Wales take another hit as Ireland fend off fightback

Ireland inflicted an eighth successive defeat on last season's Six Nations champions and grand slam winners Wales, whose fall from grace continued with a 30-22 loss in the opening game of the tournament yesterday.

Wales were stunned by a 20-point salvo from Ireland in the opening 28 minutes that brought converted tries for wing Simon Zebo and prop Cian Healy.

Returning former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll went over from a metre out, his 46th international try in 121 matches, early in the second half. Although Wales countered with scores from Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny and Craig Mitchell, their stirring fightback fell short.

Ireland had lost their last three to Wales, including the 2011 World Cup quarter-final, and set out energised and with a steely determination to atone.

Cuthbert stemmed the Irish tide by bursting through to touch down early in the second half and after Ireland hooker Rory Best was sin-binned, Leigh Halfpenny's try in the corner kickstarted a spell of relentless pressure from the hosts.

Ireland, reduced to 14 again with scrumhalf Conor Murray shown yellow, buckled and bent in the last 20 minutes in the face of a Welsh onslaught. Replacement Craig Mitchell barrelled over for another try, but Ireland were by then home and dry.

O'Driscoll was man of the match. "We started well, we came out of the blocks in the first half and played really well. In fairness they weren't going to be flat for the whole game and they really put it to us in the second half."