Ireland have escaped Cardiff with a much tighter-than-expected 27-18 win over Wales in the Principality Stadium.
It was a racing start from Ireland who through Jack Conan and Sam Prendergast had accumulated a ten-point lead after just ten minutes. While a 22nd-minute Welsh penalty saw the gap closed to seven, Ireland remained well in control of the fixture.
Disaster struck for Ireland however, when Garry Ringrose was shown a yellow card (upgraded to red) for a head-to-head tackle on Ben Thomas in the 35th minute, which was adjudicated to have had low mitigation and a high degree of danger.
Wales inflicted no shortage of damage in the twenty minutes Ireland were reduced. First converting the ensuing penalty, before hitting Ireland with back-to-back tries on either side of the break, earning themselves a shock 18-10 lead over Ireland by the 45th minute.
22 February 2025; Garry Ringrose of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
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Speaking about the incident, Irish legend Tommy Bowe was far from surprised by the decision, citing the dangers involved in Garry Ringrose's trademark shooting tackle technique and claiming he had to get lower in the incident.
Bowe was on punditry duty with the BBC when he gave his thoughts on the card, making the unusual comparison between Ringrose's 'head-butt' and a girl taking him home.
I don't think there's any doubt about it, it is a red card. It's a high shot by Garry Ringrose. Normally one of the best defenders in world rugby, but he does have a habit of coming out of the line. That's Robbie Henshaw's man... Garry comes from the outside and tries to blindside him. He has to get lower. Ben Thomas puts a bit of footwork on him, but he has to get low.
That's what we want to try stamp out of the game, particularly on such a big spectacle like this. Garry Ringrose, a wonderful defender and a great guy. The sort of guy you'd love your daughter to come home with... then he's just gone and head-butted a Welsh player! He's gone - out the door. You're not coming in to look for my daughter!
While Bowe was in little doubt that Ringrose deserved to be sent off and made the call for him to be shown a 'big ban', ultimately he thought the twenty-minute red card would make for a good game.
Garry Ringrose is going to be penalised, and you hope he'll get a big ban for that. But, at the same time, you want Ireland to get up to 15 after 55 minutes.
Despite the obvious impacts of Garry Ringrose's card, it ultimately didn't impact the result, with a second-half Jamie Osbourne try and slew of Sam Prendergast penalties proving just enough to see Ireland leave Cardiff with a nine-point win.
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