Warren Gatland handed rude awakening as Ireland swat Wales aside in Cardiff

Caelan Doris dives over for an early Ireland try - David Fitzgerald/Getty Images
Caelan Doris dives over for an early Ireland try - David Fitzgerald/Getty Images
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By Tom Cary at the Principality Stadium

Warren Gatland’s return to Wales over the winter, following an absence of three years was hailed as the second coming of the Messiah. After this performance, many will be of the opinion that the New Zealander, who led the country to four Six Nations titles, including three grand slams, during his first stint in charge, will need to perform a miracle if he is to turn the red ship around. This was a brutally one-sided contest, one which laid bare the scale of the task Gatland has undertaken.

No one expected it to be easy, of course. Wales’s confidence took a battering under Wayne Pivac. And the game itself is in crisis mode in these parts with allegations of bullying, sexism and racism raising serious questions for the WRU, not to mention the state of Welsh club rugby. Under such circumstances, Ireland were far from the perfect opening day guests. Andy Farrell’s team are the world’s No 1 ranked team for a reason. They are well drilled, with strength in depth and enviable continuity.

But even so, at the Principality Stadium, with over 70,000 fans cheering for them, and Gatland’s reassuring presence in the dugout, Wales’s fans would have expected much more.

Their optimism evaporated in a lopsided opening 27 minutes that saw Ireland score three quick tries as Wales coughed up penalty after penalty. Never mind Delilah, Wales had no cause to sing anything. Caelan Doris and James Ryan both crossed from close range before James Lowe’s long-range interception from a loose Dan Biggar pass.

Ireland's James Lowe in action during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium - Nigel French/PA
Ireland's James Lowe in action during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium - Nigel French/PA

It was difficult to tell to what extent Ireland were brilliant and Wales were poor, but a penalty count of 7-1 in Ireland’s favour in that opening period tells its own story. “That definitely gave them the momentum,” Gatland admitted. “Our exits, our restarts, the intercept… our discipline wasn’t good enough.”

Gatland defended his team, saying he saw plenty of positives after the break. “I thought the second half was a huge improvement,” he said. “We spoke about our line speed at half time, I thought that definitely improved. Discipline. When I look back I think we created enough chances but probably weren’t clinical enough. That’s the big work-on for us. But I took a lot of positives out of that performance, apart from the scoreboard.”

He was right that Wales were much improved after the break. The problem was the game as a contest was effectively over by then. Like a football team who go 4-0 up before half-time, Ireland took their foot off the gas, even giving Wales a glimmer of hope when Liam Williams reduced the arrears following a period of pressure. Farrell’s team regained control in the final quarter, though. Their bench wrestled back control of the contest with Josh van der Flier, the World Rugby player of the year, scoring a deserved bonus point try late on to rain on Gatland’s homecoming parade.

Ireland did have a bit of luck on their side. Both Andrew Porter and Iain Henderson were perhaps fortunate not to see yellow, while Wales were themselves reduced to 14 men in contentious circumstances as Williams was shown a yellow card by English referee Karl Dickson for a high tackle on Sexton with his shoulder. But there was no mistaking Ireland’s superiority in all facets of the game, and Gatland to his credit did not look for excuses.

“If I was Porter’s coach I’d give him a kick up the backside,” he said of the Ireland prop’s late tackle on Liam Williams as the Wales full-back scored his side's only try. "I’m not sure he needed to do that because [Williams] was clearly scoring the try. He probably needs a reminder that potentially that could have been a costly yellow card in a big game. But I’m comfortable with the refereeing decisions.”

With Alun Wyn Jones failing an HIA and ruled out of next week’s game in Scotland, Gatland is going to have to make changes to both personnel and performance. Perhaps this display will focus his mind. Was he too loyal to old faces?

As for Ireland, this was a significant win for them. Farrell had lost scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park hours before the contest to a reported hamstring issue, his absence, added to those of Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw, supposedly making the game a bit more interesting on paper. But this Ireland team are a different proposition to the one which buckled under the weight of expectation of being world No1 four years ago.

