- Earls grabs brace in victory over Wales
- Captain O’Driscoll plays his 100th game for Ireland
Ireland 27-12 Wales
Munster centre Keith Earls scored two tries to beat Wales in the RBS 6 Nations at Croke Park and keep Ireland on course for the Triple Crown.
The home side took advantage of full back Lee Byrne’s yellow card to score two tries while the Ospreys star was off the pitch in the first half.
Captain Brian O’Driscoll, who was playing his 100th game for Ireland, laid on the first for Earls in the 26th minute, before man of the match Tomas O’Leary added a second shortly after.
Wales chipped away at the Irish lead with four penalties from the boot of fly half Stephen Jones but Earls extinguished any Welsh hopes when he collected scrum half O’Leary’s pass and raced over for his sixth try in only nine tests.
Leinster fly half Jonathan Sexton also contributed 12 points through three penalties and a sweetly struck drop goal.
Declan Kidney’s side face Scotland at Croke Park next Saturday with thoughts turning to the Triple Crown, while Wales host Italy at the Millennium Stadium.
Ireland versus Wales teams
Ireland: Murphy; Bowe, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Earls, Sexton, O'Leary; Healy, R. Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, D. Wallace, Heaslip.
Replacements: Kearney for D'Arcy (23), O'Gara for Earls (77), Reddan for O'Leary (78), Cronin for R. Best (79), Buckley for Hayes (73), Cullen for O'Connell (79), Jennings for Ferris (78).
Wales: Byrne; Halfpenny, Hook, J. Roberts, S. Williams, S. Jones, R. Rees; P. James, M. Rees, A. Jones, B. Davies, Charteris, Thomas, M. Williams, Delve.
Replacements: Bishop for Byrne (63), Peel for R. Rees (61), Gill for P. James (77), Bennett for M. Rees (56), Gough for B. Davies (58), Warburton for M. Williams (66).
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Att: 81,340