Live - Ireland v Wales

FULL-TIME: IRELAND 27-12 WALES

80 mins Ireland win the lineout and set up a maul. They drive up out of the Welsh 22. Reddan box kicks for Bowe. Ireland get it as Williams doesn't quite complete his catch. They move wide but can't quite get clear. Reddan opts to kick long as the 80 minutes come up. Wales run back and get a penalty which they tap and go. But a final move ends with a bad pass into touch by Hook. Match over - not vintage, but comfortable says Keyes.

79 mins Ireland win the scrum and O'Gara tries a chip for O'Driscoll but it doesnt' come off. Wales run it back but Shane Williams chip attempt is dealt with by Kearney, who sheperds it to touch.

78 mins Man of the Match call is given to Tomás O'Leary by Ralph Keyes - honourable mentions to Earls and David Wallace. He is replaced by Reddan as that is announced.

77 mins Moderate kick by Sexton. Ronan O'Gara comes on with Sexton moving to inside centre (always wanted to see this!). Lineout Wales on the 22 - crooked in call.

Ireland 27-12 Wales (drop goal Sexton)

75 mins Wales pinged for an early lift. Heaslip taps and goes and O'Driscoll gets the next ruck. A lovely pass to Bowe almost springs him but he is ankle tapped. Ireland make yards down the right touchline next and are on the Welsh 22. A mazy sideways run by O'Driscoll sets it up in centrefield and Sexton steps back into the pocket to take a drop goal and seal the result.

74 mins Buckley on for Hayes - a huge cheer for the Bull! - O'Connell takes the lineout and Ireland set a maul. Buckley puts in a big charge. Moved wide to O'Driscoll but he is the third man to punt one straight into touch. 10 yards too long. The camera picks out the Irish captain mouthing a personal admonishment......

73 mins Wales win the lineout and maul but it pressured back and goes down. Rory Best then gets a not releasing call for Ireland and O'Driscoll runs over the slap the Ulster man on the back. Sexton clears to half-way.

71 mins Scrum is a mess - Jouberts call is too slow - but the second one is given as a penalty to Wales: Hayes singled out. Jones punts to five metres out.

70 mins Healy gets looked at but will continue. Wales kick to the Irish 22 and have a lineout. They win at the back and set a maul but can't get it moving. Ruck now and they pop to Adam Jones for a charge. They go wide and a forward pass from Williams to Hook on the burst ends the move. Ireland scrum on the 22.

68 mins Wales win the lineout - again they are on half-way and running at Ireland. Ireland turn it over and O'Leary is suddenly in space on the wing but his pass goes to ground. Wales gather. O'Driscoll then rouses the crowd with a big hit on Roberts! Penalty against Ireland for offside is again given. Yellow can't be far away.

67 mins Irish lineout and they win it and set a maul. O'Leary then has a dart on the blindside. Box kick next after and Bowe takes but Wales turn it over - messy breakdown again. They run it back and get a penalty on the far side for Ferris pulling men into the ruck. Tap and go again but Hook knocks it forward. Ireland kick and Williams gets it but Kearney sheperds him well. Wales kick and O'Leary's return goes straight to touch. Lineout Wales on half-way.

66 mins Ball went into touch just after Ferris took that hit. Warburton is on for Wales replacing Martyn Williams. Wallace also getting treatment on the ground.

64 mins Sexton tries a cross kick to shake up the kick-off series but it doesn't quite come off. Wales run at Ireland again. Stymied on half-way though. Another penalty - offside against Healy. Bishop on for Byrne on Welsh side. They take a quick tap but are still stuck on the half-way line and making charges. There is a heavy hit on Stephen Ferris at a ruck and he is winded badly.

Ireland 24-12 Wales (penalty S Jones)

63 mins S Jones takes the shot at goal and he gets it from on the 22 and 15 yards right of the sticks.

61 mins Ping pong from the kick-off - Dwayne Peel in for Rees another change - and Wales then start running it at Ireland again. They take it from half-way to the 22 again with some ease. Another breakdown penalty against Ireland, on the Welsh 22.

