little score but it is unbelievably competitive. Your

:24:36. > :24:39.eyes are lighting up. You were a rhino but some of these tackles were

:24:40. > :24:45.ferocious. There was a series of hits. It built up. The first couple

:24:46. > :24:55.of minutes was a bit quiet and suddenly this, biggest man on the

:24:56. > :25:06.field targeted. A little bit high, there. It is absolutely brutal out

:25:07. > :25:11.there. Sean O'Brien. It is just absolutely brutal. Fantastic to

:25:12. > :25:16.watch. Wales going through the phases, doing everything they

:25:17. > :25:20.possibly can but it is brick wall, brick wall, brick wall. These are

:25:21. > :25:25.not tackles, these are hits. These are hits and this is one passage of

:25:26. > :25:31.play. 21 carries, one minute of play. Nine or ten hits in this that

:25:32. > :25:38.just shudder everything. Almost some fear in the eyes. That sums up

:25:39. > :25:41.Wales. We will do the try later. When they go through phases, seven

:25:42. > :25:49.or eight, they really stall. Ultimately ends in a mistake. Sexton

:25:50. > :25:54.ended up getting a yellow card. Talk us through the Welsh attack. From a

:25:55. > :25:59.scrum, how are they operating there tonight? They've got a great

:26:00. > :26:03.opportunity. It's just a case of fixed the man, draw the man, leave

:26:04. > :26:09.the space on the outside. Unfortunately they don't manage

:26:10. > :26:12.that. It's just poor execution. There's no other option left from

:26:13. > :26:24.Liam Williams other to knock it in field. No doubt Wales have attacked

:26:25. > :26:28.a lot better tonight. These opportunities, you just hope from a

:26:29. > :26:31.Welsh point of view, this doesn't come back to haunt them. The manner

:26:32. > :26:37.in which Ireland are defending, they are changing, rushing up very

:26:38. > :26:42.quickly. In all honesty you can't give the defence credit, if you drew

:26:43. > :26:46.them with the running lines they would have been stuck and fixed. The

:26:47. > :26:51.rush defence is extraordinary. Rush defence at different times, in that

:26:52. > :26:56.instance they drifted across the field. Because they weren't fixed.

:26:57. > :27:01.And they did not have to rush up. Let's talk about implementing and

:27:02. > :27:06.execution and George North's try. They scored a fantastic try against

:27:07. > :27:10.England from first phase. Moriarty has given the past. Look at the

:27:11. > :27:16.options he has got. Rather than going to Williams, going to Scott

:27:17. > :27:21.Williams, he goes in. Everybody is shouting to the ball, and thankfully

:27:22. > :27:26.the execution gets them into space. The power North users, he has used

:27:27. > :27:31.everything he has got to get over. You showed this earlier and there

:27:32. > :27:36.was no positive runner. Rhys Webb continues the line, expecting the

:27:37. > :27:40.break. He has the confidence to find Halfpenny and this is what you want

:27:41. > :27:46.to see, George North, he has had so many more touches in this game to

:27:47. > :27:50.night. He is an absolute beast. Joe Schmidt in the interview before the

:27:51. > :27:53.game said he thought George North had been unfairly criticised before

:27:54. > :27:58.the Scotland game and he probably would have a great game tonight. He

:27:59. > :28:03.looked so miserable two weeks ago but he has been smiling and involved

:28:04. > :28:09.in everything. Show more in this game. We are on Lions watch in

:28:10. > :28:15.specific positions. Rhys Webb, what kind of game has he had? Anything

:28:16. > :28:19.good in attack Rhys Webb is involved with. He is fired up tonight. That

:28:20. > :28:27.one is a penalty. Going over the next. This is a silly penalty. Such

:28:28. > :28:31.a killer for Wales. It was a definite penalty, he knows exactly

:28:32. > :28:37.what he is doing. Those little errors keeping Ireland in the game.

:28:38. > :28:44.Just keep hold of the ball. He gives it. After 11 or 12 phases. Great

:28:45. > :28:52.kick which almost resulted in a try. Beautifully weighted kick. You

:28:53. > :28:57.thought they were in fall money. He pins in Sexton and he can't get out.

:28:58. > :29:00.We will talk about the Sexton yellow card, at the end of his performance

:29:01. > :29:07.generally, is he the complete outside-half now? Yeah, he has

:29:08. > :29:13.everything in his skills draw, as it were, he can do anything. He

:29:14. > :29:18.executes well. That is his DNA, the looping move he used to do so well

:29:19. > :29:21.with O'Driscoll. What we get with Sexton, the idea, the option, the

:29:22. > :29:26.decision and the execution is generally nine out of ten. That's

:29:27. > :29:31.why he is so consistent. Right on the money, giving the chasers

:29:32. > :29:39.opportunity to compete. O'Gara before him was brilliant and he's

:29:40. > :29:44.managed to take over that mantle. He's a fantastic player, he reads

:29:45. > :29:48.the game so well. Able to dismantle. The only thing I don't like about

:29:49. > :29:55.him is, he gets stuck into much of the rough stuff. He's always in the

:29:56. > :29:58.middle of it. He got trapped. He did hold on himself, had a bit of a

:29:59. > :30:04.pool, got trapped in the middle. Always a yellow card. I'm sure many

:30:05. > :30:07.Irish fans are thinking it was a bad call but we ought to say, in the

:30:08. > :30:12.context of the game as a whole, Wayne Barnes has had a magnificent

:30:13. > :30:18.games. He is not loved in Ireland, he is having a fine game tonight.

