Summary

  • Ireland beat much-improved Wales to clinch Triple Crown and third-straight win

  • Jack Conan crossed early to give Ireland the lead in Cardiff before Sam Prendergast's penalty made it 10-0 to the visitors

  • Two Gareth Anscombe penalties cut the lead to four, as Garry Ringrose was shown a yellow card

  • Jac Morgan scored Wales' first try of the game to give the hosts a shock 13-10 half-time lead

  • Tom Rogers dove over in the corner to extend Wales' lead at the start of the second half

  • Prendergast's penalty ended a run of 18-straight Wales points to cut the lead to five points

  • Jamie Osborne continued Ireland's fight-back as they level to game at 18-18 with 25 minutes left to play

  • And three Prendergast penalties gave Ireland a two-score lead with three minutes remaining to seal victory

  1. Goodbye from Cardiffpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Ireland team with Triple CrownImage source, Getty Images

    So Ireland march on but boy did they get a scare here in Cardiff.

    Jack Conan scored early but Garry Ringrose's 20-minute red card allowed Wales to lead at half-time through Jac Morgan's try.

    Tom Rogers' wonderful finish had Wales 18-10 ahead in the second half and eyeing a shock win.

    But Ireland showed their class and Jamie Osbourne's try levelled the score at 18-18 to set up a grandstand finish.

    And it was not until Sam Prendergast kicked the last couple of his five penalties that Ireland had the win - and the Triple Crown.

    They still have their eyes on a Six Nations title and the Grand Slam.

    As for Wales... wow. What a bounce they experienced from interim head coach Matt Sherratt.

    It's still a 15th Test defeat in a row as their record run goes on but that was perhaps the most positive display of the lot.

    They next face Scotland who are currently in action against England in the Calcutta Cup.

    So stay with BBC for all your Six Nations coverage.

    Hwyl fawr from Cardiff.

  2. 'We had to dig deep' - Easterbypublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby: "It was as tough as we expected, to be honest.

    "Going into the game there was lots of media speculation about how Wales are, the state of the game here, but we know the strength of Wales and the passion.

    "I thought Matt Sherratt and his coaches did a great job getting that performance out of his team. We had to dig deep.

    "We'd have to go and look at the decisions around those [scrum] penalties and what was the cause of that but it's part of looking at a game and figuring out how we can do it better next time. There's lots of things we could have done better in both halves.

    "The lads were calm at half-time and found a way to win in the second half."

    Simon EasterbyImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'It was a great game' - Sherrattpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Matt Sherratt, Wales interim head coachImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt told BBC One: "Firstly I loved it, it was a great game.

    "This week has just been about us trying to get some confidence in the group and then trying to imprint what we've done on the field, and for large parts they did that.

    "There has been a lot of people who have done this in the week, it's not down to me.

    "We put a clear plan together for the players, one or two things we thought we could put all our energy into, because there has been no lack of emotion and passion from the boys.

    "It was just about removing the fear and letting them go on the field and express themselves a little bit within our structures."

  4. Proud of the team - Morganpublished at 16:41 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Jac Morgan carries for WalesImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Wales captain Jac Morgan told S4C: "We know we put a lot of pressure on Ireland.

    "There was so much confidence in our performance, we can be really proud of the way we played.

    "Credit to Ireland they're one of the best teams in the world, but we were in the game for most of it. I thought we were amazing today and the boys were great.

    "In attack we were braver and took our chances. I thought the boys were great chasing kicks in the air, and Ellis [Mee] was great especially for his first cap, a proud moment for him.

    "We could hear the crowd were all behind us and the support. It raises the boys spirits knowing there's support behind us.

    "We're always thankful to the crowd for coming to the stadium and making themselves heard. We know it's been a tough time, so we're always thankful for the support we get from everybody.

    "It means a lot to us as a group of boys, and we just want to make everybody proud."

  5. Exactly what we expected from Wales - Sheehanpublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Dan SheehanImage source, Getty Images

    Ireland captain Dan Sheehan told BBC One: "That was exactly what we expected, a proper Test game in a beautiful stadium in front of some seriously passionate fans.

    "Fair play to Wales, that was a proper Test match and I'd say we'll feel it for a few days but I'm proud of the boys.

    "We said it all week. They'd have their purple patches and their moments of strength.

