Eight-try Ireland hammer Wales in U20 Six Nations

Ireland 53 Wales 5

Ireland made the perfect start to this year's U20 Six Nations Championship with a record-breaking 53-5 win against Wales at Musgrave Park.

Richie Murphy's side ran in eight tries in total, three in the opening half before adding five more after the break, to go top of the table after the opening round of matches.

Leinster's James Culhane dominated Wales with the ball in hand, carrying 14 times for 148 metres, while hitting double figures in tackles.

However, the UCD man wasn't one of the seven try scorers, with Bristol's Chay Mullins scoring twice, with one apiece for James McCormick, Matthew Devine, Mark Morrissey, Reuben Crothers, Ben Brownlee and James McNabney.

Ireland set the tempo right from the first whistle, winning three penalties inside the opening three minutes before Leinster out-half Charlie Tector settled for a shot at goal to give the hosts an early 3-0 lead.

But they didn't have to wait long for their opening try, Mullins skipping inside the covering Welsh defenders to dive over on 14 minutes, after Munster full-back Patrick Campbell had found the edge of the Welsh defence.

TRY IRELAND – A superb attacking Irish move is finished off by winger Chay Mullins #rterugby Live updates - https://t.co/5LitGcuDJw #U20SixNations pic.twitter.com/LVhnydmtUc

Wales were struggling with their discipline, and after repeated penalties Oli Andrew was yellow carded, with Ireland taking advantage of the extra man, Connacht scrum-half Matthew Devine finding the defence asleep at the back of a messy lineout. Tector added the extras to make it 15-0.

It was all Ireland in the opening half, and two trips to the TMO saw them denied their third try; first when captain Reuben Crothers was held up over the line, before a try