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The Six Nations kicked off in Dublin with Ireland beating reigning champions Wales 29-7.
The teams were …
Ireland: Keenan, Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Hansen, Sexton, Gibson-Park, Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, Doris, Van der Flier, Conan. Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Bealham, Baird, O’Mahony, Murray, Carbery, Hume.
For Australians, debutant Mack Hansen of Canberra on the left wing was of interest. He played for Australia at junior levels, and was up against speed demon Louis Rees-Zammit. LRZ was heavily strapped on his ankle, a metaphor for the entire Welsh union, decimated by injury.
Wales: L. Williams, McNicholl, Adams, Tompkins, Rees-Zammit, Biggar, T. Williams, Jones, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Jenkins, Basham, Wainwright. Replacements: Lake, Thomas, Lewis, Carter, Moriarty, G. Davies, Sheedy, Watkin.
On paper, the battle of the loose trios loomed as the key to this bout.
Refereeing was South African Jaco Peyper, one of those officials who provokes deep opinions.
What a joy to see Welsh travelling fans in a boisterous sea of green.
During the anthems, Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar both looked like men with heavy weights on their souls. Perhaps they think, nowadays, about how many more times they’ll sing with their teammates.
Wales tried in vain to tap back their opening kickoff, leading to the first of ten first half scrums. All eyes were on the hookers’ brake feet. It must be noted this change may have been designed to protect necks, and it did that, but the larger gain may be stability. Seldom have ten scrums in forty minutes looked more solid.
Ireland started out with a bang. After a clean scrum win, Bundee Aki set a quick ruck target, and presto, rookie Hansen was off down the wing, chipping Liam Williams, and earning a lineout deep in Welsh territory.
Mack Hansen of Ireland, centre, celebrates with teammates after Bundee Aki scored their side’s first try during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The ruck speed on the ensuing phases was impressive. A big carry by Taidgh Beirne led to numbers on the left, which Hansen used with a floating pass to Aki, who dotted down in the corner. Sexton made it 7-0 after 3 minutes.
Wales tried to find territory with the boot, but fullback Hugo Keenan snuffed out all attempts.
The second scrum of the match was a solid Irish win, but it never looked like falling.
Andrew Porter, with Viking hair, got over Welsh ball at eight minutes and Sexton lined up an easy kick for three. He pushed it right, despite taking 45 seconds at the tee. Sometimes a kicker ices himself.
After ten minutes, the Irish were going through phases at will. The third scrum was just another win for Ireland; the brake foot may be a big change by taking away the early surge.
Taine Basham tackled Garry Ringrose just as the outside centre exploited Josh Owens’ indecision at thirteen. But the men in green were coming in waves with very fast ball.
At 12:20, Wales were caught offsides again. Sexton missed, again to the right.
A score of 0-7 felt good for Wales, because it should have been been 13-0 for sure.
Ireland were undeterred. Lovely phases could not be slowed by the Welsh flankers. It was only the occasional dropped ball (by Josh van der Flier at 15:30) that halted the green tide.
A fourth scrum was won by Wales, but they had no plan to use it. Pinned in their own half, tackling bravely, but it was just hang on and hope.
At 18:50, the Welsh were pinged at the breakdown just in front of the posts, and Sexton made no mistake. 10-0.
After twenty-one minutes, the Welsh finally built an attack phase, but the Irish line speed led to all kinds of trouble.
Even after Basham made a strong carry, it was a choke tackle that led to the fifth scrum, yielding clean ball for Ireland. A bad box kick by Jamison Gibson-Parke was spilled by Wales. At this stage, Ireland had 64 percent of the possession and 57 percent ball.
A dominant sixth scrum let Ireland launch an attack, but both sides had a case of the drops. A seventh scrum was ominously powerful for Ireland, but the brake foot appeared to save Wales.
Biggar tried to wrest the game back with tactical kicking. Wales won the eighth scrum setting a good platform in the Irish 22, but Jack Conan won a brilliant turnover. The Irish loose trio had clear superiority.
Every time the Welsh had good ball, they ran into a wall of green; connected and disciplined.
A ninth scrum after a Rees-Zammit forward pass gave Ireland a chance to attack in a beautiful, direct pattern.
Ten phases later, Wales cleared, but they gave it right back because Aaron Wainwright bobbled a lineout.
The tenth scrum ended in a penalty for Ireland. That was coming for a bit.
With three minutes left in the half, Ireland mauled, drove, broke into the Wales 22, and after ten phases, wasted it with a poor JGP pass to Hansen.
At the half, it was 10-0. On the one hand, Wales could tell themselves they had hung in there, but in truth, they did not look like scoring, and Ireland could have and should have been up 16 or 20 points.
Ireland won the match early in the second half.
Winning yet another offside penalty from quick phases, Sexton kicked into Wales’ land. James Ryan won a lineout, and the resultant maul drive won another penalty.
Sexton kicked to the 5m line. Beirne won it, and Ireland rumbled up. Munsterman Andrew Conway took space well on the right wing, sliding in with the ball.
Touch judge Angus Gardner was not sure. It seemed Conway was short. But did his momentum carry him over, in the tackle? He was not in touch.
The TMO had a very tight call, with Peyper ruling no try. Try it was! Sexton had found his boots and it was 17-0 after a kick that looked like a sick 2-iron.
Wales kept battling, but Ireland exited well each time.
The problem seemed to be Wales’ passing which was prolific but just a bit off target.
Owens lost his patience on a loose ball scramble and appeared to turn his shoulder into Sexton’s chest and neck.
Time was stopped at 48:59 to take a look. Peyper was not alarmed, and wanted only to see it at real speed.
Matthieu Reynaud saw it as foul, because Owens turned his shoulder and that was not a play on the ball.
Peyper was convinced.
Yellow card for the Welsh back and it was all lost. In 2021, Wales benefited from cards, but here in 2022, they did not get the rub.
With thirty minutes to go, Ireland poured on the pressure. Ryan won another lineout, the backline moved fluently, leading to a van der Flier breakout, the excellent Caelan Doris was just short, and Beirne went close. Finally, the dam broke and Conway scored easily in the corner.
24-0 it was at 52:30.
Wales and Ireland both brought on the replacements.
A superb try for Ringrose at 59:30 made the score 29-0, and allowed Joey Carbery to replace Sexton.
Basham scored a consolation try near the end, from loose ball, but Ireland had a bonus point win in round one.
The final score was 29-7, and the feeling was Ireland was in cruise control. They must be seen as early favourites along with France. They have pure set pieces, a crushing breakdown, blanket defence, and scintillating distribution.
Aussie expatriate Hansen was named Player of the Match.
“Dreams come true,” he said. “All my family and friends at home are watching. Shout out!”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.