Wales 15 Ireland 36

Ireland recorded an easy 36-15 RBS Six Nations win over Wales at Lansdowne.  The home team scored six tries to two -- with hooker Shane Byrne scoring two of Ireland's five-pointers.

The wind blew effectively at Irish backs on a cold, sunny Dublin afternoon and at half-time the Irish led 24-3, four tries to nil.  They scored another two in the second half before losing interest and impetus in a plethora of changes, enabling the eager Welsh to score two tries for a final score of 36-15, the extent of the Irish victory a surprise.

The Irish had not just the wind to thank, but also their pack who starved Wales of possession and made scoring chances with their fast-moving maul.  Three of the four first-half tries came from close-in mauls.  Two of the tries went to hooker Shane Byrne, tucked in Keith-Wood style at the back of the mauls.

It was only in the last 20 minutes when penalties gave Wales a chance to attack close-in that the visitors were able to keep possession for any length of time and build up to their tries.

The first Irish try came after a minute.  Ireland kicked off deep.  Wales eventually got the ball out but not far enough away.  Ireland won the line-out, drove a maul at speed and suddenly Byrne came charging from behind in a 10-metre burst that took him untouched over the line.  Ronan O'Gara kicked the conversion.

Wales then had a rare foray into Irish theurgist and goaled when Ireland were penalised for diving onto a tackle.  After five minutes the score was 7-3.

The Irish rushed another maul but this time sent the ball to their left.  Brian O'Driscoll, No.13 on his back but playing at inside centre, cut back strongly and scored despite a handful of Welsh defenders -- 14-3.

Wales won an Irish line-out and attacked but the Irish defence was physically and numerically too strong to let the Men in Red through.

Hemmed in Gordon D'Arcy managed a deceptive run down the left-wing and only a desperate ankle-tap by Martyn Williams prevented another Irish score.  They got one soon after when O'Gara's hands charged down an attempted clearance by Iestyn Harris.  O'Gara scampered after the ball in in-goal, checked himself carefully and scored -- 19-3.

A five-metre line-out to Ireland saw them go around the front this time and Byrne flung himself over in the corner on half-time.  Ireland were 24-3 ahead at the break.

The second half looked like becoming a canter for the Irish.  O'Driscoll came inside and broke as clean as a whistle.  When Wales were penalised five metres from their line, O'Driscoll tapped and Anthony Foley surged over.  That made it 31-3.

The next break, looking for all the world like a classy centre's break, came from openside flank Keith Gleeson as he sped through the midfield.  This time O'Driscoll scored forcing his way through two tacklers to plonk the ball over the line.  O'Gara converted, and the score was 36-3.

More looked to be coming when D'Arcy scooted around the outside of replacement Tom Shanklin, but he was injured in the move and helped off the field.

The rest belonged to Wales.

After two penalties, they attacked left and right and eventually Martyn Williams got a clever one-handed pass behind Kevin Maggs's back to send Shanklin over in the corner.

Wales attacked some more and after Girvan Dempsey had been sin-binned for a deliberate infringement near the Irish line, Shanklin ploughed through three defenders to score close-in.  Stephen Jones's conversion ended the scoring.

Wales, who had come in so much hope, ended well and truly defeated.

Man of the match:  There were many Irish candidates, including centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy, but really the honours belong in the pack where tighthead prop John Hayes, flanks Simon Easterby and Keith Gleeson, No.8 Anthony Foley and lock Paul O'Connell were dominant.  But the award goes to hooker Shane Byrne who scored two tries, got through a load of work and threw in impeccably in the strong wind as his jumpers rose high above the line-out.

Moment of the match:  There was Martyn Williams's delicate pass and Brian O'Driscoll's powerful tries, but really the moment which set the stage for what followed was that first try by Shane Byrne as the cohesive Irish drove the maul at speed and sent their hooker surging free for a try.

Villain of the match:  Oddly, they, too, were Irish as they infringed again and again close to their line late in the match, ending with a yellow card for Girvan Dempsey in the 74th minute.

The Teams:

Wales:  1 Adam Jones, 2 Robin McBryde, 3 Iestyn Thomas, 4 Brent Cockbain, 5 Robert Sidoli, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Martyn Williams (c), 8 Dafydd Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper, 10 Stephen Jones, 11 Rhys Williams, 12 Iestyn Harris, 13 Sonny Parker, 14 Shane Williams, 15 Gareth Thomas
Reserves:  Gethin Jenkins, Michael Owen, Dwayne Peel, Alix Popham, Tom Shanklin, Ceri Sweeney
Unused:  Mefin Davies

Ireland:  1 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne, 3 Reggie Corrigan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 Keith Gleeson, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Peter Stringer, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 11 Tyrone Howe, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 14 Shane Horgan, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves:  Victor Costello, Guy Easterby, David Humphreys, Malcolm O'Kelly, Simon Best, Kevin Maggs, Frankie Sheahan

Attendance:  49000
Referee:  Jutge j.

Points Scorers:

Wales
Tries:  Shanklin T. 2
Conv:  Jones S.M. 1
Pen K.:  Jones S.M. 1

Ireland
Tries:  O'Driscoll B.G. 2, O'Gara R.J.R. 1, Byrne J.S. 2, Foley A.G. 1
Conv:  O'Gara R.J.R. 3