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Hello! Welcome to ESPN's coverage of the World Cup warm-up fixture between Ireland and Wales at Lansdowne Road.
Can Ireland repeat their success from three weeks ago where they stormed to a 35-21 victory over Wales?
Kick-off is now just moments away as both sides now on pitch ready for their national anthems.
Follow ESPN's very own reporter Tristan Barclay who's at the Aviva on Twitter, too.
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| 1 |
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Wales kick off. Quick start from Ireland as the ball already heads out of play. Irish line out.
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| 2 |
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Ireland with all the possession so far, good intentions. Wales line out as the ball head out of play again.
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| 3 |
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Fitzgerald kicks forward, really stretching Wales so far. Ireland pushing harder and harder but so far not finding the gap they're looking for.
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| 4 |
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Scrum given, with Wales to feed.
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| 5 |
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Wales given a penalty after Ireland penalised to not driving straight.
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| 6 |
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Jamie Roberts tries to take the game by the neck and drives a few yards into Irish line.
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| 8 |
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Looks of back and forth kicking right now, neither side managing to control the midfield.
Big tackle on Ireland's 15 Kearney by Dan Biggar contesting for the ball in the air.
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| 9 |
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Scrum to restart play in the middle, Ireland feeding scrum.
Sexton kicks long.
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| 13 |
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Penalty to Wales after a push. Balls exits the field deep into the Irish half, Wales lineout.
Good defensive work from Ireland as Wales look for a breakthrough. Nothing yet.
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| 14 |
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Ireland regain the ball deep in their half and clear the ball up the field by Jordi Murphy, relieving the pressure.
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| 15 |
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Wales lineout leads to the two sides mauling for possession and still the Welsh emerge victorious with ball possession.
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| 17 |
0 - 3 |
Ambitious Welsh penalty but still, Halfpenny converts. Ireland 0 - 3 Wales.
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| 19 |
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Ireland's Kearney misses the ball in the air, Wales pick up and Davies drives forwards with the ball. Wales pushing hard.
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| 20 |
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Ireland continuing to battle hard attempting to keep out the Welsh attack who're just feet away from a first try here. Very physical from Wales. Ireland under pressure defensively.
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| 21 |
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Wales still pushing hard, inches away! Will the try come?
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| 23 |
0 - 8 |
Another penalty to Wales and they go for touch again.
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| 24 |
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Huge maul from both sides, Welsh backs involved as they intensify the pressure on the Irish defence. But, they finally score the try they were so desperately looking for. Rewards for their perseverance.
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| 25 |
0 - 10 |
Ireland 0 - 10 Wales as Welsh convert their kick.
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| 27 |
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Iain Henderson finds a gap and drives through the Welsh line, only to be caught by Jamie Roberts.
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| 28 |
3 - 10 |
Sexton - penalty goal
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| 29 |
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Ireland score a penalty and Wales restart.
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| 30 |
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Ireland have finally been able to put some good phases together after a scything half break from Kearney.
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| 31 |
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Wales seem to be building rapidly in confidence here, Murray clears for the Irish.
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| 35 |
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Both sides continuing to battle for possession in the midfield, neither looking the more likely to make a break through. Ireland finally starting to control the Welsh pressure, too.
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| 36 |
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Irish lineout deep in the Welsh half.
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| 37 |
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Welsh defence doing well to keep out the Irish attack, who are continuing to push hard looking for the break through. Fitzgerald looking the most likely so far after a couple of short but bursting forward runs.
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| 39 |
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| 40 |
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Sexton kicks forward, teasing with the possibility of an Irish try but still nothing comes to fruition.
Each time we see a sign of improvement of Irish passing and hints of momentum, the ball hits floor and the whole line has to reset.
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| 40+2 |
8 - 10 |
Ireland as deep as they have ever been this match into the Welsh half, right now. Can they make something of it before half time?
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| 40+3 |
10 - 10 |
YES! Irish try. Quick step from Henderson and his power enables him to touch down bursting pass some last ditch Welsh tackling.
Sexton converts, too, making the score all level at the break.
Great response from Ireland after a tough half to begin with with the Welsh pushing hard - very physical performance from then. Ireland should be pleased with the scoreline after the start to the half they had.
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Both sides back out for the second half, Ireland to restart play.
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| 41 |
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Ireland scrum after some unconvincing ball handling from both sides during the first couple of minutes in this half.
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| 42 |
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Alex Cuthbert fails to catch the ball off a great Sexton kick. Welsh lineout deep in their own half.
