The opening games of the RBS 6 Nations were rather drab affairs but the final game of the weekend burst into life from the outset.
Ireland appeared to have grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck when Bradley Davies was yellow carded for a tip tackle. Tommy Bowe scored to try to put Ireland in control while Davies was off the park.
But George North used Wales’s get out of jail card by scoring in the corner to bring Wales to within a point. With the seconds ticking away, Stephen Ferris was sin binned for a debatable tip tackle on Ian Evans.
Halfpenny showed nerves of steel to bang over the winning penalty.
Ireland opened the brighter and surged into the Welsh half and took  only four minutes to open the scoring. Wales infringed at a ruck and Jonny Sexton did the rest with his boot to put Ireland 3-0 in front.
Wales eventually got a toe-hold in the match when lock Bradley Davies rumbled down the touchline from a lineout.
Wales went through the phases until Ryan Jones used all his power to cross the Irish try-line. However after a lengthy delay the TMO ruled no try because it was ‘inconclusive’.
It wasn’t long before the services of the TMO were required again – but this time he answered in the affirmative.
Wales packed the short side and Rhys Priestland released Jonathan Davies with a sweet pass out of the tackle. The big Scarlets centre had too much power for Gordon D’Arcy to dot down in the corner to put Wales 3-5 ahead.
Wales then threw away three points when Priestland hit the posts with a sitter in front of the sticks during a period when Ireland were in danger of being over-run.
However the tide turned slowly and had the chance to close the gap but Sexton pushed a penalty wide.
Wingers Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble suddenly began appearing in midfield looking for the ball. Both were involved in the move which led to Ireland regaining the lead. Rory Best was the unlikely try scorer on the end of exquisite passes from D’Arcy and Bowe stroll over unhindered. With Sexton reclaiming his kicking boots, the successful conversion saw Ireland to into the break 10-5 up.
Wales suffered a blow at the interval with captain Sam Warburton unable to return because of a dead leg. Wales head coach Warren Gatland also made a tactical substitution, taking off wing Alex Cuthbert and bringing on James Hook who went to full back and Leigh Halfpenny moving to the wing.
Wales didn’t make the brightest of re-starts, conceding a penalty two minutes after the break. Sexton’s shot never looked like missing.
Priestland then sprayed another shot at goal wide before handing the goalkicking duties over to Halfpenny. The Blues winger reduced the arrears in the 54th minute with a nudge from 35m.
Wales regained the lead in a pulsating clash in the 55th minute after George North used his brute strength to send McFadden cartwheeling backwards. North flipped out the ball to Davies who scooted clear to score his second try of the match. Halfpenny’s conversion put Wales 13-15 in front.
Sexton crept back in front with another well struck Sexton penalty but Wales pushed the self destruct button when Bradley Davies dangerously upended Donncha Ryan. With the Blues lock still cursing his luck in the sin bin, Ireland struck like a viper.
Ireland rushed downfield with the forwards steamrolling towards the tryline. The heavy brigade had a pop or two at the tryline, before the backs stepped in. The ball was flung wide to Bowe who dived over in the corner.
North’s power came to the fore again four minutes from time when he had three players clinging on to him as he dragged them over the try-line.
Halfpenny missed the difficult conversion but made amends in the 79th minute with his successful penalty in front of the posts to get Wales off to the perfect start in the championship.
Download Official RBS 6 Nations Match Data