Veteran Conor Murray came in for Gibson-Park and was rock solid, Stuart McCloskey was immense in the centres. Hugo Keenan was the best player on the field at full back and fully deserved his man of the match award. The bench played their part, Ross Byrne making an immediate impact after replacing Sexton when the latter left the field after 67minutes, not long after Williams’ high tackle which saw the Leinster fly-half ordered to undergo an HIA. Sexton said afterwards that was unnecessary and that he was fine.

Ireland's Hugo Keenan in action with Wales' Joe Hawkins and Dan Biggar - Reuters/Paul Childs
Ireland's Hugo Keenan in action with Wales' Joe Hawkins and Dan Biggar - Reuters/Paul Childs

Whatever, Farrell wanted to find out more about his squad here and he did. Amazingly, this was Ireland’s first win here in the Six Nations since Declan Kidney’s team won in Cardiff in 2013. They will turn their attention now to title rivals France in Dublin next weekend buoyed by a comprehensive win when many had predicted a banana skin.

“Obviously we’re delighted to get off to a good start,” Farrell said. “As everyone knows it’s a tough place to start a campaign. A lot of things we could have used as an excuse over the last 12 days but our preparation has been top drawer. If you’d offered me a bonus point win here I would have snapped your hand off. But the best thing is there’s plenty to fix in terms of our performance. We can get a lot better.”

They will have to if they are to beat France.

Match details

Wales: L Williams; J Adams, G North, J Hawkins, R Dyer (A Cuthber, 68); D Biggar (O Williams, 68), T Williams (R Webb, 63); G Thomas (R Carre , 54), K Owens (S Baldwin, 61)  T Francis, A Beard, AW Jones (D Jenkins, 61), J Morgan, J Tipuric (T Reffell, 54) , T Faletau.

Yellow card: L Williams, 68

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey (B Aki, 61), Lowe; Sexton (Byrne, 68), C Murray (C Casey, 64); Porter (R Herring, 74), Sheehan (D Kilkoyne, 74), Bealham (O’Toole, 61), Beirne (Henderson, 54), Ryan, O'Mahony (Conan), van der Flier, Doris.

Referee: K Dickson (Eng)

Attendance: 74,500


As it happened


04:36 PM

Warren Gatland speaks...

"Strangely I'm not that disappointed...the things I am disappointed with we can fix up...we were pretty even in terms of entries into the opposition 22 but they got points [when they were in our 22] and we didn't. They're clinical, so for us we can take positives. I though second half put we put them under pressure and created opportunities, but we weren't quite good enough to finish them off."

"We spoke about the discipline and penalties we were giving away, and we were much better in second half and put them under pressure. It was 7-7 in second half and at 27-10 if we score it's 27-17 would have been testy last 20."


04:30 PM

Peter O'Mahony speaks...

On the win...

"The first 40 minutes was flowing nicely, we started well, calm and attacked well and had big moments to deny them two scores."

On the performance...

"Plenty to look at, we conceded too many penalties. I think from a team performance [this win] one of the better ones I've been involved with, the set piece was good, not won here since 2013. it's a tough place to come and so set piece had to fire and it did. It gave us a platform to get stuck in."


04:21 PM

Ken Owens speaks...

On the defeat...

"We were against the best team in the world and they punished our errors. We are a work in progress learn quickly and on the hoof."

On the performance...

"If you don't win collisions and the battle at the gainline then you're on back foot, especially against best team in the world."

On not taking their chances in the second half...

"Not sure, possibly down to getting used to each other and the new coaching team. We are a work in progress and we have to stick at it and hopefully over the next few weeks chances will stick."


04:13 PM

Full time: Wales 10 Ireland 34

A rather chastened Welsh side out there. They had high hopes and dreams with the return of Gatland, but there is much work to do. Wales weren't at the races the first half and didn't make the most of chances in the second.

A dominant first half for Ireland, but even then they weren't at their best in the second half. They took their foot off the gas and gave away more penalties than Andy Farrell would've wanted to see, but it was still a superb opening result before they head into possibly the defining match of the campaign against France next weekend.


04:03 PM

72 mins: TRY Wales 10 Ireland 34 (Van der Flier)

Ireland work through the phases with confidence, making the most of the extra man. They work it down the right, and then cut the ball towards the middle, before springing Van der Flier, the World Rugby player of the year, to dive down.

Despite the second-half pressure, Ireland spotted the opportunity and it's an easy run-in. The wingers held their width to create bigger gaps in between the defenders, allowing Van der Flier to go down in the middle. Converted.