:30:19. > :30:35.From the Welsh point of view, how happy are you? You expect a reaction

:30:36. > :30:38.after Scotland. They needed to score early. We have more rugby to come

:30:39. > :31:05.over the course of the next 48 hours.

:31:06. > :31:10.Tomorrow it is Italy, France and also England against Scotland at

:31:11. > :31:17.Twickenham, which you can hear live on Radio 5. Kick off at 4pm. And you

:31:18. > :31:28.can follow the weekly pod cast on the website. It is an FA Cup

:31:29. > :31:33.weekend. And rugby Special on Sunday on BBC Two reflecting on the weekend

:31:34. > :31:38.matches and probably the most anticipated Calcutta Cup match since

:31:39. > :31:43.1990. It is an awful long time since Scotland won at Twickenham. The

:31:44. > :31:53.English forwards will dominate the game. When we have a go, we are

:31:54. > :32:03.good. COMMENTATOR: A brilliant try by the Scottish scrum-half. What a

:32:04. > :32:12.day for the Scots. Carling with the try. Robertson is

:32:13. > :32:19.back. These are things that are discussed externally. The press like

:32:20. > :32:22.to bring up the records on both sides, nobody is surprised people

:32:23. > :32:27.are talking about these things. It is another big game. They all the

:32:28. > :32:34.same, big games. At the moment, the way we have trained, there is a good

:32:35. > :32:38.simmering energy among the team. There is not much pressure on us. We

:32:39. > :32:45.can go down there and have nothing to lose. We are playing well. It

:32:46. > :32:50.should be a good contest. We are happy with where we are as a group.

:32:51. > :32:54.Every team we play in the Six Nations is a serious team and the

:32:55. > :32:58.past results have reflected that. There are no easy games. That is

:32:59. > :33:03.international rugby, everyone is competitive. We prepare to be

:33:04. > :33:09.competitive and come out the other side and so far we have done that

:33:10. > :33:13.and this week is no different. I read somewhere Eddie Jones expects

:33:14. > :33:16.them to be in the top one, two in the world because of the resources

:33:17. > :33:23.they have. It is hard to go there and play. Especially now they play

:33:24. > :33:28.with confidence. We put pressure on ourselves and have an expectation to

:33:29. > :33:35.get better every game. Results have come with that so far. As long as we

:33:36. > :33:41.perform, I have no doubt this team take the right step forward. Eddie

:33:42. > :33:46.Jones has been keeping his own counsel apart perhaps from blaming

:33:47. > :33:50.his dog for injuring or maybe not injuring Owen Farrell. How confident

:33:51. > :33:56.are you England will keep the winning run going tomorrow? Their

:33:57. > :34:00.home record is good. Performances have not been fantastic. Scotland

:34:01. > :34:06.have the ability in the back row to cause trouble and England are

:34:07. > :34:10.uncomfortable when rushed. The beauty is the 23, not necessarily

:34:11. > :34:16.the 15. Their home record will see them through. The nature of runs,

:34:17. > :34:19.they have to come to an end at some point and England will lose and at

:34:20. > :34:24.some point Scotland will win at Twickenham. I don't think so

:34:25. > :34:29.tomorrow. I think England will up their game. They have been winning

:34:30. > :34:34.but not playing good rugby and I think it will change tomorrow. You

:34:35. > :34:39.look at the bench tomorrow. That will be the difference. That is for

:34:40. > :34:43.tomorrow. We can talk to Paul and Jonathan in the commentary box. I am

:34:44. > :34:48.sure you have taken breath because it was a breath lasts 40 minutes.

:34:49. > :34:54.How encouraged will Wales be with the opening half? Very encouraged

:34:55. > :34:58.and they need to keep up the intensity and work out the line

:34:59. > :35:04.speed of islands. Keep the intensity, momentum up because they

:35:05. > :35:10.have been disappointing in second halves. They have a great chance.

:35:11. > :35:13.Especially I would like to see what condition Conor Murray and Johnny

:35:14. > :35:16.Sexton will be in when they come out. Conor Murray is injured and

:35:17. > :35:21.Johnny Sexton is off the field because of the yellow card. Will

:35:22. > :35:26.Ireland be trying to slow down the game for the first eight minutes to

:35:27. > :35:30.get to the point where it is back to 15 aside? They probably will be,

:35:31. > :35:38.they will probably kick more and play more conservatively. There was

:35:39. > :35:44.very little width once Johnny went off. He is the most important player

:35:45. > :35:51.in the team and it is a big loss to Ireland. It goes to what we said,

:35:52. > :35:54.Wales giving teams a leg up, making mistakes when they put teams under

:35:55. > :35:59.pressure but this time they didn't. They got a penalty and the

:36:00. > :36:02.crossfield kick from Rhys Webb and brilliant play and from that

:36:03. > :36:08.pressure came another penalty and sin-bin. They did not do that with

:36:09. > :36:12.Scotland, releasing the pressure, conceding penalties. In simple play

:36:13. > :36:17.they have put Ireland under pressure and are in a great place going into

:36:18. > :36:22.the second half. The cheering behind Paul was for the Welsh team coming

:36:23. > :36:26.out early for the second half. It is a great atmosphere. The crowd have

:36:27. > :36:37.been rewarded with an exhilarating first 40 minutes.

:36:38. > :36:43.Friday nights rugby at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

:36:44. > :36:52.Wales against Ireland. Ireland take the lead. North is back with a

:36:53. > :36:59.vengeance! Ireland take the lead. A yellow card. Leigh Halfpenny lands

:37:00. > :37:04.the penalty. It has been an exhilarating half. It has had a bit

:37:05. > :37:09.of everything. STUDIO: How long will it be when we

:37:10. > :37:16.do not talk about the bench. We will talk about the finishers. Here they

:37:17. > :37:22.are. Who has been nudged, Keith? When you look at the Irish guys,

:37:23. > :37:27.particularly O'Mahony and Henderson coming on. And Healy. In the

:37:28. > :37:31.forwards, looking for power carriers, guys to put people under

:37:32. > :37:35.pressure. The Wales bench have been poor in the last couple of matches.

