Ireland 29-7 Wales: Scintillating hosts romp to bonus-point Six Nations victory at Aviva Stadium in Dublin

Ireland celebrate as they cruised past Wales on the Six Nations' opening weekend

A scintillating Ireland began their 2022 Six Nations campaign in perfect fashion, romping past Wales 29-7 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Centres Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, and wing Andrew Conway (two) scored Ireland's tries, while skipper Johnny Sexton added three conversions and a penalty in a display of free-flowing attack from the hosts.

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An injury-hit Wales provided meek resistance as they were completely outplayed, with centre Josh Adams sin-binned for a high tackle on Sexton and flanker Taine Basham scoring a late consolation.

The performance and victory will have delighted Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, as a full stadium was on hand to salute some outstanding play as the men in green picked up where they left off after an impressive autumn.

Ireland played enterprising rugby at great pace, picking up where they left off in November

Ireland made a sensational start to the contest, with centre Aki sliding over in just the third minute after debutant Mack Hansen began life on the Test stage with a searing break up the left wing after a Sexton clearance kick had ricocheted to him.

Thereafter, Hansen chipped a kick ahead which Wales' Aaron Wainwright could only kick off the park under pressure, allowing Ireland to build phases within the visitors' 22 following the lineout and strike to deadly effect in the corner via Aki after a trademark Sexton wraparound attack and lovely long Hansen pass.

Bundee Aki gave Ireland the perfect start with a try in the third minute

The Irish skipper converted off the touchline for the ideal start, but when loosehead Andrew Porter earned a breakdown penalty five minutes later, Sexton surprisingly struck wide with his first penalty of the championship.

In the 15th minute Sexton missed another straightforward penalty attempt, again striking right of the posts into the wind, after the silky Ringrose had made a line-break from deep off a switch play from a scrum, catching Wales offside.

Still Ireland kept coming in attack, but a Josh van der Flier knock on just outside the Wales 22 ended their next promising move after nine phases of quick hands and hard carries.

The one-way traffic continued though, with Ireland relentless going forward and forcing Wales into another penalty within their 22 for offside. At the third time of asking, Sexton struck through the uprights from close-range for a 10-0 lead.

Wales - who failed to enter the Ireland 22 for the entirety of the first quarter - had their first sniff of a chance on 23 minutes when an Ireland lineout malfunction handed the visitors possession in a threatening area, but the opportunity was snuffed out when Tadhg Beirne and Sexton forced a choke tackle maul and turnover.

Skipper Johnny Sexton missed two penalties before landing one, but struck over three wonderful conversions

A poor pass by Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park off the knees of Aki presented the ball back to Wales shortly after, affording a second 22 entry in the space of two minutes, but the chance went begging when Tomos Williams knocked on after colliding with his own man in Ellis Jenkins.

No 8 Jack Conan forced a superb breakdown penalty to complete Ireland's exit, but with the wind whipping up, territory proved hard to find via the boot for the home side.

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Ireland head coach Farrell and captain Sexton both express their delight in securing a bonus point 29-7 win vs Wales

A stunning passage of offloading and quick passing - Hugo Keenan with the pick of them - did then have Ireland on the cusp of a second try with five minutes remaining of the first half, but a Sexton offload was picked off by Wales' Johnny McNicholl at the crucial moment.

Sexton underwent treatment and heavy strapping for a leg injury in the next stoppage, and though 15 phases of Irish attack followed in the final minutes of the half, another poor Gibson-Park pass over the head of Hansen left things 10-0 at the break.

Wales began the second period poorly, conceding two penalties - offside and playing legs in a maul - and handing Ireland the initiative to kick to the corner and attack, from which Conway did brilliantly to scurry, reach and score out wide after another penalty advantage.

Wing Andrew Conway did brilliantly to reach out and score for Ireland' second try

Sexton swerved over the difficult conversion for 17-0, and with Wales in urgent need of a response, things only got worse as centre Adams was sin-binned for playing Sexton high and recklessly.

On 51 minutes, Conway had his second try and Ireland's third when he dotted down out wide after more magnificent Irish attacking - flanker Van der Flier scything through a gap after another wraparound move and crisp offloading.

Conway's second try with Josh Adams still in the sin-bin put Ireland in a thoroughly commanding position

Sexton was successful with a third conversion from virtually on the touchline, but Ireland passed up a clear chance for the bonus-point try near the hour mark when they were pinged for obstruction at the maul.

A powerful rip from prop Porter stole possession back with Adams still in the sin-bin, though, allowing Ireland to counterattack at great pace and Ringrose to sprint and jink over for the vital fourth try.

Ireland's Garry Ringrose dives to score the bonus-point try

With a healthy 29-0 lead heading into the final quarter, Ireland were able to take off key men Sexton, Porter, James Ryan, Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher ahead of a trip to Paris next week.

Though the majority of the rest of the contest continued to be played in the Wales third, Ireland could not add further scores as errors crept into a disjointed last few minutes, with Ringrose shifted to the wing as Conway departed with a knock.

Wales were fortunate even to ensure they wouldn't leave Dublin scoreless for the first time since 1970, as openside Basham notched an intercept try with five minutes left as Ireland looked to play out from deep.

One potential worry for Farrell is the fitness or otherwise of 36-year-old playmaker Sexton, who seemed to struggle with a leg injury throughout. The No 10 is absolutely critical to the way Ireland are playing at present, and resembles a player 10 years younger such has been his skill and spark.

Ireland are now on a run of nine Test wins in a row after Saturday's victory

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Wales head coach Wayne Pivac and captain Dan Biggar both admit they failed to match Ireland's physical game

Stat of the match

What's next?

Next up for Ireland is perhaps their toughest assignment on paper in this year's championship, as they travel to face tournament favourites France in Paris next Saturday, February 12 (4.45pm kick off GMT).

Wales will host Scotland at the Principality Stadium, also on Saturday, February 12 (2.15pm kick off GMT), for their Round 2 fixture.