60 mins Earls injured in that try scoring move but he'll be OK. Sexton from the touchline. Hooked left this time.

Ireland 24-9 Wales (try Earls)

58 mins Bradley Davis off for Ian Gough. Sean Cronin on for Rory Best. Proud moment for Cronin - his first Six Nations action. Ireland win the lineout at the back and create another super try for Earls! O'Leary looping around and handling it twice before feeding Earls and his pace did the rest!

57 mins Wales win the lineout - Huw Bennett on for Rees - and they go wide. Halfpenny sprints down the touchline and he makes good yards. Wales again charging at Ireland on the 22. But this time, Jamie Heaslip gets the penalty on the deck. They arrived and competed but were not tacklers. Sexton clears very long to up near the Welsh 22 from well inside his own.

56 mins Ireland set a maul but it doesn't get going. Heaslip, Ferris and Wallace carry in turn before Sexton puts up a mighty cross kick for Bowe but he can't take it and Wales clear through Williams. Sexton returns a kick straight to touch to end the sequence. Wales lineout on half-way.

55 mins Great take by Davis and they clear. Super kick to the corner has Byrne scrambling and his return line kick is poorish. Lineout Ireland inside the Welsh 10 metre line.

Ireland 19-9 Wales (S Jones penalty)

53 mins S Jones opts to punt down the line instead of taking a kick. 'Fields' ring out as Wales take lineout 10 from the Irish line. They move it wide and Roberts charges up. Wallace strips the ball but Joubert pings him. He is using the Southern Hem interpretation - the tackler must release the player before trying to turn it over. It's in the rulebook......Jones knocks over an easy three pointer.

52 mins Wales take the kick-off and have it on the Irish 22. Ireland get a good rush up but are pinged for a penalty. Joubert making it VERY hard to defend: keeping ball in hand could well pay off for either side.

Ireland 19-6 Wales (penalty Sexton)

51 mins Shot is from the 15 metre line and on the 22. Sexton again knocks it over.

50 mins Wales win it again and they are again finding it easy to make 5 and 10 yard games. Bu Davis knocks on on the Irish 22 and Earls kicks long. Lee Byrne gets there first and he dives into touch. Penalty against him for jumping into touch, which is not allowed. Weren't too many Irish men near Byrne there and it is weak play from him. Sexton will have a shot.

49 mins Another huge drive by Ireland! They put the Wales scrum on its backside and Heaslip picks it up. Sexton then clears. Superb stuff from the Irish. Lineout Wales near half-way.

48 mins Big drive from Ireland and the scrum collapses after Ireland drive a yard! No penalty given though, as Ireland call for it.

47 mins Wales drive and the scrum collapses. Penalty against Hayes. Penalty try is very much on............they scrum again.

46 mins Healy and BOD have not adjusted well to the ref's interpretation. Scrum goes down on the first try. Wales heavier by 2.2kg per forward say the stats as they set up again.

45 mins Scrum Wales and they looked powerful last time. Same again this time, they shunt Ireland back before Rees has a run. Would surely have been a penalty to Wales! Another penalty is given though for Healy failing to release the tackled player. Wales opt for a scrum.............

44 mins Wales take the lineout ball. They start running at Ireland again and Roberts makes a break, beating O'Driscoll. Wales are up to the 22 and have advantage for an offside against Bowe. Wales moving wide and Hook spins into space before being taken down. Advantage over says Joubert but Wales are winning plenty of rucks inside the Irish 22. But Ireland then turn it over! But no.....the ref has decided the ball has died in a ruck and gives a scrum to Wales.

43 mins Wales start running it on half-way until Martyn Williams opts to kick and low grubber. Kearney again takes and kicks long. Geordan Murphy marks the next one. Lineout Wales on half-way. Dull stuff.

42 mins Wales get a drive on and then kick. Kicked deep by Jones and Kearney up and unders a return. Kearney v Lee Byrne and Byrne takes the ball! Runs a bit and tries a dodgy offload. Wales recover and game of ping pong starts up.

