In the end, the result was totally predictable.
Ireland stayed on course for a second consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam thanks to an 18th straight home win at the Aviva Stadium and Wales suffered a third successive defeat in 2024. Warren Gatland’s team failed to cause what would have been a great surprise and the final score was within the range that most would have expected before kickoff.
But what will surely frustrate Wales coach Gatland most is that his young team were not only beaten, they shot themselves in the foot.
Wales conceded a mammoth nine penalties in the first half, the same number they had conceded during the first two matches against Scotland and England.
It gave Ireland, a team that hardly needs any help, the platform to camp in the opposition half and take control. Andy Farrell’s men went into the break with a 17-0 lead.
Game over.
Andy Farrell’s team continued their march to back-to-back Grand Slames with a 31-7 victory.
Ciaran Frawley (below) scored a try on his first start for Ireland and condemned Wales to a third successive defeat.
Ireland were not at their best in the first 40 minutes. And Wales were much better in the second, certainly in terms of discipline. This Six Nations has had a constant theme for Wales.
They have yet to put on an 80-minute performance. Against Scotland they were terrible in the first half and better in the second. Against England it was the complete opposite.
Wales’ performance in Dublin was similar to their performance in Cardiff in the first round. They responded to local efforts from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe with a penalty try.
But in the end, Ireland went home with a bonus point victory and Tadhg Beirne scored his crucial fourth try on the final play of the match.
As the Aviva Stadium filled with expectant Irish fans on the eve of kick-off on Saturday afternoon, the television camera showed Johnny Sexton, who had already taken his seat.
The former Ireland captain, now retired, was loudly applauded.
Knowing they were more than against before the ball was kicked or passed, Wales did not help themselves. There were five away penalties in the first 15 minutes.
Nick Tompkins grabbing Lowe by the neck was an indiscretion and allowed Jack Crowley to open the scoring with a penalty from 42 yards.
Ireland was dominant in terms of territory. But the Welsh defense initially held out impressively, repelling an Irish sledgehammer attack well thanks to the help in particular of Aaron Wainwright.
Tommy Reffell also earned Wales a breakdown penalty to relieve the pressure. But Wales were camped in their own half during the first quarter.
On the rare occasions they did attack, Wales struggled to get over the gain line. Star man Bundee Aki and Andrew Porter won penalties for breakdown in Ireland.
Jack Crowley opened the scoring with a penalty six minutes into action at the Aviva Stadium.
But against a team as good as Ireland, you can only play in your own half for so long without conceding points, regardless of how well you are defending.
Hooker Sheehan was eventually brought down by an Irish maul at the lineout.
It had been coming. Crowley was converted. The Wales scrum was also under great pressure. Besides his poor discipline, it was a bad combination. Gatland seemed understandably frustrated.
The Welsh penalties kept coming. Referee Andrea Piardi, who was becoming the first Italian referee in the Six Nations, rightly warned Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins.
Crowley kicked towards the corner. The result was inevitable. Lowe finished in the corner after a nice pass from Calvin Nash. Wales had just 30 percent of the possession in the first half and 38 percent of the territory. They were never going to recover from that and a 17-point deficit.
Young Wales full-back Cameron Winnett maintained his lead at the start of the second half. And after Joe McCarthy was penalized, Wales crossed the line.
The ball was not shown to be lying on the ground, but Beirne was deemed to have changed his position at the maul and therefore illegally prevented a score. Piardi conceded a penalty try and sent Beirne to the sin bin for 10 minutes. The seven automatic points woke up the local public.
Given Wales’ penalty count, it might have seemed harsh on Ireland for Beirne to be shown the yellow card, but it was the right decision.
Aki crossed a gap. Wales prop Gareth Thomas played an endless spell with just one boot after losing the other in a ruck. Winnett showed off his talent, moving from side to side.
Wales finally had some hope and field position.
But immediately after returning from the bin, Beirne came up with brilliant defensive work to steal the ball from Welsh hooker Elliot Dee.
He stopped a Welsh lineout attempt in its tracks. Ireland came up the other end and Aki crashed out after some excellent Irish attacking rugby.
But Piardi and his officials ruled out the score for what Robbie Henshaw considered a hit.
Wales cleared their lines and, after the hour mark, both teams had emptied their benches. Mackenzie Martin and Oli Jager were among the new faces at the debuts for Wales and Ireland respectively.
Ireland’s pressure finally took effect with a third full-back, Ciaran Frawley, marking his first Test outing with a try. Crowley converted and the race for an extra point began.
Ireland was back in control. Substitute Ryan Baird charged forward on three separate occasions like a man possessed.
Late Welsh pressure forced Irish substitute James Ryan to receive a yellow card after a series of repeated infringements, but even with a man advantage Wales were unable to overcome.
And there was still time before the final whistle for Beirne and Ireland to have the last laugh as they continued their perfect record this year.