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RBS Six Nations

Davies grabs two brilliant tries in Welsh win in Ireland

Ireland (10) 21
Tries: Best, Bowe, Con: Sexton, Pens: Sexton 3
Wales (5) 23
Tries: Davies 2, North, Con: Halfpenny, Pens: Halfpenny 2

A last-gasp penalty by Leigh Halfpenny secured a fantastic win for Wales at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Sunday afternoon.
Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk man of the match was of course Jonathan Davies; the former Dyfryn Taf pupil and Scarlets strong-running centre raced over for a superb brace of tries to cap a memorable afternoon. Mike Phillips also had a good game at scrum half and another former Whitland player Scott Williams was not required from the bench.
Declan Kidney’s Irish team were looking to avenge the World Cup quarter final defeat at the hands of the Welsh in Wellington only four months ago.
However, Warren Gatland’s men stuck to the task and for once they had a bit of good fortune to earn them an important opening championship victory, which sees them third in the table behind leaders France and second placed England, who both picked up victories on the previous day.
Jonathan Sexton struck first blood; the Ireland fly-half landing a fourth minute penalty, but the Welsh clawed their way back. Flanker Ryan Jones ploughed over the whitewash, but the TMO ruled out what looked to be a certain try.
The Welsh, however, had Ireland under pressure and were rewarded when a cheeky round the back pass from Rhys Preistland saw Davies show tremendous determination and strength to dive in at the left corner. This time the TMO never hesitated to award the try.

Off day with boot

Priestland missed the conversion and had an off day with the boot, missing three kickable penalties; an important effort came off the post shortly after Davies’ first try.
Back came Ireland with a converted try by hooker Rory Best and Ireland went in at the break 10-5 ahead.
Shortly after half time and Sexton added his second penalty so Ireland led 13-5, but Wales came storming back. Halfpenny took over the kicking duties and landed a penalty. The visitors then scored a cracking try set up by George North, who ploughed through the middle and flipped a clever scoring pass in contact to release the centre for his second try. 
Just 15 minutes left on the clock and lock Bradley Davies was yellow carded for a spear tackle on Donnacha Ryan, it could have quite easily been red as Gatland admitted with admirable honesty in the post-match interview.
Ireland thought they had picked up the winning try when Tom Bowe dived in at the right corner. Sexton missed the difficult conversion but Ireland were 21-15 ahead.

Match winning penalty

With just four minutes to go Wales stormed back again with a terrific try by 19 year old winger North, charging through Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy. Halfpenny missed the conversion but made amends when Ferris was sin-binned and he kicked the winning penalty to send the travelling Welsh fans delirious.

Ireland: R Kearney; Bowe, McFadden, D'Arcy, Trimble; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip. Replacements: O'Gara for Sexton (74), Reddan for Murray (77), Ryan for O'Callaghan (63).
Not Used: Cronin, Court, O'Mahony, D Kearney.
Sin-bin: Ferris (80)

Wales: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North; Priestland, Phillips, Gill, Bennett, A Jones, B Davies, Evans, R Jones, Warburton, Faletau.  Replacements: Hook for Cuthbert (41), James for A Jones (70), Tipuric for Warburton (41).
Not Used: Owens, Powell, L Williams, S Williams.
Sin Bin: B Davies (65).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).

PHOTO:

Jonthan Davies scored a brace of tries in Wales' dramatic victory in Ireland.