Staunton again a pivotal figure

Wales came to Thomond Park in search of a second successive Grand Slam title but instead fell victim to a determined and superbly balanced Irish performance.

Five tries proved way too much for the Welsh to handle in what was quite the perfect evening for the typically enthusiastic crowd at the Limerick venue. Jeremy Staunton was once more pivotal to the play but was so well supported by scrumhalf Kieran Campbell that at times it looked all too easy.

Up front there was plenty of hard effort by Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan, while hooker Adrian Flavin picked up a scoring contribution from that area. What most impressed, however, was the willingness of the backs where Andrew Dunne added two tries to that of captain Shane Moore and Staunton himself.

The flavour of this game was there from the start as both sides bubbled with eagerness to play the ball. Staunton misfired two penalties in the opening 25 minutes, both from the left side of the goal and each taking a different route off the uprights. After half an hour it was hard to believe there was no score such was the relentless movement.

But when Ireland next got into scoring range, they finally made it count. From a five-yard scrum they attacked in masses, and even though the Welsh defence remained stern, Kieran Campbell saw the gap. Staunton picked up the pass and scurried over the line in his usual style to give Ireland the lead.

There was no misdirection either in Staunton's kick when adding his own conversion. The Irish kept that momentum for the remainder of the half but in a brief counter-attack, Wales set up a penalty for outhalf Cerith Rees and finally got some points of their own. Even later into the half (eight minutes of added time to be exact) Staunton added another score from the spot and left the score at 10-3.

The start of the second half was going to be crucial for Wales but instead Ireland kept their ball rolling. Staunton's kick was chased up by Dunne and he did well to shake off the tackles and reach the corner.

Wales enjoyed their best period after that and earned themselves a try from Craig Hawkins. Rees converted and the pressure was back on Ireland. And they certainly responded. A pressing break by winger Simon Keogh left Moore in the clear and the lead was safe again. Flavin made the most of a tiring Welsh pack to score in the pushover and as the clock spilled into injury time, Dunne ran in his second try after being set up by - who else but - Staunton.