Stander shines as Ireland and Wales share the spoils at the Aviva

Injury-hit Ireland belied the absence of 10 frontline stars to grind to a hugely-creditable 16-16 RBS 6 Nations draw with Wales in Dublin.

Stander shines as Ireland and Wales share the spoils at the Aviva

Ireland 16 Wales 16

Injury-hit Ireland belied the absence of 10 frontline stars to grind to a hugely-creditable 16-16 RBS 6 Nations draw with Wales in Dublin.

Johnny Sexton kept his nerve to nail the match-levelling penalty just six minutes from time, as Ireland started life after the retired Paul O’Connell in obdurate fashion.

Conor Murray’s try helped Joe Schmidt’s men race into a 13-0 lead, only for Taulupe Faletau’s score to drag Wales back, but two-time reigning champions Ireland still forced a share of the spoils.

Wales parachuted Liam Williams into their starting line-up after losing full-back Gareth Anscombe to a tight hamstring.

Scarlets flyer Williams only made his comeback last weekend after two bouts of foot surgery, managing 60 minutes in Pro12 action against Connacht.

New Ireland captain Rory Best won his 90th Test cap, while Munster flanker CJ Stander made his debut with Joe Schmidt’s men missing 10 injured regulars.

Ireland ploughed through the phases in Wales' 22 straight from the off, with Dan Biggar suffering an early foot problem and clearly limping.

Stander was straight into the action driving Ireland forward numerous times, while Simon Zebo and Johnny Sexton made telling half-breaks.

Jonathan Davies was penalised for offside in the defensive line, letting Sexton open the scoring from the tee.

Zebo and Conor Murray’s fractional hesitation on a high bomb allowed Biggar to steam in and set Wales on the front foot.

Liam Williams’ refusal to ship on out wide botched a sure score for Wales, before Andrew Trimble produced a try-saving tackle on Alun Wyn Jones.

Ireland somehow escaped unscathed, and then set camp in Wales’ 22 once more, new man Stander again to the fore in the grunt work.

Wales’ discipline let them down again, the visitors penalised for killing the ball at the ruck. And Sexton duly doubled Ireland’s lead to 6-0.

Warren Gatland’s men struck the first scrummaging blow, winning a penalty with Ireland unable to keep the set-piece square under pressure.

After the mid-week phoney war between Gatland and Ireland boss Joe Schmidt over referee Jerome Garces’ scrum interpretations, the visitors stole the early edge.

Fly-half Biggar dragged his penalty shot wide however, perhaps inhibited by a heavily-strapped left ankle, his standing foot clearly troublesome.

Biggar limped off just past the 20-minute mark, unable to cope with his foot issue, to be replaced by Bath’s Rhys Priestland.

Wales’ new playmaker knocked on cheaply almost immediately after joining the fray, allowing Stander to fly-hack clear for Ireland.

Sexton ripped the ball clean away from Gareth Davies, before pinning Wales back into their own 22 for a pressure lineout with a sumptuous touch-finder.

Lock Devin Toner charged down Davies’ box kick, and Wales scrambled to touch only to gift Ireland a lineout deep in enemy territory.

Stander breached Wales’ whitewash but was ruled to be held up by Televisin Match Official (TMO) Graham Hughes.

Ireland got the nudge at the five-metre scrum, and scrum-half Murray nipped home after a sequence of tight drives.

Sexton’s conversion set Ireland 13-0 to the good, rich reward for industry and accuracy.

Keith Earls was fortunate to escape a yellow card for his dump tackle on Liam Williams where he was unable to bring the Wales full-back safely to ground.

Priestland slotted the penalty to put Wales on the scoreboard, Gatland’s men then seizing the initiative.

Jonathan Davies’ astute grubber caught Zebo out of position, and forced Trimble to track back on the turn.

Justin Tipuric ate up the ground to force Trimble to carry over and touch down in-goal.

Wales won a penalty from the five-metre scrum, but Liam Williams was unable to field Priestland’s chip for what would have proved a certain try.

Wales opted for another scrum with a penalty in hand, and Taulupe Faletau powered home for the score.

Priestland’s conversion put Wales right back in the contest, trailing 13-10 at the break.

Wales hogged possession for the opening two minutes of the second half, only for Priestland to fluff a long-range drop-goal effort.

Wales pressed again, though, and Priestland slotted a penalty to level the game at 13 points apiece.

Ireland cut loose through Jared Payne, with Heaslip offering fine lung-busting support. Payne threatened in midfield again, only for Priestland to deflect his pass illegally with his shoulder and concede a penalty.

Wales’ replacement fly-half was fortunate to escape a sin-bin for his deliberate intervention that hardly appeared a serious interception attempt.

Ireland then lost Tommy O’Donnell to a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), with Rhys Ruddock the temporary replacement.

The hosts punted the penalty from Priestland’s misdemeanour, only to knock on deep in the Wales 22 and waste a hard-fought platform.

Zebo bisected Wales’ defensive line on the counter however, with Murray continuing the break.

Wales stole possession five yards from their own line though, before clearing the danger.

British and Irish Lion Gethin Jenkins then replaced Rob Evans, the rookie Scarlets prop having justified his selection with a fine performance.

Wales botched a credible opening when Scott Baldwin knocked on cheaply with Ireland stretched in the outside centre channel.

Sexton’s searing break almost set Trimble free on the right flank, but Tom James pulled off a smart recovery tackle for the visitors.

Wales pummelled Ireland with endless round-the-corner drives, without ever breaking the home side’s resolve or their defensive line.

Heaslip forced a vital turnover, only for Ireland to lose the ball at the very next ruck.

Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong could not cope with Tomas Francis’ counter ruck, and were penalised for not rolling away.

Priestland slotted the pressure penalty, to put Wales into the lead for the first time, 16-13, with eight minutes to play.

Francis then conceded a cheap penalty for offside, gifting Ireland the opportunity to draw level.

Sexton duly held his nerve to tie the game at 16-16.

Ireland lost Keith Earls to an HIA in the maelstrom, and talismanic fly-half Sexton to what appeared a chest problem.

Wales pressed again, but Priestland shanked another drop-goal attempt.

Payne forced a choke-tackle turnover for Ireland as the game edged into the final minute, and that proved enough for the clearly-shattered Ireland to cling on.

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