    "We just have to stick to what we do all the time, that's our process, it's staying calm, we didn't panic and we had to eke it out one minute at a time. That's what all those lads have practised for years.

    "We rely heavily on our bench. They came on and made a massive impact, James Ryan, Bundee [Aki] both made a huge impact to lift the boys with fresh energy. That was the making of the game there, relying on our bench to bring that energy."

  6. How they standpublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Six Nations standingsImage source, BBC Sport
  7. 'A lot of learning has been done' - Llewellynpublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Max LlewellynImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Wales centre Max Llewellyn told S4C: "We're so proud.

    "We knew it was going to be a tough game but we had faith that we were going to win. I'm so proud for the boys, we only had three training sessions before the game, and a lot of learning was done.

    "We were more organised than we have been. We were trying to make it easy for our forwards to stay zonal.

    "It took a lot of pressure off the forwards who work so hard in the middle of the pitch. It's nice to see after only three sessions we look better.

    "I was happy to be picked again and I'm very thankful to 'Jockey' [Matt Sherratt] to be back in the team."

  8. It was tough out there - Gibson-Parkpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Jamison Gibson-ParkImage source, Getty Images

    Ireland scrum-half and player of the match Jamison Gibson-Park told BBC One: "We have to give a lot of credit to Wales, it was very tough out there today.

    "They're an unbelievable team, a proud nation and they sure showed that today.

    "It'd be a dangerous thing to come over here with any pre-conceived ideas, playing here against Wales was always going to be tough and sure they proved that to us today.

    "It's mentally tough more than anything. We're lucky to have a some pretty good coaches so we were well prepared for those things."

  9. Postpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Sioned Harries
    Former Wales Back Row on S4C

    I think it says so much that Ireland won the Triple Crown, but yet they're not celebrating.

    They know they've been in a proper game.

  10. 'What the Six Nations is all about'published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Tommy Bowe
    Former Ireland winger on BBC One

    This is what Six Nations rugby is all about.

    Ireland have won the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam is still on but Wales put it to this Irish team.

    It was an amazing game and Wales went right up until the final moments.

  11. 'Wales can take massive credit'published at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    John Barclay
    Former Scotland captain on BBC One

    What a Test match that was.

    We came to the stadium expecting Ireland would win and win well.

    We thought we'd see some emotion from Wales but what we did see was their ability to go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the world and for that they can take massive credit.

  12. Reaction to comepublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Stay with us and we bring you all the reaction from Cardiff as Ireland clinch the Triple Crown and stay on course for the Six Nations title.

  13. Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Jonathan Davies
    Former Wales international on BBC One

    It's been a great Test match. Ireland know they've been in a game.

    We were all worried it was going to be so one-sided, but what a performance by this Welsh side.

    Matt Sherratt has done an amazing job, he's given them belief, confidence and a bit more shape.

    Everyone in the Welsh camp should be very pleased with themselves.

  14. Postpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Gwyn Jones
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    Ireland deserve to win, they've been the complete team and won the important seconds.

    Despite that Wales can take so much from that game. Self-respect is back in Welsh Rugby.

  15. Full-time: Wales 18-27 Irelandpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time

    Ireland celebrate victory in CardiffImage source, Getty Images

    What an entertaining game.

    Ireland have won the Triple Crown but bizarrely it may be Wales who take more out of the match!

  16. Postpublished at 80+2 mins

    Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Wales are throwing it around, Ben Thomas at the heart of it but Gareth Thomas was not the man you wanted at the end of that off-load.

    The prop knocks-on, the attack is over and the game is done.

  17. Missed penaltypublished at 80 mins

    Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Ireland's counter-ruck wins another penalty but Prendergast is well wide with the penalty.

    Wales have a final chance as the clock ticks past 80 minutes.

  18. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Wales 18-27 Ireland

    This has been a proper Test match that very few people saw coming.

    The result may have been predicted but no-one thought it would be this close.

  19. Postpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time

    Wales 18-27 Ireland

    Gwyn Jones
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    That's tiredness. Wales are out on their feet, they've tried so hard.

    They know they need to work the phases to try and win the game and they're now making mistakes.

  20. Penalty: Wales 18-27 Irelandpublished at 78 mins

    Sam Prendergast

    Josh van der Flier and Gus McCarthy win a penalty after out-numbering Jac Morgan at the breakdown and surely now the game is beyond Wales.

    Great impact from McCarthy.