IRE
No.Name
15Simon Zebo, FB
14Andrew Trimble, W
13Jared Payne, C
12Robbie Henshaw, C
11Keith Earls, W
10Johnny Sexton, FH
3
9Conor Murray, SH
T
1Jack McGrath, P
2Rory Best, H
3Nathan White, P
4Mike McCarthy, L
5Devin Toner, L
6CJ Stander, FL
7Tommy O'Donnell, FL
8Jamie Heaslip, N8
Replacements
16Sean Cronin, R
17James Cronin, R
18Tadhg Furlong, R
19Donnacha Ryan, R
20Rhys Ruddock, R
21Kieran Marmion, R
22Ian Madigan, R
23Dave Kearney, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Aviva Stadium
3:00 PM, February 7, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

84'ESPN's Martyn Thomas had this to say straight from the Aviva Stadium:

"Wow. Following a pulsating 80 minutes the draw seems fitting at the climax of an afternoon that showcased all that is good about northern hemisphere rugby. Ireland started incredibly quickly, and despite beginning the game with a patched-up pack did not give their visitors a chance to settle. Wales wrestled back the initiative in the five minutes before the break, but Ireland found a second wind at the right time. That Johnny Sexton hit the equalising penalty moments after being pole-axed by a George North tackle sums up an incredible encounter. Grand Slam hopes will have to wait another for both sides but their fans won't care a bit. These are clearly the sides to beat this year."
83'Nope, nothing! Game over! The ball is bundled into touch. Analysis to come...
82'Ireland have fumbled it! Wales are back in possession -- albeit inside their own 22 -- but they too are looking to build something here. Alun Wyn Jones involved.
81'Zebo and Murray again at the fore in the dying moments but between them they can't muster up any more points. Ireland have still worked it up to phase 12 though, and they still have the ball in hand...
81'+216-16 End of second half
80'Ah, nothing! Scrum's been awarded and Ireland's Murray has the ball in hand awaiting to feed the two packs...

...and Ireland break well once Murray receives the ball again at the rear of the scrum. Chucked down the line to Zebo who tries to make a go of it but is quickly pinned back.
79'Gatland's side are definitely starting to look the more likely right now, swift passing has opened up a bit of space down the left...

Stander's been named man of the match.
78'Wales are piling on the pressure but Ireland are doing what they've done well all game so far which is to defend their 22 excellently. Priestland's just tried the drop kick from 35m out, and missed -- hooked it wide left!
78'Drop goal-missed
76'Game has picked up some real urgency since those couple of substitutions have come on. Wales having a go, and it's not long before the Irish pinch the ball back and have a run themselves. However, both are stuck along the half way -- this is very close.
76'Player substituted - Rory Best , Ireland
76'Substitute on - Sean Cronin , Ireland
76'Player substituted - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
76'Substitute on - Ian Madigan , Ireland
75'Sexton's coming off... Madigan on. Cronin on for Best, too.
75'16-16 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
74'As simple as that! Ireland are back 16-16 with Wales as Sexton makes that! Great stuff from the fly half.
73'And now Ireland have won a penalty for Wales tackling offside. Sexton's looking to kick this one from 45m...
73'Substitute on - Dan Lydiate , Wales
73'Player substituted - Sam Warburton , Wales
73'13-16 Penalty goal - Rhys Priestland , Wales
72'Great kick! He's made it! Wales are in front for the first time in this match.
72'Player substituted - Gareth Davies , Wales
72'Substitute on - Lloyd Williams , Wales
72'Player substituted - Keith Earls , Ireland
72'Substitute on - Dave Kearney , Ireland
71'Infact, Earls have come off. Schmidt not taking any risks. We're still awaiting Priestland to tee this one up...
70'Wales have won a penalty! This is in kickable distance for Priestland... Elsewhere, Sexton and Earls are both receiving treatment...
69'Ireland are holding very firm and Gatland's side are struggling to gain any sort of territory.
68'Wales the one trying to put pieces of the puzzle together in attempt to create a try. Davies at the fore pulling the strings, but they're yet generate anything of substance yet. They're inside the Irish 22, though.
67'
66'We're back to throwing and catching as Wales have the ball on the right flank.
64'What a tackle from Alun Wyn Jones on Trimble!