41 mins Sexton kicks off and Ireland almost claim but knock it on. Scrum Wales on the 22. Very few scrum so far in this game - largely because Joubert's break down has been so clean.

Analysis: Earls, Tomás O'Leary, Sexton and David Wallace among the star performers. And Ireland are in pole position. The Fat Lady has sung and is on the number 16 bus into town says Brent Pope!

Half-time: Ireland 16-6 Wales

40 mins Ireland again move it wide with Sexton passing, looping and feeding O'Driscoll. It is three on two and the crowd is treated to a stunning piece of skill by Earls! A dreadful pass to his bootlaces by O'Driscoll is flicked up into his own hands by the Limerick man and he then chips through into the Welsh 22. Ireland have a three on one advantage in the footrace and Kearney gets there first but his attempt to kick on again trundles into touch - chance gone! Half-time whistle blows.

39 mins Steal for Wales this time. Heaslip beaten by Delve - throw a bit low. Wales kick and Ireland run it back.

38 mins Wales claim and clear the drop out with Charteris taking. They kick high and Halfpenny knocks it into touch. Lineout Ireland on the Welsh 10 metre line.

Ireland 16-6 Wales (penalty S Jones)

37 mins Ireland are then blown up for offside - defensive line not behind the last foot. S Jones will have a kick from dead in front and he sticks it over.

35 mins Wales punt to half-way and win the lineout. Couple of carries takes them up to the Irish 10 metre line and beyond. Bradley Davis and Luke Charteris both make good yardage and Wales are in the Irish 22 - 15 yards out. Their angles are troubling the Irish defender and Jamie Roberts breaks and is just held up by desperate tackling!

34 mins Lineout to the back does not work and O'Leary takes it after a bounce. O'Driscoll steps into scrum-half and his long kick bounces. O'Driscoll then arrives and tackles but he is again blown up for not releasing the player. BOD's turnover technique is a problem.

33 mins Ireland clear the kick-off through Sexton. Kick return sequence ends with a break by Kearney. Ireland are then pinged for killing the ball. S Jones punts to the Irish 10 metre line.

32 mins Kick is from wide out on the field. Sexton again misses. Sending it right. He is disgusted. He's a bit like a golfer looking for a solution at the moment but everything else is working well.

Ireland 16-3 Wales (try O'Leary)

30 mins David Wallace is getting treatment for a facial injury. Play continues. Ireland win the lineout through O'Callaghan and they set a maul. Doesn't go too well as Wales shove it backwards but O'Connell breaks from the back and dominates a tackle, offloads to O'Leary and the scrum-half sprints over for another score!

29 mins Lineout is won but very messy - man on the deck claims. They try to maul but are penalised for obstruction. Sexton punts it to the Welsh 22.

28 mins Sexton takes the kick straight after shipping a knock and he misses an easy one. Ireland take the kick-off and Heaslip runs it back. O'Leary then box kicks high. Players compete and it goes into touch . Lineout Wales.

Ireland 11-3 Wales (try Earls)

26 mins From that ruck, Sexton chips, chases and claims inside the Welsh 22! Slightly isolated but Wales are pinged for restricting access to the ball. Tomás O'Leary then spots a chance and takes a quick tap and passes it to O'Driscoll who feeds Earls and he runs in a try!

25 mins Ireland attack wide off the lineout and Earls put in a nice chip but Wales cover and clear. Bowe runs it back. Wales take and they now have a cut down the wing. Super tackle by Ferris and Wallace then turns over!

24 mins Wales win the restart and Hook gets a half-break. But David Wallace is sharply in and turns it over on his own 22. Wales compound that error by slapping Tomás O'Leary as he went to pass. Lee Byrne into the bin for that. Ireland kick to touch.

Ireland 6-3 Wales (Sexton penalty)

23 mins Sexton will take this shot at goal from inside the 10 metre line and near the centre of the field.. Again it is straight and true! Ireland lead.