The exit gangways begin to swell at the Principality – they've see enough for one afternoon.


03:57 PM

70 mins: Wales 10 Ireland 27

Wales are lifting the tempo here, finishing strongly after a horrendous first half. They're threading together the phases through the middle of the park, but Ireland manage to reclaim and hoof into Wales's 22.

Hansen plays out to Sheehan, who looks like he's going to make it through, but he's brought to earth. They threaten again, but Adams is there.


03:54 PM

Williams' foul


03:53 PM

65 mins: Wales 10 Ireland 27

Li Williams is shown yellow for a foul on Johnny Sexton, the Welsh man judged to have put his shoulder into Sexton's head. Some will argue that's a bit harsh as Sexton was running with his head down, but technically it's the right decision.


03:49 PM

64 mins: Wales 10 Ireland 27

Time is running out for Wales to put pressure on Ireland as we get towards the last 15.

They've just lost a lineout within five metres, closing the door on a great chance and the noise in the stadium seeps away with it.


03:45 PM

The late hit referred to by James Corrigan


03:42 PM

Update from James Corrigan

Although they are worthy of their lead, on after afternoon Ireland could easily have seen two yellow cards in the opening hour. Porter’s tipping of Adams in the first half was blatant, and goodness knows Henderson’s late hit on Williams was not deemed reckless.


03:40 PM

Telegraph Sport's Tom Cary

After a sloppy end to the first half when they twice failed to kick the ball out of play, Andy Farrell will not be happy with how his team have started this second period. Ireland have really come off the boil and Wales are growing in confidence. Farrell has summoned Iain Henderson from the bench, his heft replacing Tadhg Beirne's guile.


03:39 PM

56 mins: Wales 10 Ireland 27

Dyer nicks the ball and races down the left-flank. He tries to dance past Hansen, but is unable to evade him, the Welsh attack breaking down.

Wales second half verdict so far: line speed has been a lot better, they've been closing space down quicker too and have been able to put some genuine pressure on Ireland.

Ireland have not been finding the ground quite so easy this second half.


03:35 PM

52 mins: Wales 10 Ireland 27

Wales have looked far shaper and more-disciplined this second half – the crowd is back with us too. They knock on Ireland's door immediately after the try, carrying the momentum forward, but Ireland win a scrum right at the death. Ireland are able to clear their lines and the attack breaks down. Frustration in the Gatland camp.


03:25 PM

44 mins: TRY Wales 10 Ireland 27 (Li Williams)

Li Williams is over the line! All credit to Wales there, looking much better than the whole of the first half already. They sucked the defenders in following the lineout, a simple round the back ball and Li Williams is the man who puts down in the middle. Converted.

Wales will get a penalty on the restart because Porter came in on the try scorer after he had put down.


03:21 PM

42 mins: Wales 3 Ireland 27

Ringrose has put in a real rib-tickling tackle on Biggar who goes down winded. He's going to feel that one tomorrow. Wales keep coming after the restart to win a lineout right in the corner.


03:17 PM

Second half

Begins. Ireland scored their highest ever first-half tally at the Principality Stadium. How will Wales respond?


03:07 PM

Tom Cary's half-time verdict

That was brutal. If my maths is correct, Johnny Sexton now has 543 points in the Six Nations, just 14 short of compatriot Ronan O’Gara’s all-time record. If Ireland keep this up, Sexton could well be top dog by the end of the day.


03:06 PM

Half-time: Wales 3 Ireland 27

Andy Farrell will be delighted with that first half. Wales were ill-disciplined, kicking too much and giving away too many penalties. They left gaping holes at the back and could not get into position – which Ireland didn't need an invitation to exploit.

But you can't take anything away from Ireland. They've shown clear-headed concentration and applied intense pressure from the off which Wales just could not deal with.


03:00 PM

38 min: Wales 3 Ireland 27

Wales build well from that scrum, linking together a couple of penalties to get deep into Ireland's half. They get to Ireland's last five metres, Ken Owens driving towards the line before offloading for Morgan to have a go... but it's held up. TMO review confirms. Wales really needed that to get back into this game before half time.