Sexton does fantastically well and breaks the Welsh line. Superb vision spotted the gap, quick pace enabled him to make the move before a swift pass found Trimble on his right. But, if it wasn't for the imposing Welsh No.5 we could be looking at a different scoreline as he forced the Irish winger into touch! Much more entertaining.
64'Player substituted - Mike McCarthy , Ireland
64'Substitute on - Donnacha Ryan , Ireland
64'Substitute on - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
64'Player substituted - Nathan White , Ireland
64'Substitute on - Ken Owens , Wales
64'Player substituted - Scott Baldwin , Wales
63'Another scrum! Murray to feed for Ireland. That's 11 for the match so far, with just under a quarter of the game remaining.
62'The game's remaining in a midfield stalemate at the minute, with neither side looking the more likely to score. However, right now, Wales are the one causing a fuss with a couple of bash and barges, but the Irish defense it holding tight. A penalty kick or two could be what decides this.
62'Substitute on - Bradley Davies , Wales
62'Player substituted - Luke Charteris , Wales
61'Priestland offers the high ball once collecting from the rear of the scrum, but with no runners, it bounces before being collected by Irish hands.
60'Another scrum this time in Welsh hands on the other side of the pitch...
58'Substitute on - Tomas Francis , Wales
58'Player substituted - Samson Lee , Wales
57'This is turning onto one of those really stop-start games of rugby. Where's the excitement from the first half gone?!

If it's not a lineout, it's a scrum. And we've got another one now as Wales are penalised for offside, this one position near the half way.
56'Ireland fault, and Wales have another penalty that is too long for Priestland's kick capabilities.
55'Another scrum, this time for Wales...
54'Ireland really trying to force a breakthrough but Wales are holding firm. Poor handling from Zebo gifts the penalty kick to Wales. Too far out for Priestland, though.
53'Player substituted - Rob Evans , Wales
53'Substitute on - Gethin Jenkins , Wales
51'Faletau is the man to come away with the ball from the scrum and attempts to make a break out of his sides 22, but there's not much he can do except absorb the Irish tacklers. Schmidt's men are back with ball in hand.
50'And talking to the game slowing down, Wales have the scrum now.
49'Much like the first half, the initial burst of energy has worn off and both sides are back to controlled and thought out attacks, rather than blind-eyed running into each other at full speed. Ireland are taking their time to push for the try, and they've done so well as they've clawed their way into the Welsh 22.
49'Player substituted - Tommy O'Donnell , Ireland
49'Substitute on - Rhys Ruddock , Ireland
48'Brute strength from Jamie Heaslip as he marches on despite having multiple Welsh bodies tugging at his shirt. It looks like he was running but with a sand bag tied to his waist. Eventually, he's brought to the deck.
46'Bang! 13-13! Game on.
46'13-13 Penalty goal - Rhys Priestland , Wales
45'A floating Irish hand hits the ball out of Welsh reach and there's a bit of scramble for possession on the deck. however, Wales have still manage to retrieve it and can push on again...

...penalty to Wales. Priestland has the opportunity to put his nation back on level terms. It's along the 22 and from the left hand side.
44'Wales have the lineout inside the Irish 22 from their left flank. What can they do with this...
43'Priestland's just tried a drop goal from half way and missed by a long, long way.
43'Drop goal-missed
42'Wales have started the second half very much how they left the first half. They're on the front foot and taking the game to Ireland.

Charteris leading the pack heads first into the resilient -- yet not unbreakable it seems -- Irish line. They found a way into the 22.
42'ESPN's Martyn Thomas had this to say straight from the Aviva Stadium...

"For almost 32 minutes of the first half there was only one team in this contest. Ireland signalled their intent from the first whistle, Rory Best led with intent and the hosts were tigerish in defence and at the breakdown, building a deserved 13-point cushion in the process. However, Wales woke up in the closing stages to finally make some of their territory count. Taulupe Faletau scored a powerful try and help cut the deficit to just three points. The game is in the balance but suddenly the momentum is with the visitors. "
41'Wales gain possession back and have kicked out. Half time!
41'+113-10 End of first half
40'We're back underway at the Aviva Stadium. Wales have kicked us off.
40'Ireland trying for that breakthrough again, and slowly but surely have worked their way into the Welsh half, but it's a bit of a slog.
40'13-10 Start of second half
39'Ireland's kick downfield is returned back by Liam Williams, but it ends out wide right and into touch. Lineout to come!
39'13-10 Conversion - Rhys Priestland , Wales
38'Priestland makes the kick.
38'13-8 Try - Taulupe Faletau , Wales
37'WALES TRY!

