Head coach Andy Farrell praised his Ireland players for overcoming adversity after putting Wales to the Six Nations sword in Cardiff on Saturday.
The world’s No 1 team, Ireland survived a second-half fightback from Wales to kick off the 2023 competition with a convincing four-tries-to-one victory at the Principality Stadium.
Despite late injury withdrawals for scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park and prop Cian Healy, the Irish made the perfect start when they raced into a 27-3 lead at half time, and dug in after the break for a 34-10 win at the Principality Stadium.
Three first-half tries and 12 points from the boot of skipper Johnny Sexton set up Andy Farrell’s charges for success, and handed Warren Gatland a defeat in his first game back as Wales coach.
Speaking post match, Farrell told reporters that he would have snatched someone’s hand of if they had offered him a bonus-point win at a venue when Ireland had not won a Six Nations match since 2013.
“We got what we deserved out of that game,” Farrell told reporters post match. “I said we had prepared well and that showed.
REPORT: Ireland wallop Wales in Six Nations opener
“Our composure in the first half was great and we were pretty clinical. Our defence also got after them.
“Wales played a pretty expansive game, but our scramble defence was outstanding.”
“I’m delighted to get off to a good start because as we all know this is a really difficult place to start the campaign. Our history says exactly that.”
Ireland’s victory was all the more impressive as they lost scrumhalf Jamison Gibson Park and reserve prop Cian Healy to hamstring strains shortly before kick-off, with the pair replaced by Conor Murray and Dave Kilcoyne respectively.
“It showed the strength of the group coming through that,” Farrell said of the late change to his starting XV.
“Three or four of them had not played any rugby for a long time, and we’ve had two or three injuries this week as well. What happened this morning could have unsettled any side, but there are no excuses.
“We prepare as a group of 37 or 38 and we expect to perform. We trust and back the squad to put in a performance and this reiterates that.”
Sexton added: “It’s only a start, but if you come away with a bad result the Triple Crown and Grand Slam has gone.
“It’s all down to next week. That’s the beauty of the competition, all five games are tough – and none tougher than next week; the team that hasn’t been beaten for a year.”
© Agence France-Presse
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