02:53 PM

33 min: Wales 3 Ireland 27

Ireland are relentless here, they are knocking on that Welsh try line once again. An Irish knock-on gives Wales some brief respite. In the following Welsh scrum, Wales win a penalty after Ireland pull down.


02:49 PM

Just in from Telegraph Sport's James Corrigan

Home crowd in complete shock. The biggest ever home defeat for Wales in the Six Nations was 51-0 against France in late Nineties, although that was at Wembley, as this stadium was constructed. So much hope when Gatland replaced Pivac in December but this seems very familiar. Never mind Delilah, it is another Sir Tom Jones classic that comes quickest to mind - "What's New Pussycat?".


02:45 PM

21 mins: TRY Wales 3 Ireland 24 (Lowe)

The luck of the Irish. Wales were on the attack, everyone thrown forward with the hope of cutting the two score lead but Dan Biggar's slightly-wayward pass on the right is pounced on by James Lowe who runs the 60 metres to the touchline, red shirts unable to catch him.

Converted for the full seven points. A dream Six Nations start for Andy Farrell's men. More disappointment for Wales.

James Lowe - Nigel French/PA
James Lowe - Nigel French/PA

02:38 PM

Tom Cary on the atmosphere at the ground

Fields of Athenry was just starting to be heard around the Principality Stadium prior to that chance for Dyer. But that has woken the stunned home crowd up a bit.


02:37 PM

18 mins: PENALTY Wales 3 Ireland 17

Ireland go straight up the other end and threaten Wales's line again, winning a penalty which they kick for points.


02:35 PM

14 mins: PENALTY Wales 3 Ireland 14

Wales are off the mark.

Rio Dyer kicks the ball ahead following a big tackle by Gareth Thomas. He's in a footrace with Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan who just gets there first and touches down. Welsh attacking scrum precedes a penalty which Wales kick for points.


02:28 PM

9 mins: TRY Wales 0 Ireland 14 (Ryan)

From the penalty, Ireland drive to the line. It's held up on the line, but Bealham is just able to to offload to James Ryan who is the man to finish it off.

It's a little soft from the five-metre tap penalty. Ireland are totally dominating this encounter and look highly disciplined out there.

James Ryan try - Brendan Moran/Getty Images
James Ryan try - Brendan Moran/Getty Images

02:24 PM

7 mins: Wales 0 Ireland 7

Wales are really up against it in these opening minutes, Ireland winning a penalty less than 10 yards out.

The placement of the ball and the speed of the recycling of the ball has been impressive from Ireland so far. Wales need more people contesting for this ball if they want to get in to this encounter.


02:22 PM

This in from Telegraph Sport's James Corrigan

The Welsh fans are praying for a Samsonsonian display on the pitch, but off it they have been belting out Delilah, the song the Welsh Rugby Union banned the choir from singing before kick-off. Walking through the streets of the capital at lunchtime, Sir Tom Jones's classic was blaring out. Memo to WRU: Don't tell the Welsh what they can and can't sing.


02:21 PM

2mins: TRY Wales 0-7 Ireland (Doris)

Some early pressure from Ireland gives them a first lineout, nibbling down that left flank. They work the ball inside, and drive forward from a maul, Doris is the man to power over the line just outside the posts. It's a simple conversion for Sexton. A flying start for Farrell's highly-touted Ireland.

Caelan Doris - Michael Steele/Getty Images
Caelan Doris - Michael Steele/Getty Images

02:15 PM

And we 're under way!

Ireland get us going.


02:15 PM

Anthems

Enthusiasm didn't disappoint. The smoke from those fireworks is still clearing the ground.

Karl Dickson the official in the middle.


02:13 PM

Pre-match thoughts from Tom Cary

Mood in the Ireland camp pre-match is one of cautious optimism, with the emphasis on cautious. They believe they've definitely moved on from the team who collapsed under the weight of expectation in 2019 and as the No 1 ranked team in the world should have enough to beat Wales. But injuries to Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw and particularly Jamison Gibson-Park have definitely dented the confidence. That, combined with Gatland's return and the edge in the air from the WRU scandal/Delilah shenanigans make this a fascinating match-up.


02:09 PM

Out come the teams

Off pop the fireworks and into the cauldron. Anthems to come.