Faletau! Scrum on the five metre again for Wales has worked well.The Wales No.8 collects the stray ball of the deck and flings himself and the ball over the line. Wales are back within touching distance.
35'Great from Wales, again! So close as Priestland's cross field kicker is JUST out of play after Williams failed to collect in the air. Zebo did a great job at putting him off.
34'Wales have worked it superbly down their line and Jonathan Davies' ball carry down the left flank gained his side a good 10 or so metres. Wales were running out of options once the centre was taken down, so a kick and chase downfield resulted, which has gained them the scrum from five metres out. Great play for Gatland's men.
32'Makes it. Three points for Wales!
32'13-3 Penalty goal - Rhys Priestland , Wales
31'Ireland penalised for the tip tackle on Priestland and they've got the penalty, chance to get off the scoreboard here.
29'Wales try the driving maul from the lineout down their left flank, but not much comes from it.
28'13-0 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
27'Sexton, unsurprisingly, converts the kick.
27'11-0 Try - Conor Murray , Ireland
26'IRELAND TRY!

Connor Murray has nailed it for Ireland -- five points! The scrum works well for Ireland and after a succession of bash and barges from the Irish pack, Murray darts in and grounds the ball down.
25'Lineout works well for the Irish as they poach the ball before driving for the five point line. A bundle of bodies on the Welsh tryline means we're forced to call upon the TMO to see if it's been grounded or not. And after a moments delay, we're told it's not a try and the score remains the same. Scrum from five yards to come.
24'TMO to check potential Irish try...
23'Great kick from Henshaw forces the lineout in the Wales' corner. Relief of pressure for Schmidt's side.
22'Penalty has halted much as the Gatland's men are the first to pounce on the high ball and have run their way back into the Irish 22.
22'Substitute on - Rhys Priestland , Wales
22'Player substituted - Dan Biggar , Wales
20'Wales' breakdown cover proves too slow and Robbie Henshaw's work on the deck pays dividends. Irish penalty inside their own 22 -- and Dan Biggar's been subbed off.
19'Wales working the ball down their line and are approaching the Irish 22 with force again. Samson Lee the man leading the charge at the minute...
18'He's missed it -- that's unlike him. In fairness, it wasn't the easiest of angles, but Wales remain six points adrift.
17'Wales awarded the penalty from the collapsed scrum and Biggar's teeing this one up from the right flank.
16'Game's been stopped as both teams sort the scrum. The pace of this game has definitely slowed down over the past few minutes.
14'Successful kick for Sexton, and successful treatment for Zebo, too. 3 points and the man's back on his feet. Ireland on the front foot.
14'6-0 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
13'Zebo's down receiving treatment in the meantime...
12'Ireland have slowed play down a bit and both sides have settled. However, Schmidt's men have still managed to build it to phase 10 before being given another penalty kick. Sexton's eyeing this one again...
9'Ireland has escaped their 22 and made some good territory themselves -- they've kicked for the lineout a long way downfield. A bit of rest for a brief moment.
8'Oh, and Wales have fumbled it and Ireland are on the counterattack!
6'Williams charging in with brute force but the Irish door remains locked. Wales touching their opponents 22.
5'Biggar collects brilliantly in the air and Wales can use that as their foundation to build their first attack of this afternoon.
5'3-0 Penalty goal - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
4'The Irish pack are carrying well -- notably O'Donnell and Heaslip -- and they've made their way into the Welsh 22 already...

And, we've got the first penalty of the game for Ireland. Routine kick for Sexton this should be to put the home team infront.
3'Huge tackle from Jamie Roberts on Robbie Henshaw slows down the Irish attack as they emerge well from the scrum. However, that's all the tackle has done, as the men in green continue to push on.
2'And we've already been treated to the first scrum of the afternoon. Ireland to feed on their left flank, just inside the Welsh half.
1'Ireland kick us off! We're underway at the Aviva...
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live commentary of the Six Nations clash between Ireland and Wales!

Under Joe Schmidt -- who took charge in early 2013 -- Ireland are still yet to lose a Six Nations game at home. But, despite this impressive unbeaten streak, one of their three home defeats in all competitions under the New Zealand-born coach was in fact inflicted by Wales last August. This is a very tough game to call...

IRELAND XV: Zebo, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, Earls, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best (captain), White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip

Replacements: Cronin, Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, Ruddock, Marmion, Madigan, Kearney


WALES XV: Anscombe, North, J Davies, Roberts, James, Biggar, G Davies; Evans, Baldwin, Lee, Charteris, AW Jones, Warburton, Tipuric, Faletau

Replacements: Owens, Jenkins, Francis, B Davies, Lydiate, Williams, Priestland, Cuthbert


You can follow our man on the ground, Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport), who'll be giving us his live updates straight from the Aviva Stadium. His preview can be read HERE.
And, if you're still thirsty for more rugby...

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    • 1'0-0 Start of first half

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