:37:36. > :37:44.They have been disappointing when you look at the quality. Faletau,

:37:45. > :37:50.Jamie Roberts. Tell us why Wales have come out early. I think it is a

:37:51. > :37:56.tactic. They have been poor against England and Scotland second half.

:37:57. > :38:00.Perhaps not sitting in the changing room too much. Stop the second half

:38:01. > :38:10.on a positive note. Jerry, how does this end up? Thanks, John! To call

:38:11. > :38:14.this one, it will remain close, unless, because of the tackling

:38:15. > :38:19.Ireland have done... I cannot see Ireland falling off a cliff through

:38:20. > :38:25.tackling. They have shown against New Zealand in the autumn. This will

:38:26. > :38:31.be tight right to the end. What a game and anybody's game.

:38:32. > :38:43.Eddie. Conor Murray is back for the second half. Johnny Sexton is in the

:38:44. > :38:51.sin-bin. Simon Zebo. The first half, it was brutal. It was brutal. We can

:38:52. > :38:57.hear the collisions from here. Wayne Barnes blowing for the start of the

:38:58. > :39:06.second half. Simon Zebo finding George North with the kick-off.

:39:07. > :39:11.Moriarty. The angle is improved for Dan Biggar, should he choose to

:39:12. > :39:37.clear. Justin Tipuric. The first actor. --

:39:38. > :40:03.tackler. Rhys Webb stayed with Keith Earls

:40:04. > :40:23.but it needed Ken Owens to make the secondary tackle.

:40:24. > :40:33.Have not seen much of Garry Ringrose.

:40:34. > :40:38.The flip inside to CJ Stander, but Alun Wyn Jones saw him coming. That

:40:39. > :40:44.is the strength of Stander. It has gone loose and Scott Williams

:40:45. > :41:45.got a boot to it. Murray. Tackled so close to the

:41:46. > :41:51.line. Just about found touch. What a clever kick. Before that loose pass

:41:52. > :41:58.Ireland were playing clever football. We forget Sexton is off

:41:59. > :42:04.the pitch and they are a man short. Patients. Good execution.

:42:05. > :42:20.Ken Owens prepares to throw five metres from the Irish line. And the

:42:21. > :42:42.maul is on. North for and a second try! These

:42:43. > :42:52.are such massive moments in the game. Ireland had two cracks in the

:42:53. > :42:56.first half. Wales stole one of their line-outs. Defended their first one.

:42:57. > :43:04.In fairness, they scored comfortably. The line-out maul setup

:43:05. > :43:12.so well. It looked so tight to the Irish have to commit numbers. They

:43:13. > :43:16.are down a man and make it tell. It is communication, great

:43:17. > :43:23.communication. Rhys Webb has the vision. He sucked Zebo in and he

:43:24. > :43:28.scores. Wales releasing pressure, making a mistake. Ireland were in

:43:29. > :43:32.control and one loose pass and Wales capitalise and a great kick and

:43:33. > :43:36.chase. Once again this man has stabbed his mark on the game and so

:43:37. > :43:44.has Rhys Webb. I cannot believe Ireland did not keep a forward on

:43:45. > :43:53.the short side. Disappointing defence. It is difficult, going for

:43:54. > :43:58.the try-line, the forwards have got to go in. Leigh Halfpenny to as the

:43:59. > :44:05.two points. -- to add.

:44:06. > :44:16.It held its line and Wales extend their lead. 15 points to six. They

:44:17. > :44:20.have found scoring difficult in the last two games, but not here

:44:21. > :44:27.tonight. If George North plays like this he has probably guaranteed

:44:28. > :44:37.himself a public flogging every game! What a way to response.

:44:38. > :44:47.Change at scrum-half. Kieran Marmion comes on. It gets no easy for

:44:48. > :45:10.Ireland. It when loose again. Wales had it.

:45:11. > :45:26.Numbers for Wales. Henshaw did well, very well. That

:45:27. > :45:47.close to his own goal line. A good clearance but leaving Wales

:45:48. > :45:54.in an attacking position, still. Clumsy turnovers Roa Ireland.

:45:55. > :46:01.Tipuric gets his hands in on the ball well and then kicks it, but

:46:02. > :46:05.clumsy turnovers. We spoke about Ilan's kicking game in the first

:46:06. > :46:16.half. Two fantastic kicks. One of them leading to the try. Very

:46:17. > :46:22.uncharacteristic of Ireland. Two mistakes. They put themselves under

:46:23. > :46:36.pressure. They are still down to 14. Rhys Webb sees the gap.

:46:37. > :47:01.Penalty. Alun Wyn Jones taking it on.

:47:02. > :47:22.It has been slowed up by Best and Sean O'Brien.

:47:23. > :48:19.Scott Williams cutting inside. Tackled well by Furlong.

:48:20. > :48:32.11 on the 11th. Moriarty into touch. Good defence by Ireland. Just went

:48:33. > :48:37.the wrong way one too many times. Too close to the line-out. Now

:48:38. > :48:45.Sexton comes on. Dan Biggar trying to drop in the pocket. A very

:48:46. > :48:51.different Welsh team this week to last week. They are probably mixing

:48:52. > :48:55.the best of their old game with their new game. Willing to go hard

:48:56. > :49:06.and straight, as well. They are holding onto the ball and taking

:49:07. > :49:13.islands -- taking Ireland through lots of phases. It is exhausting.

