Dan Biggar lands a first-half drop goal for Wales
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Matches: Wales 23 - 16 Ireland

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Ireland | Wales

A second-half try by substitute Scott Williams proved the difference as Wales ended Ireland's Grand Slam hopes after an epic Six Nations encounter in Cardiff.

Wales jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the early stages, Leigh Halfpenny landing four penalties as Ireland struggled to adapt to referee Wayne Barnes' strict interpretation of the rolling away edict.

Jonathan Sexton missed his first attempt at goal but landed three others in the first half, with Wales taking a 15-9 lead into the break thanks to a Dan Biggar drop goal, which was struck with captain Sam Warburton in the sin bin.

Warburton, however, was instrumental in a huge goalline stand by the Welsh in the second half, and within minutes of that being successfully completed, Williams was bursting over for Wales' only try of the game.

A penalty try for Ireland offered hope with 10 minutes remaining, but Halfpenny completed the job with a penalty. The result keeps Wales' own hopes of winning the Six Nations Championship alive, while Ireland face Scotland in Edinburgh next week knowing a Grand Slam is out of reach.

Flanker Warburton set a new Wales record, captaining his country for the 34th time against Ireland as Warren Gatland named an unchanged side after the 20-13 victory in France.

Ireland talisman Paul O'Connell won his 100th Test cap for his country, equalling Mick Galwey's record as the nation's oldest captain of all time, at exactly 35 years and 145 days.

Number eight Jamie Heaslip returned to Ireland's starting line-up having completed a remarkable recovery from three cracked vertebrae in his back, as Joe Schmidt's side chased a record 11th consecutive Test victory.

Referee Wayne Barnes and Ireland captain Paul O'Connell, on his 100th cap, share a difference of opinion © Getty Images

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Ireland gifted Wales the lead through a poor knock-on from Rob Kearney, the full-back producing a rare error in misjudging the kick-off.

Wales built the pressure and forced a penalty with Ireland offside at the ruck, and Halfpenny duly slotted the goal to hand the hosts the 3-0 lead.

Ireland's famed kicking game failed to fire in the early exchanges, Schmidt's side failing to chase Sexton's high bomb with any relish.

When Halfpenny out-jumped Conor Murray to retain his own high ball, Wales seized the initiative still further.

Sexton pulled off a try-saving tackle on Dan Biggar as Wales had men lurking on the overlap, but Gatland's side still came away with points.

Halfpenny doubled the tally with his second penalty, Ireland again penalised at the ruck. Toulon flyer Halfpenny continued his fine start by fielding Sexton's attempted touch finder with a full cricket-style diving catch, further indicating Ireland's early tactical troubles.

When Jamie Heaslip was pinged for not releasing with Ireland devoid of attacking invention, Halfpenny fired over his third penalty from the halfway line.

Ireland were so rattled that Sexton - currently rated the world's best fly-half and so unerring in the Six Nations so far - blasted the restart straight to touch.

Jamie Roberts claimed another high ball as Wales continued their aerial dominance, forcing another penalty.

Rarely penalised, Ireland "talk about giving the referee clean pictures", but in the first quarter Schmidt's side were punished repeatedly for errant conduct by referee Barnes.

Taskmaster Kiwi Schmidt would have been left fuming, especially as compatriot Gatland had clearly sent Wales out to beat Ireland at their own game.

Samson Lee was carried off with a suspected ankle problem, replaced by Ospreys prop Aaron Jarvis, before Halfpenny further extended Wales' lead with his fourth penalty.

Ireland had an immediate chance to cut the deficit - but Sexton's miserable start continued, the Racing Metro 10 scything his effort well wide.

Sexton made amends straight away however, finally putting Ireland on the scoreboard with his first penalty, though Wales still led 12-3.

Ireland punted a kickable penalty to the corner in a bid to ramp up the pressure, only for Sam Warburton to steal the lineout and blunt the attack.

Wales pilfered Ireland's lineout ball again almost immediately, only for Jamie Roberts to spill the ball in midfield.

Ireland wasted the chance to counter-attack through Robbie Henshaw's ill-judged kick, another indication of the visitors' stuttering approach.

Wales captain Warburton was then sin-binned with referee Barnes taking a zero-tolerance approach to the build-up of penalties.

Sexton slotted his second goal to cut Ireland's deficit to six points, but Schmidt's side still could not shrug off their malaise.

Wales built a fine driving maul, drove through the tight phases and set up a drop-goal attempt for Dan Biggar, which the fly-half duly converted for a 15-6 lead.

Sexton sent centurion O'Connell crashing through the line as Ireland finally found some attacking rhythm, with Jared Payne skirting close with a fine outside break.

Wales' defence held firm however, leaving Ireland to settle for a third penalty for Sexton.

Scarlets loosehead Rob Evans replaced Gethin Jenkins for the second half for Wales, with Gatland's men losing both first-choice props to injuries.

Ireland returned with renewed vigour, but Sexton punted out on the full, continuing his unusually-wayward display.

Jonathan Davies delivers a stern hand-off to Jonathan Sexton © Getty Images

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Jamie Roberts suffered a sickening head-to-head collision attempting to tackle Rory Best, but continued undeterred.

Biggar produced a try-saving tackle on Kearney as Ireland found their fluency, before O'Connell was also hauled down when tearing through.

Wales produced sterling defence to keep Ireland at bay, who ran the full card of tricks without success, even failing with an impromptu maul formed by O'Connell.

Ireland rejected a shot at goal for an attacking lineout, with the maul trundling close before Roberts produced a superlative tackle to deny Tommy Bowe a try.

George North hounded Simon Zebo backwards as Ireland sustained their intense pressure, and then Warburton pulled off the mother of all turnovers to end the attack.

The stadium erupted in relief and joy, the Wales supporters well aware how pivotal denying Ireland in that stint could prove.

Wales tore clear through Jonathan Davies before Liam Williams was rebuffed on the line, and only a loose pass to Halfpenny denied the hosts a try.

Scott Williams had hardly even replaced Jamie Roberts when he bisected Jamie Heaslip and Tommy Bowe to score the first try of the match.

Number eight Heaslip stretched out his arms in a questioning gesture, forced to watch helplessly as Scott Williams, the match and Ireland's Grand Slam hopes ghosted past him.

Halfpenny failed with the conversion before Ireland rallied in a desperate bid to salvage the tie, only for replacement Cian Healy to knock on with the tryline almost within his grasp.

Ireland kept grafting and forced a penalty try with Wales pulling down a maul. Sexton converted the score and suddenly Ireland only trailed by four points with 10 minutes to play. The best match of the tournament bar none had the grandstand finish it deserved.

Ireland kept on cajoling in a bid to turn the tide, but were penalised at a ruck just inside their own half - and Halfpenny did the rest with his fifth penalty.

Jonathan Davies was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on as Ireland refused to give up the ghost.

Ireland punted to the corner, lost their lineout and then failed with a driving maul as Wales somehow held firm.

Wales fully deserved their victory, despite Ireland producing a relentless second-half comeback, with Gatland sure to gain great credit for his tactical ingenuity.

Title-holders Ireland's defeat blows the championship wide open, with Wales, England and Schmidt's men now all in the running.

Just as when Ireland edged to silverware last year, so the Six Nations could be won on points difference once more.

This was not the result that indomitable Ireland skipper O'Connell deserved on his 100th cap, but Wales proved their class once more, increasing their resurgence after losing the opening match 21-16 to England.

Wales substitute Scott Williams bursts for the line to score their only try of the match © Getty Images

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