Wales 10 – 34 Ireland

Caelan Doris, James Ryan, James Lowe and Josh van der Flier score tires as Ireland post a first Six Nations victory in Cardiff for a decade; Ireland scored a record 27 first half points in the Welsh capital; Warren Gatland’s first game in charge of Wales in his second stint falls flat

Caelan Doris scored one of four Irish tries as they picked up a Six Nations win in Cardiff for the first time in a decade

Ireland made an ideal start to their 2023 Six Nations campaign, as they secured a first championship victory over Wales in Cardiff since 2013, notching a bonus-point 10-34 win to spoil Warren Gatland’s return. 

Ireland, despite being without key duo Robbie Henshaw (wrist) and Tadhg Furlong (calf) due to injury, and losing scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park and replacement loosehead Cian Healy on the day of the Test due to hamstring injuries, flew out of the traps at the Principality Stadium and did not look back from there.

No 8 Caelan Doris, lock James Ryan and wing James Lowe each scored first-half tries, before flanker Josh van der Flier added the bonus-point clinching fourth try with eight minutes to play. Skipper Johnny Sexton landed all five of his kicks at goal, while Ross Byrne added one conversion.

Wales registered points through a Dan Biggar penalty and Liam Williams try, but they also lost Williams to a sin-binning and were firmly second best, leaving Gatland and co with much to do.

More to follow..

What’s next?

Wales next travel to face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh next Saturday, February 11 (4.45pm kick-off GMT), in Round 2 of the Six Nations.

Ireland, also in action next Saturday for the second round of the championship, host defending champions France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (2.15pm kick-off GMT).