:49:14. > :49:15.You can see the line speed has slowed. It has been such a high

:49:16. > :49:30.tempo game. The good news for Ireland, as well

:49:31. > :49:39.as their defensive effort, is that Johnny Sexton is back on the field.

:49:40. > :49:41.Jamie Heaslip winning the line-out. Wales trying to exert driving

:49:42. > :49:55.pressure on the clearing operation. Ireland earning themselves a

:49:56. > :50:05.penalty. It has to be frustrating. You have them in their own 22 and

:50:06. > :50:07.they give a simple penalty. Ireland one to maul that for a few meters

:50:08. > :50:23.and kick it out. -- want to. Ireland line-out and they are on the

:50:24. > :50:33.attack. A really bad bit of play here. I think Jake Ball takes it

:50:34. > :50:38.down. Clumsy play. Shaun Edwards. That says it all. Silly error. Rory

:50:39. > :50:46.Best to throw on the halfway line. Sam Warburton has been man-to-man

:50:47. > :51:43.marking all evening. Sexton looking to break things up.

:51:44. > :51:45.CJ Stander does not find Warburton in his path this time, but he is

:51:46. > :51:59.still brought down. It opens up for the big second row.

:52:00. > :52:06.Suddenly Ireland have momentum. Have good territory.

:52:07. > :52:20.Sexton delaying the pass to Jamie Heaslip.

:52:21. > :52:40.Ken Owens had to release it. Ireland still in possession.

:52:41. > :52:45.Rory Best was tackled by his opposite number, Ken Owens. Good

:52:46. > :53:06.tackle. Rob Evans delayed the release. Good

:53:07. > :53:09.positive pressure from Ireland. Sean O'Brien, first chance to get some

:53:10. > :53:16.speed up. Rory Best hanging onto the ball.

:53:17. > :53:20.Sexton with another delayed pass. Zebo cannot get away from Jonathan

:53:21. > :54:03.Davies. That was brilliantly picked up by

:54:04. > :54:15.Jamie Heaslip. Jonathan Davies tackling him. Wales turn it over.

:54:16. > :54:22.Knock-on. No penalty. It is a penalty. Spotted by the touch judge

:54:23. > :54:27.on the far side. Absolutely exhausting phase of play. Up until

:54:28. > :54:36.the penalty I thought it was incredible defence by Wales. Not

:54:37. > :54:41.giving away a penalty. Absolutely fantastic play. Now we are back to

:54:42. > :54:49.five metre drives. My favourite part of the game. A great defence. Johnny

:54:50. > :54:53.Sexton, how he manages the Irish. His choice of pass is brilliant. He

:54:54. > :54:57.makes a significant difference to this side.

:54:58. > :55:12.It is play on so far. Sam Warburton trying to grab the

:55:13. > :55:19.ball. High tackle. Accidental high tackle. Still a high tackle, says

:55:20. > :55:36.Wayne Barnes. Sam Warburton is getting through

:55:37. > :55:41.some amount of work, some amount of high-quality work. He is a nuisance

:55:42. > :55:47.at the breakdown but he has made phenomenal hits, as well. It is such

:55:48. > :55:55.a tiring game. Substitutions will be interesting on both sides. Watch

:55:56. > :56:03.this tackle. He goes high. It is such great defence. They have so

:56:04. > :56:10.many dummy runners, Ireland. Once it gets narrow, do they have the

:56:11. > :56:14.ability to go wide. Dan Biggar protests, the crowd protests, but

:56:15. > :56:21.given the current interpretation, that is still a penalty.

:56:22. > :56:33.Johnny Sexton, the bruising around his left eye. He has been off for

:56:34. > :56:34.treatment and off in the bin, but he is back, masterminding the Irish

:56:35. > :56:52.comeback. They needed two scores. That is the

:56:53. > :56:58.option they needed to take. Dan Biggar ready to take the restart. He

:56:59. > :57:07.thought about taking it quickly. I would be dropping one of these down

:57:08. > :57:13.on Garry Ringrose, or Henshaw. Zebo again the target. A good follow-up

:57:14. > :57:15.tackle by George North. What a different George North it is this

:57:16. > :57:32.evening. Getting intricate in their 22 and

:57:33. > :57:34.Liam Williams redback well. Keith Earls has been elusive as anybody.

:57:35. > :57:53.Dan Biggar claiming it on halfway. Wales still trying the long passes

:57:54. > :57:57.and Jonathan Davies, Leon Williams. Williams still going. -- Lee

:57:58. > :58:06.Williams. Moriarty. Powerful. The tackling

:58:07. > :58:49.resolute. Dan Biggar is back for the drop

:58:50. > :58:59.kick. Off the post. Rob Kearney has time back there. The right option.

:59:00. > :59:11.He will be disappointed he did not nail that. That is a routine drop

:59:12. > :59:16.kick for him. He set it up. A lovely pass by Rob Evans. As Paul said,

:59:17. > :59:18.they do not panic, do not look for the miracle pass. They go to ground,

:59:19. > :59:27.keep possession. Cian Healy is on as a replacement

:59:28. > :59:41.for McGrath. Cian Healy is a great guide to bring

:59:42. > :59:48.off the bench. Big, powerful, hungry ball-carrier. Henderson is there as

:59:49. > :59:56.well on the Irish bench. So, big impact. Little dink forward, it

:59:57. > :00:06.comes to Tipuric, he tries to find Alun Wyn Jones.