02:07 PM

Right, less than 10 minutes until Six Nations 2023 gets under way

The dressing room cameras have just shown the final team huddles and the players are gathering in the tunnel. Line-ups below:


02:02 PM

Andy Farrell and Warren Gatland

Farrell and Gatland - David Fitzgerald/Getty Images
Farrell and Gatland - David Fitzgerald/Getty Images

01:53 PM

Team news: two injuries for Ireland

Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy have been ruled out through injury.

Conor Murray comes into the starting team, with Craig Casey and Dave Kilcoyne named on the bench.


01:41 PM

The teams for this Six Nations opener

WALES XV TO FACE IRELAND: 15-Liam Williams, 14-Josh Adams, 13-George North, 12-Joe Hawkins, 11-Rio Dyer, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Tomos Williams, 1-Gareth Thomas, 2-Ken Owens, 3-Tomas Francis, 4-Adam Beard, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 6-Jac Morgan, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: 16-Scott Baldwin, 17-Rhys Carré, 18-Dillon Lewis, 19-Dafydd Jenkins, 20-Tommy Reffell, 21-Rhys Webb, 22-Owen Williams, 23-Alex Cuthbert

IRELAND XV TO FACE WALES: 15-Hugo Keenan, 14-Mack Hansen, 13-Garry Ringrose, 12-Stuart McCloskey, 11-James Lowe, 10-Johnny Sexton, 9-Conor Murray, 1-Andrew Porter, 2-Dan Sheehan, 3-Finlay Bealham, 4-Tadhg Beirne, 5-James Ryan, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Josh van der Flier, 8-Caelan Doris

Replacements: 16-Rob Herring, 17-Dave Kilcoyne, 18-Tom O'Toole, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Jack Conan, 21-Craig Casey, 22-Ross Byrne, 23-Bundee Aki

Referee: Karl Dickson


01:40 PM

Alun Wyn Jones stalks the ground

Alun Wyn Jones - Brendan Moran/Getty Images
Alun Wyn Jones - Brendan Moran/Getty Images

01:32 PM

Gatland: "I want to create a 'no-excuse' culture"

Back at the helm of the nation he led to three Grand Slams, Warren Gatland says that he wants to create a 'no-excuse' culture.

Telegraph Sport was given rare behind-the-scenes access to Wales’s impressive training centre at the Vale Resort this week.

I want training sessions where the players have to execute skills when fatigued and under pressure.

We did a lot of conditioning and physicality work in the first week and at the end of the week we had one or two bumps and bruises but what stood out for me was that before our session on Tuesday, a 100 per cent of our squad were fit and available for selection.

Read Gavin Mairs's exclusive here.


01:10 PM

Wales urged to go toe to toe with Ireland

The first match of the Six Nations, the first match of a World Cup year and the sense of excitement is palpable. The Six Nations is the one tournament in sport that never lets you down. It's always full of intrigue, rivalries and closely fought matches and never was that better seen than last year when of the 10 matches not featuring Italy five were settled with only one score between the two sides.

Wales vs Ireland gets us under way and, as with all Six Nations matches, this clash will reveal much of what we can expect this tournament and the World Cup ahead. Wales back under the leadership of Warren Gatland, the man who led them to three Grand Slams, are desperate for a good showing after a horrific 2022. The New Zealander emphasised that the Welsh want to win the Six Nations, and not just as a build up for the showpiece in France later this year.

Ireland come into the match and tournament as World No 1 and keen to illustrate that they've not, as they did four years ago, peaked too early. As if to empathise the tight nature of the Six Nations coach Andy Farrell reminded everyone that the men in green have not won in Cardiff since 2013.

Ireland will have to beat their 10-year Principality Stadium duck without several key men. They are without prop Tadhg Furlong and this morning key man Jamison Gibson-Park was ruled out - the scrum half reportedly not recovering from a hamstring injury. Conor Murray steps up into the starting XV.

The hosts start as marginally under dogs but with Gatland back at the helm and a rousing home crowd the side has been told to go toe to toe with Ireland.

"The cliche is obvious, but they (Ireland) are a team on form, they are playing with confidence," centre George North said. "It shows the confidence they have with selection, the players they have gone with.

"I think our main thing is we have to match them toe to toe. If you allow Ireland any momentum or front-foot ball, it is a long day in the office, really."

Stay here for all the pre-match build up and action from one of the cathedrals of world rugby.