21 mins Ireland take the lineout and a sweet move by Ireland puts Bowe clear! Sexton inside pop. Tackle by Halfpenny ends the try chance but Wales are penalised for tugging back an Irish player. Another penalty. Concern for G D'Arcy who is limpiing off - looks like a bad leg injury. D'Arcy looks upset and it is very unfortunate. Rob Kearney comes in.

19 mins Wales take and go wide immediately. Roberts crashes it up from outside centre with Hook feeding. D'Arcy felt that in the tackle. They try a chip through Williams but Murphy takes again. Ireland run it back again and Earls beats one man but is then tackled by M Williams. A fumble in the backfield kills the momentum but Earls kicks long to the corner. S Williams returns it down the touchline. Sexton's high kick goes straight out. Lineout to Wales just inside the Irish half.

18 mins Restart a bit messy but Ireland take control and O'Leary boots it out. Not a long kick - 15 yards outside the Irish 22. Wales lineout.

Ireland 3-3 Wales (Sexton penalty)

17 mins Sexton from just inside the 10 metre line drills it straight over.

16 mins Ball to back taken by Heaslip and O'Leary feeds Sexton who tries to spring Earls but he is tackled. Ireland move it across the backline and Sexton and Bowe have cuts. This time Wales get pinged for the J Thomas trying a turnover. That would have been fine in Magners League but this SA ref is interpreting differently. Sexton will take a shot.

15 mins Sexton punts up to the Welsh 10 metre line. Lineout Ireland.

14 mins Roberts crashes up first and Wales then move it right - Lee Byrne tries an offload but it doesn't go to hand. Halfpenny knocks on and it is a scrum Ireland just inside their own half. Penalty for Ireland given against Paul James (loosehead) for dropping it.

13 mins Just misses right and wide. Relief for Ireland. Sexton drops out the 22 high but Wales take it through Jonathan Thomas.

12 mins Delve wins it for Wales at the back. They run at Ireland and Roberts sets it up. O'Driscoll is pinged this time for being off his feet. Tackle area is an issue - the Irish players must release the tackler before trying to strip the ball or this ref will destroy them it seems. Jones to have a shot from the 10 metre line.

11 mins Ireland again disrupt - Heaslip tapping it back. Earls sets it up and O'Leary box kicks. Wales kick long and Murphy takes and punts to half-way. Almost confusion between Murphy and Earls but the moment passed.

10 mins Hook catches the restart and Wales then clear to Murphy. He takes and kicks back but it goes straight into touch. Lineout Wales just inside the Irish half.

Ireland 0-3 Wales (S Jones penalty)

9 mins Stephen Jones pops over the easy kick.

8 mins Wales win this one and are running at Ireland. Jonny Sexton makes an important tackle on Stephen Jones. The out-half is then pinged for not rolling away though. Easy shot for Stephen Jones. Harsh call by the ref, as Sexton looked trapped.

7 mins Nice bouncing kick by Byrne but Ireland win the lineout through a basic ball to O'Connell. O'Leary clears to S Williams and he runs and then passes but it hits the deck. Wales scramble it and Ireland try to win the ruck but are pinged for in at the side. Byrne punts it up the Irish 22 - Welsh put in to the lineout this time.

6 mins First scrum of the day. Big moment. It goes down - Healy first? - but the ref decides to reset it with no penalty. Not a very stable scrum but Wales win it and kick into touch in the Irish 22 through Lee Byrne. Ireland lineout.

5 mins S Jones kicks to Wallace and he charges back. Tommy Bowe charges up the middle off the ruck, and he bounces off one tackler. Sexton has a cut and half breaks a tackle next and almost releases D'Arcy but the offload doesn't quite stick. Wales kick a clearance and Earls runs it back but is swallowed up. Scrum to Wales.

4 mins Jonny Sexton will have a shot. The St Mary's man hooks it badly........left and wide. An old habit that he had eliminated from his game in the last year. Welsh 22.

2 min Ireland grab the lineout! O'Leary clears again not to touch. Byrne up and unders and claims. Wales have it on the Irish 10 metre line. Murphy claims a Hook chip. Sexton decides to go wide inside his own 22 and it is moved across the backline to David Wallace who is released down the wing and beats Martyn Williams! Good yards, and it is exciting stuff from Ireland. Ends when they get a penalty for offside inside the Welsh half.