:00:07. > :00:18.Pass off the floor, says referee Wayne Barnes. Perhaps he didn't play

:00:19. > :00:24.it immediately. Fairly obvious. The crowd are having none of it, that.

:00:25. > :00:38.On the floor, you are out of the game. Johnny Sexton tries to impose

:00:39. > :00:44.a little calm on proceedings. Justin Tipuric is now on the ground, out of

:00:45. > :00:57.the games. Amazing how Tipuric sees things happen quicker than anybody

:00:58. > :01:08.else. Ross Moriarty finishes the stealing job. It advantage being

:01:09. > :01:15.played. Here goes the slightly irked Welsh captain for the penalty given

:01:16. > :01:22.against Tipuric. Rhys Webb will test Simon Zebo. Here comes the Zebo

:01:23. > :01:28.against Dan Biggar. Back to Sexton. Ringrose. Justin Tipuric pulled him

:01:29. > :01:54.down in the end. Francis on Healy with the tackle.

:01:55. > :02:14.Johnny Sexton, one player standing in a sea of crushing movement.

:02:15. > :02:30.-- a tester. Warburton fell on the loose ball. Safely puts it back on

:02:31. > :02:34.the Welsh side for Rhys Webb. Dan Biggar are back in position. Wales

:02:35. > :02:48.want to manage their way into a better position.

:02:49. > :02:59.If he's on his feet initially, as soon as there is contact... A little

:03:00. > :03:03.conversation there. Interesting to see Wales put that ball off the Park

:03:04. > :03:08.in comparison to where they were in the England game. Where are we on

:03:09. > :03:13.the clock? 62 minutes. A small shift. Very rare in a passage you

:03:14. > :03:21.would see Wales put that ball off the park. Iain Henderson has come on

:03:22. > :03:31.into the second row in the place of Devin Toner.

:03:32. > :03:39.He plays back row as well. As the game gets more and more into the

:03:40. > :03:45.tired zone he's going to have an impact Conor Henderson, in loose

:03:46. > :03:53.Wales steal another line-out ball. Scott Williams. Wales still going

:03:54. > :03:57.long. Liam Williams on the far side. He puts a boot to it but it only

:03:58. > :04:22.finds Rob Kearney. Keith Earls bundled into touch.

:04:23. > :04:31.Ireland are worried about the line-out. Rushed everything. Little

:04:32. > :04:43.moral victory for Wales. Line-out stolen by Charteris. Off for Ireland

:04:44. > :04:48.is CJ Stander. That is my little interpretation of a moral triumph,

:04:49. > :04:54.to see Ireland's leading charge ago. Interesting, Charteris is on.

:04:55. > :05:10.Brilliant maul defender and his workrate is phenomenal.

:05:11. > :05:23.Rhys Webb takes over from Ken Owens. Beautifully taken by Dan Biggar.

:05:24. > :05:31.Jonathan Davies long to Leigh Halfpenny. Halfpenny can't quite

:05:32. > :05:34.free his hands to get the ball to George North. North goes in. A busy

:05:35. > :06:05.night for George North. Scott Williams held up for the

:06:06. > :06:15.moment. Ireland have ripped the ball clear.

:06:16. > :06:25.Marmion looks one way, eventually goes the other. It's a knock-on

:06:26. > :06:32.advantage to Ireland. Keith Vaz Evans makes a good tackle.

:06:33. > :06:48.No advantage any more. Good boot forward by Ringrose and Halfpenny

:06:49. > :06:55.turns and gets back on his feet. Good work by the Wales full-back.

:06:56. > :07:09.Sam Warburton goes to scrum-half. Luke Charteris.

:07:10. > :07:23.Rhys Webb puts more length on it this time. Back towards Wales.

:07:24. > :07:32.Again, Leigh Halfpenny... Ooh, he has knocked it on. Sean O'Brien to

:07:33. > :07:41.Sexton. That's probably just a little long. Dan Biggar under

:07:42. > :07:49.pressure from Keith Earls. It's come loose. Somehow Wales hang onto

:07:50. > :07:58.possession. Leigh Halfpenny scrambling for the ball. It's not

:07:59. > :08:01.out of play. Liam Williams weights. Ireland pick him up and drag him

:08:02. > :08:08.backwards. Any clearance would be good now for Wales. They are still

:08:09. > :08:09.happy to keep it amongst the forwards that close to the goal

:08:10. > :08:21.line. Another clearance operation that

:08:22. > :08:27.does not go well from that corner of the Principality Stadium. Unlike in

:08:28. > :08:31.the game against England, Wales get away with it and get the ball into

:08:32. > :08:37.touch. It is one hell of a Test match. You just feel that Wales need

:08:38. > :08:41.that buffer. They need a drop goal or a penalty to give some breathing

:08:42. > :08:46.space. Ireland are throwing everything at them. Some great play

:08:47. > :08:50.by Ireland. The loop play we saw in the French game creating

:08:51. > :08:54.opportunities. One forward to another, out the back to Sexton,

:08:55. > :08:59.they created some really good space in the last few minutes. An awful

:09:00. > :09:05.lot of tired bodies from both teams on the pitch. Ireland have looked

:09:06. > :09:13.very strong. Good line-out pressure here. Ireland have struggled in the

:09:14. > :09:22.last few minutes. Scott Williams has gone off. Jamie Roberts has come on.

:09:23. > :09:28.A case of fresh legs. This has been a gruelling, exhausting encounter.

