Hansen blooded two new caps in his starting line-up in Ireland as Wales’s losing streak extended to nine matches; Nicky Robinson at full-back and Rhys Oakley in the back row and added a third new face to the mix as he gave Huw Bennett his first chance in a Wales jersey as a 69th minute replacement at hooker for Mefin Davies.
The Irish got off to the perfect start with the first of two tries from lock Paul O’Connell after only five minutes, but by half-time Wales were still in the hunt, trailing only 14-5. Wales skipper for the day, Gareth Thomas, notched his 31st try for his country in quick response to that O’Connell try, but back row man Alan Quinlan pounced for a second Irish score to push them ahead.
Wales conceded a sloppy try to David Wallace at the start of the second half and it didn’t help that Iestyn Harris had already picked up a yellow card after 37 minutes which ran for the first seven minutes of the second half.
Malcolm O’Kelly romped over for Ireland’s fourth try to extend the lead to 28-5, but Wales battled back into the match and Garan Evans nipped in for the visitors’ second try after 67 minutes; Harris adding the conversion. Ireland ended as they begun, on a high note, as O’Connell bagged his second try right on time.
