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The most experienced Welsh team in test rugby history needed it all to beat 14-man Ireland 21-16 in a tension-filled Six Nations game at an empty Principality Stadium on Sunday.
After his annus horribilis in 2020, three victories in 10 events, the Welshman gave New Zealand-born sophomore Wayne Pivac his first notable victory, and his best victory since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Rui Vieira / AP
Wales center George North on course to score a try in a 21-16 win over Ireland.
Under pressure for a win anyway, Pivac reminded Wales’s golden generation to deliver and lined up a team with 874 caps combined. Nine players had more than 50 each. They only had enough to hold off an Ireland that was favored to enter.
Wales’ concerns were calmed somewhat when Ireland winger Peter O’Mahony was sent off in the 14th minute. He drove with his shoulder towards the exposed head of Welsh prop Tomas Francis, who was trapped in a ruck. It was an easy decision for referee Wayne Barnes.
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Rui Vieira / AP
Wales coach Wayne Pivac looks on before the Six Nations rugby match against Ireland.
Pivac was relieved to begin with victory.
“We will build on that victory in any way we can and obviously now we will advance to Scotland next week,” he said after the game.
“We often see the extra man advantage, but we allowed Ireland to get back into the game with a succession of penalties and those points came but we were able to take advantage of it in the second half.
“You can see how many people participated in the game and it was a constant effect throughout the game. It’s just a six-day change that doesn’t help.”
“It’s about the season and this is day one. We are happy to get those four points, and now we hope to go to Murrayfield.”
Wales were deservedly winning 3-0 at the time and were expected to continue. But losing a man sharpened Ireland’s focus and they went into halftime 13-6 ahead.
Rui Vieira / AP
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones takes on Ireland.
The effort, however, tired the Irish and Wales received attempts from George North and Louis Rees-Zammit to go 18-13 ahead in the fourth quarter. A tough penalty against Ireland in front of their posts set Leigh Halfpenny ready for a third penalty shot, and Wales had a two-touchdown lead with 14 minutes to go.
Ireland lost captain Jonathan Sexton after his head was accidentally hit by Justin Tipuric’s knee, and they were only able to add a penalty from replacement of midfield Billy Burns. Burns had a chance to set up an attack lineout in injury time, but he threw the ball out the back of in-goal.
The result was Ireland’s first loss to Wales in five Tests, and second-year coach Andy Farrell has yet to win away from home.
O’Mahony became the fifth Irishman to be sent off in a test and the second in tournament history after Willie Duggan in 1977. O’Mahony is at risk of missing the rest of the tournament after his second red card this season in Wales. In October, he racked up two yellow cards as the Munster captain against Scarlets, also for unnecessary ruck loads.
Wales was on top at the time. But Ireland rebooted, kept the ball in hand and took penalties from a frustrated Wales.
Sexton’s penalties leveled the score in the 35th minute. The physical exertion said it when Mid Wales Johnny Williams and Ireland blocked James Ryan and went for concussion checks.
Just before halftime, Ireland got a try from blocking Tadhg Beirne. Ireland stole a third lineout from Wales, center Robbie Henshaw cut past Tipuric, Josh van der Flier supported and Beirne sank.
There was enough time for more Welsh misery when scrum half Tomos Williams injured his right hamstring in a race. He was the last man to leave the field at halftime, limping.
Wales was back in control. A knock-on from Ireland on his 22nd quickly turned into a North try, out of position in the middle.
Rui Vieira / AP
Welshman Louis Rees-Zammit (L), a try scorer against Ireland, is tackled by Irish winger Keith Earls.
North and Halfpenny then fed Rees-Zammit and, from a standing start at 15 meters, the wing in his first Six Nations ran and dived into the right corner. Halfpenny converted from the side and Wales was in front.
Beirne got a heavy ping from a ruck foul and Halfpenny’s goalkick made it 21-13.
But Wales conspired with self-inflicted mistakes to keep giving Ireland hope of victory. Four minutes into injury time, North was penalized and Burns attempted a line kick for a 5-meter lineout. But he screwed it up and fell to his knees.
Rui Vieira / AP
Wales Dan Biggar grabs Irishman Robbie Henshaw.
Sexton sympathized with Burns.
“Like 10, you have to go for it and take us five meters,” the Ireland captain said in a post-match television interview. “Sometimes you fail and sometimes you are the hero, but there is a big difference between 10 and five meters.
“I’m proud of the guys for the effort we put in, but in the end it came down to some key mistakes. I think a couple of decisions at the end were against us, but Wales are a very good team, and we are only to blame.
“We talked about discipline in the week, but we were disappointed and made some key mistakes.”
Ireland has a week to recover before France reaches Dublin.
Powerful center George North scored first after a superb discharge from wing Josh Navidi, who had replaced Dan Lydiate injured in the first half.
Take a look
Wales 21 (George North, Louis Rees-Zammit tries; Leigh Halfpenny 3 pen, scam) Ireland 16 (Tadhg Beirne tries; Johnny Sexton 2 pen, scam; Billy Burns pen). HT: 6-13.