:09:29. > :09:50.More changes for Wales. Upfront, Nicky Smith is on. Fill it

:09:51. > :10:08.Rory Best to throw. Won by Henderson. Heaslip. Marmion to

:10:09. > :10:19.Henshaw. Ireland trying to set up a maul. Rory Best in charge, slips it

:10:20. > :11:03.back. Sexton, Ringrose. Again through the forwards until

:11:04. > :11:11.Sexton now has it with two passes Ireland suddenly go wide. Halfpenny

:11:12. > :11:17.tries to avoid touch. Forced back over the goal line, but touch first.

:11:18. > :11:22.Five metre line-out, Ireland throw. Super weight on the kick, such a

:11:23. > :11:28.good kick, forcing Wales to either play it to the line-out or to carry

:11:29. > :11:31.it. It's going to be a line-out. Ireland have had a lot of

:11:32. > :11:36.opportunities from this distance and failed to convert. Wales have been

:11:37. > :11:51.very good defensively from this part of the field.

:11:52. > :11:59.Charteris is an intimidating figure when you are trying to call the

:12:00. > :12:04.line-out. Henderson wins. Clever play by Ireland. They've stopped

:12:05. > :12:11.Charteris could in near the ball, and on comes the drive from Rory

:12:12. > :12:14.Best. It's still moving. Rory Best edges closer. Help arrives from the

:12:15. > :12:31.outside. I think it's a penalty to Wales.

:12:32. > :12:37.Number 12 has run in front of the ball and made it start going again,

:12:38. > :12:41.that's obstruction, that a penalty. Well, well, well. I think the

:12:42. > :12:46.forwards will be absolutely crazy. It seemed to be going in the right

:12:47. > :12:50.direction, slowly, slowly. Henshaw comes in and goes in front of the

:12:51. > :12:58.ball and reignites the drive again. He's disallowed it and given the

:12:59. > :13:02.penalty. We were going quite well, stopped, and then 12 started it. I

:13:03. > :13:12.think he has a point. Haven't seen it again here. He has to bind over

:13:13. > :13:18.the guy at the back of the maul. Here he goes. Harsh enough. If he

:13:19. > :13:27.had put an arm over the top of Rory Best as he went into that maul... I

:13:28. > :13:34.think it might be a penalty. He does seem to clear the way for Rory to

:13:35. > :13:40.dive over. If he gets behind Rory, he still scores. I agree. Cannot

:13:41. > :13:52.believe how gritted Paul O'Connell's teeth were when he said it might be

:13:53. > :14:04.a penalty. Might be. And escape Wales. Robbie Henshaw, here he

:14:05. > :14:11.comes. Rory Best with the ball. If he puts his arm over Rory, it is a

:14:12. > :14:21.different story. Such fine margins. I still think we would have scored

:14:22. > :14:22.if he had not joined. Prosperous source of line-out possession for

:14:23. > :14:26.Wales today, Tipuric. Back to Sexton. Back to the aerial

:14:27. > :15:05.game. That should be OK. Samson Lee is on. Faletau West 20.

:15:06. > :15:17.Ireland swoop. And Ireland have to put in. It's a question of what is

:15:18. > :15:27.left in the tank of these two sites. Mistakes creeping in and could be

:15:28. > :15:30.crucial. Wales need that buffer. Whenever there is a break in play,

:15:31. > :15:34.you look at the players and wonder how they can play another phase,

:15:35. > :15:37.they look so tired. Then the ball comes into play and the Welsh

:15:38. > :15:42.defence comes to life. We were talking about the Irish bench, the

:15:43. > :15:52.likes of Cian Healy, Henderson. Tony Fowler et al coming on for Wales. --

:15:53. > :15:55.Tony Faletau. These are big game players. Wales have changed their

:15:56. > :15:59.front row entirely. Scott Baldwin has just arrived. Ireland still have

:16:00. > :16:27.two starters, I think. Heaslip puts it over to the right

:16:28. > :16:29.hand side. Straight to Simon Zebo. Zebo looked for the past. George

:16:30. > :16:58.North over the ball. Great contest. They are varying

:16:59. > :17:03.tactics. Tried to go down the middle, try to go through the hands.

:17:04. > :17:11.Let's wait and see how good they are on the flat. From the scrum, first

:17:12. > :17:23.kick, that is a narrow defensive line. Wales under the cosh, just

:17:24. > :17:26.like they were two years ago. Ireland swarm all over the

:17:27. > :17:32.scrum-half and earn themselves a five metre scrummage with the

:17:33. > :17:37.put-in. That's what you get with Peter Manning, phenomenally quick

:17:38. > :17:46.off the floor. Against Tipuric who is also quick. Peter O'Mahony is the

:17:47. > :17:50.best back row jump in Europe. The five metre line-out is so important.

:17:51. > :17:51.If you can pressure that you give yourself a great opportunity, which

:17:52. > :18:07.Ireland have done here. Just having a blood stop called.

:18:08. > :18:17.Peter O'Mahony, immediate impact. Tipuric has won so much ball for

:18:18. > :18:31.Wales. O'Mahony pinched one when it mattered. I know it's loud, let's

:18:32. > :18:48.give ourselves space. Both teams, give yourself space.

:18:49. > :19:16.Heaslip again, shelters the ball. Sexton. It's narrow. Has it gone

:19:17. > :19:26.backwards? It has. Jamie Roberts punches the air. And all it is is a

:19:27. > :19:34.scrummage. Offside. Man in front of the knock-on.

