Grand Slam dream alive as Ireland survive Wales scare

Ireland took the four points, Wales the moral victory after a gripping Guinness Six Nations encounter that went right down to the wire.

It wasn't meant to be this close, indeed, some had said it wasn't even a contest.

Heavy underdogs Wales, on a 14-match losing streak, gave the defending champions a massive scare with a stunning performance that probably deserved more.

In the end, Ireland picked up the Triple Crown and kept their Grand Slam hopes alive but it was way too close for comfort.

Matt Sherratt only took charge of the home side last Monday, on an interim basis after the departure of Warren Gatland, and was able to harness Wales' best performance in years.

Ireland, with tries from Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne and 17 points off the tee for Sam Prendergast, were disjointed and ill-disciplined, and had to play 20 minutes without Garry Ringrose who was red-carded in the 35th minute.

But they had enough about them to overturn an eight-point second-half deficit and keep the Slam dream alive ahead of the Dublin meeting with France in two weeks' time.

Wales, with Taulupe Faletua carrying hard and Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee lively, started brighter but Ireland were the first to strike.

Conan turned the ball over inside the Irish half and Ringrose pinged a 50:22 down the line.

The rucks were quick and the hands slick and Wales were all out defending and eventually the pressure told.

The hosts were penalised for not releasing the ball-carrier and Joe McCarthy, one of seven changes to the side that beat Scotland, busted up the middle before Conan picked up a loose ball and stretched for the line.

Prendergast's conversion was a formality.

The out-half measured a perfect cross-kick for Mack Hansen soon after and it looked only a matter of