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| 43 |
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Driving forward run from Dave Kearney. Good carry from Conor Murray, too.
Irish starting the half how they left off, having a proper go at the Welsh line but they're holding tight...for now.
Henderson the stand out performer for the Irish so far.
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| 45 |
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Jenkins off for Paul James.
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| 46 |
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Murray feeds the scrum for the Irish. Not much happens and eventually results in a lineout for Wales.
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| 47 |
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Ireland take the ball off a the Welsh throw and try to find their feet again. Sexton and Dave Kearney leading the charge for them so far.
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| 48 |
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Keith Earls joins in and shows some nice footwork, but still can't find the gap in the rigid Welsh line. Solid defending from the Welsh it must be said.
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| 49 |
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Really dominant catch from Dave Kearney there. Ireland dictating play.
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| 50 |
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O'Connell looks like he found the gap every Irish player was looking for, but a last ditch from Tipuric stopped that.
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| 51 |
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O'Brien on for O'Mahony.
Sexton kicks long after some Welsh pressure. Neither side really making it their own right now. Level playing field.
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| 52 |
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Electric pace from Henshaw as he storms forward about 10 yards but still not enough.
Sexton kicks long, Kearney puts pressure on George North which results in the ball going into touch. Sexton's kicking causing some real problems for the Welsh.
Irish change: Cronin on for Strauss
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| 53 |
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Ireland reaping the rewards of Sexton's kick into the corner. They continue to pile on the pressure, and battle with their opponents very close to their try line. Five points looming for the Irish if they can make they eventual break through.
Wales have the scrum, which leads into Wales penalty.
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| 55 |
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Wales finally putting some of their own pressure on the Irish defence. Jamie Roberts makes a storming run, blitzing through before finally being taken down by Ireland's Rob Kearney.
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| 58 |
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Keith Earls taking the game by the scruff of its neck with some real solid tackling. Ireland gaining some momentum here, but still struggling to finally find a gap. Both sides kicking long to try and find some answers.
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| 60 |
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Irish penalty after a high tackle.
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| 61 |
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Monster tackle from Keith Earls on George North, but he looks hurt after putting his body on the line. Physios on as he lies on the deck.
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| 62 |
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Earls comes off on the stretcher, fortunately he puts his arm in the air indicating he could be okay. Let's hope he is.
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| 63 |
10 - 13 |
Ireland - player substituted - Conor Murray
Ireland - substitute on - Eoin Reddan
Ireland - player substituted - Johnny Sexton
Ireland - substitute on - Paddy Jackson
Wales - player substituted - Rhys Webb
Ireland - substitute on - Felix Jones
Ireland - player substituted - Keith Earls
Wales - substitute on - Gareth Davies
Wales - player substituted - Dan Biggar
Wales - substitute on - Rhys Priestland
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| 66 |
10 - 13 |
Ireland putting some phases together now, slowly but surely advancing towards the Wales try line.
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| 67 |
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Optimistic kick from Paddy Jackson which is closed down straight away by Donnacha Ryan, Wales manage to take possession.
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| 68 |
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Faletau bouncing away Irish tackles like a trampoline - strong stuff from the Wales No.8. Tank.
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| 70 |
10 - 16 |
Halfpenny scores his fourth kick. Wales leading by 6.
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| 71 |
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| 73 |
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Still some very back and forward stuff here. Neither side looking the more likely to make the break through. Ireland were relying on Sexton's kicking for some rest bite but now he's off, they're a bit lost for ideas.
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| 74 |
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| 76 |
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Wales scrum, Roberts retrieves the ball at the rear before the Irish give away another penalty.
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| 77 |
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Tipuric named man of the match with a try and 18 tackles to his name. Well played.
Irish attempting to take control in the few remaining minutes.
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| 78 |
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Irish lineout deep in the half of the Welsh.
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| 79 |
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A pretty meaty maul as we approach the end of the game, deep in the Welsh half. Ireland looking for that try and they aren't far away. Can they do it?
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| 80 |
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The Welsh defence doing what they've done well all game and not allowing anyone through. Wales piling the bodies on the Irish attack.
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| 80+1 |
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It's just enough, Ireland thought they'd scored a last second try but it wasn't to be as the ball didn't touch the ground.
Some last ditch tackling from James King and co, meaning the Irish couldn't land their last minute try. Some real close stuff at the end but Wales held firm, securing their victory. Revenge on their loss from three weeks ago.
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| 80+2 |
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