:19:35. > :19:41.The worst thing you can do here is give away a penalty. If you run a

:19:42. > :19:44.play that is not the greatest in the world, if you are still five yards

:19:45. > :19:52.from the line, it's not the end of the world to turn it over stopped to

:19:53. > :19:56.give a penalty is very tough. Five minutes to get back down there for

:19:57. > :20:01.Ireland. Big defensive moment from Wales. We saw Shaun Edwards pumping

:20:02. > :20:09.his fist. He stands there, he picks the runner. Keith Earls been so

:20:10. > :20:13.dangerous. There's the reaction. We spoke about Jamie Roberts having an

:20:14. > :20:17.impact. He will have seen those players defending plays like that

:20:18. > :20:26.for years. Scott Baldwin. Again it is Tipuric who wins the line-out.

:20:27. > :20:35.Gareth Davies keeps a close eye on the ball this time. Going to kick

:20:36. > :20:46.downfield. Down towards Keith Earls. Dan Biggar in hot pursuit but

:20:47. > :20:49.brilliantly taken by Earls. Sexton. That's excellent pursuit of the ball

:20:50. > :20:56.by Gareth Davies, the scrum-half. Sexton again, to Sean O'Brien.

:20:57. > :21:08.Heaslip driven back by Liam Williams.

:21:09. > :21:25.Long along the floor. Jonathan Davies in hot pursuit. Catches him.

:21:26. > :21:43.Henderson. This is different because Ireland are now in their own 22.

:21:44. > :21:49.Cian Healy tries to raise his legs. Justin Tipuric hangs on. Ireland

:21:50. > :22:08.still in their 22. And again, Tipuric involved. Sean

:22:09. > :22:12.O'Brien took a little pause. Can't get out of the 22.

:22:13. > :22:27.Rory Best. Ireland standing still and taking the ball. Is there anyway

:22:28. > :22:34.out of this 22? Ireland trailing by six points. Sexton, charged down by

:22:35. > :22:45.Faletau, Jamie Roberts for the line, Roberts! We wait for Wayne Barnes to

:22:46. > :22:56.award the try. He has. And Wales have just won the encounter.

:22:57. > :23:00.Pressure on Faletau, fresh legs. Sexton has tried every passing the

:23:01. > :23:09.buck to unlock this defence. He tries a little chip. Faletau gets to

:23:10. > :23:17.him. There is the try scorer. Fairplay to Wales. They've been

:23:18. > :23:21.really clever in the second half. Excellent driving maul to a box-kick

:23:22. > :23:27.and they pinned Ireland down, put them under incredible pressure.

:23:28. > :23:31.Jamie Roberts, he's felt the pressure all week, nobody has felt

:23:32. > :23:36.the pressure more than Rob Howley and the Welsh coaching staff. And

:23:37. > :23:41.how they have responded, what a response.

:23:42. > :23:53.Leigh Halfpenny as the two points. Jonathan, your man of the match?

:23:54. > :23:59.Warburton has been brilliant, so has Sexton. George North. For me, Rhys

:24:00. > :24:05.Webb. There's the man. He had his hand in both tries. Aggressive

:24:06. > :24:14.defence. Man of the match, Rhys Webb. Into the last minute. Ireland

:24:15. > :24:20.ring the changes. But you can just tell the game is won. Alun Wyn Jones

:24:21. > :24:25.is too exhausted to celebrate yet. His moment will come. Paddy Jackson

:24:26. > :24:34.gets us back under way. It has gone forward. Ringrose picks up the

:24:35. > :24:41.bouncing ball. Sean O'Brien. Zebo. Tommy Bowe is on the field. Faletau

:24:42. > :24:46.over the ball. Can't play it now. Has to leave it for Marnie.

:24:47. > :24:55.Chatteris tracks the replacement. It went forward. Wales will have one

:24:56. > :25:12.last scrum. Line speed is still there from

:25:13. > :25:16.Wales. Absolutely incredible to see the likes of Tipuric getting up with

:25:17. > :25:21.incredible enthusiasm and intensity, at this stage, having put in the

:25:22. > :25:25.shift that he has. Rob Howley, you've got to be happy for him. This

:25:26. > :25:33.performance, the hard work, the pressure they've been under. This

:25:34. > :25:41.was always the trick for Ireland. Wales were a very good team playing

:25:42. > :25:45.badly. 100% a try. They are a very good team playing badly with some

:25:46. > :25:49.absolutely world-class players. They have absolutely produced the goods

:25:50. > :25:53.today, played brilliantly. I think they've been very clever as well.

:25:54. > :26:02.Which I don't think they had been in some of their performances in the

:26:03. > :26:07.Six Nations. Some crucial line-out steals, and the enthusiasm of the

:26:08. > :26:10.back row is phenomenal to see. Hasn't just been a game of relief

:26:11. > :26:15.for Wales given the pressure they have been under, it has been a

:26:16. > :26:17.fantastic Test match. Fantastic Test match and I think the

:26:18. > :26:22.decision-making by the Welsh players has made the difference. In previous

:26:23. > :26:27.matches they've been loose, given opportunities away. Now they've

:26:28. > :26:31.scored two beautiful tries, third try through pressure. Just small

:26:32. > :26:40.margins that make a huge difference at this level. Tommy Bowe going off,

:26:41. > :26:44.I just wonder how much more of Tommy Bowe there is to come. He's been

:26:45. > :26:52.around a long time. Wonderful servant on the Irish wing. If this

:26:53. > :26:58.is farewell to Tommy Bowe. Disappointing for him after a long,

:26:59. > :27:01.long injury return to get back, to get picked for today, that's really

:27:02. > :27:12.disappointing. Hopefully that's not too bad. It's the face of a man who

:27:13. > :27:22.thinks this might be it. Hang on, that's a bit harsh. Come on, head!

:27:23. > :27:42.Gareth Davies will put into the scrummage. Wales have nine seconds.