1 min Craig Joubert is the ref - interpretation will be interesting. Stephen Jones kicks off, taken by Murphy. Sexton clears to near half-way. Taken by Byrne and Wales start to pick and go and short pop. Bomb by Stephen Jones but Murphy takes again and clears to half-way - again not in touch. Stephen Jones runs back and chips over Earls, who turns and gathers but is pushed into touch. Lineout just outside Ireland 22.

2.42pm Focussed and possibly slightly nervous looking BOD...........kick-off in less than a minute.

2.40pm Ireland next. Typically loud and high tempo rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann ends with a massive roar. Ireland's Call next and it is also well sung. Camera picks out separated at birth duo Tommy Bowe and Tomás O'Leary. Minutes to kick-off.

2.38pm Anthems start up - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is such a brilliant song: two great tunes in one anthem! And they sing it with gusto. Decent amount of Welsh support there.

2.35pm Just enough time to take in this excellent two minute piece on BOD's career. Wonderful slo-mo shots and insightful comments from the experts. The great man has just led the Ireland side onto the field and President McAleese will now greet the players.

2.30pm TV panel make their predictions: Conor O'Shea: 24-16 Brent Pope: 20-10 George Hook: 30-19 (game delayed by 10 minutes due to the crowd not getting in on time).

2.20pm Major delay on one of the routes into the ground causing the hold-up - lots of people still outside. So take it handy if you're still out there in the crowd - they are waiting for you!

2.15pm Time to get out of Quinn's or grab a taxi from Kiely's folks...........

2.11pm Kick-off delayed by 10 minutes - Gardaí have decided to delay kick-off. First time for everything..............presume it is something to do with making sure the spectators get in on time.

2.10pm Ryle Nugent confirms the teams. No late changes on either side: teams as named (see team news and match preview). 20 minutes to go until kick-off...........

2pm Stephen Ferris interview: says he is feeling sharper having been injured early in the Championship and that he likes to do a bit of damage in the tackle. Brent Pope comments that he could see him in a black (New Zealand) jersey - high praise indeed!

1.55pm Declan Kidney chats to Tracy Piggott. On BOD: very few players are fortunate to achieve 100 and it is a great day for Brian and his family.

1.50pm Watching highlights from the career of BOD along with a few words from the likes of Matt Williams, Tony Ward, Denis Hickie and others. Spine chilling stuff with beautiful slo-mos: it is like looking at a work of art.

1.30pm: An hour before the big kick-off. Television coverage just starting now on RTÉ Two. Or if you want to check out the stars of the future, you can watch the Under-20's impressive victory over Wales in Athlone on Friday night. Click here to watch.

12.40pm: Weather update: It's a dull day in Dublin but quite mild and not much wind to speak of so ideal conditions for free-flowing rugby.

12.30pm: Just two hours to go now before kick-off.

Declan Kidney believes that the start time might not suit the Irish supporters and he called on the fans to make an early start to be up for the game. Driving through the city centre at 10.30am, the streets were full of rugby fans. The only problem being that they were all dressed in red. To quote a famous Norwich City supporting celebrity chef: 'Where are you? Let's be having you.'

12pm: Welcome to our live text commentary of today's RBS 6 Nations action. We'll have a blow-by-blow account of Ireland's crunch game at Croke Park against Wales, with the action kicking off at 2.30pm.

Ireland v Wales in the RBS Six Nations at Croke Park on Saturday, 13 March at 2.30pm:

Ireland XV: Geordan Murphy, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Tomás O'Leary, Cian Healy, Rory Best, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Rob Kearney

Wales XV: L Byrne; L Halfpenny, J Hook, J Roberts, S Williams; S Jones, R Rees; P James, M Rees, A Jones, B Davies, L Charteris, J Thomas, M Williams (capt). G Delve.

Substitutes: H Bennett, R Gill, I Gough, S Warburton, D Peel, A Bishop, T Shanklin.