:27:43. > :27:51.It's a retreating scrum and Ireland have stolen it. We are into

:27:52. > :27:58.overtime. Ireland come away with it. Play goes on. Alun Wyn Jones still

:27:59. > :28:12.working. No letup in the pace at all. Paddy Jackson. No letup in the

:28:13. > :28:21.ferocity of the tackling. While Scannell, replacement hooker. Paddy

:28:22. > :28:28.Jackson goes on his own. It's a good tackle by Scott Baldwin, the hooker.

:28:29. > :28:42.Henderson, tackled by Gareth Davies. Marmion. Sean O'Brien.

:28:43. > :28:55.Still it thunders on. It has gone forward at last. If Wales can break

:28:56. > :28:59.away and scored they get themselves a bonus point. It could be. Sam

:29:00. > :29:10.Davies is on. Jamie Roberts, George North. Cuts inside. North! Burst of

:29:11. > :29:21.acceleration, George North! Up to the Irish 22. Gareth Davies awaits.

:29:22. > :29:29.Jonathan Davies, men outside him, can't get the pass away. He does

:29:30. > :29:40.now. Charteris was there. Scott Baldwin. Davies goes starting round

:29:41. > :29:51.the blindside. Halfpenny twists, roles, presents. The captain.

:29:52. > :30:01.Sam Davies knocks on. The game is over. Wales don't get their bonus

:30:02. > :30:03.point but they do have the victory in a pulsating, enthralling game,

:30:04. > :30:20.they have beaten Ireland 22-9. An absolutely phenomenal match.

:30:21. > :30:27.There were times at the break of play. You wondered how the guys

:30:28. > :30:35.would play the next phase. Then they lifted it again every time. A great

:30:36. > :30:43.Test match by two great sides. Wales have won. What a night it has been.

:30:44. > :30:47.22-9, they have been Ireland. STUDIO: Martyn Williams and Rob

:30:48. > :30:54.Howley vindicated picking the same team. Go out and prove yourselves. A

:30:55. > :31:00.phenomenal defensive effort. Ireland threw everything at Wales and they

:31:01. > :31:09.stood tall and to a man, a superb game of rugby. Rhys Webb, it was

:31:10. > :31:12.tense towards the end of the game until Roberts scored. You were

:31:13. > :31:19.watching from the bench not able to do anything. Very nervous at the

:31:20. > :31:23.end. We know from the last three games there have been fine margins.

:31:24. > :31:29.We felt dominant in the last games and we knew we were one performance

:31:30. > :31:36.away from winning. We played for the full 80 minutes and put in a shift.

:31:37. > :31:42.You had a big hand in the two tries for George North. How much does the

:31:43. > :31:47.team oh Rob Howley performance? The coaches have been telling us to play

:31:48. > :31:52.and back our ability. We showed today glimpses of what we can do and

:31:53. > :32:00.there is more to come from us. Everybody was writing us off, but we

:32:01. > :32:05.did not become a bad team overnight. You are the man of the match.

:32:06. > :32:10.Congratulations, Rhys Webb. Rob Howley urged the team to redeem

:32:11. > :32:16.themselves. How determined were you to repay the faith he has shown. I

:32:17. > :32:22.think to a large proportion we owe it to the people in the stadium. And

:32:23. > :32:25.to ourselves. We have not done ourselves justice in the last two

:32:26. > :32:32.games and that was a priority today and I think we have done that.

:32:33. > :32:37.Congratulations. STUDIO: That fantastic match, as darkness

:32:38. > :32:41.descends, long since descended on the Principality Stadium, but Wales

:32:42. > :32:45.lit up this magnificent stadium with that victory which means England, if

:32:46. > :32:50.they beat Scotland tomorrow will retain the Six Nations championship

:32:51. > :32:57.and if Scotland win, it is anybody's game going into the final weekend.

:32:58. > :33:02.22-9 is one statistic, but how about more than 300 tackles across those

:33:03. > :33:07.80 minutes. Just the most phenomenal match. One moment of controversy

:33:08. > :33:12.towards the end. We are on the red button after this and will discuss

:33:13. > :33:17.them them. Henshaw penalised and denied Ireland what would have been

:33:18. > :33:22.potentially the winning score. It was a great line-out move and the

:33:23. > :33:28.ball was in, came down perfectly. Look at number two. Rory Best. You

:33:29. > :33:33.see Henshaw coming in. If he goes in and slides his hand up over Rory

:33:34. > :33:38.Best that is fine but if he goes in just ahead of the ball carrier it is

:33:39. > :33:45.a penalty and obstruction. It is very tight. Just needed a connect

:33:46. > :33:50.with Rory Best and he would have been fine. The fact he did not grip

:33:51. > :33:57.Rory Best in any way, definite penalty. On such small margins are

:33:58. > :34:03.matches won a loss. Jeremy, what a spectacle. Well done, Wales. Over

:34:04. > :34:07.100 tackles in the second half. Two tries to nil, a magnificent

:34:08. > :34:14.performance. I am sure you have enjoyed spending your Friday night

:34:15. > :34:18.with us. At times it felt like a game of Gaelic football. What a

:34:19. > :34:21.stupendous game. May the rest of your sporting weekend be as

:34:22. > :34:29.intoxicating. Good night from Cardiff.

:34:30. > :34:34.# You can always go downtown. # When you've got worries all the

:34:35. > :34:41.noise and the hurry seem is to help I know. Downtown.

:34:42. > :34:44.# Listen to the music of the traffic in the city.

:34:45. > :34:49.# Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty.

:34:50. > :34:55.# How can you lose? # The lights are much brighter. You

:34:56. > :35:00.can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares.

:35:01. > :35:01.# So go downtown. # Things will be