Ireland 31-7 Wales: 27 stats from the Six Nations clash, including a MIND-BLOWING home record

Jared Wright
Ireland's Ciaran Frawley, below, celebrates with Caelan Doris.

Ireland's Ciaran Frawley, below, celebrates with Caelan Doris.

Following Ireland’s 31-7 victory over Wales in round three of the Six Nations, here are 27 facts and stats from the fixture.

Milestones

1 – Andrea Piardi created history in this match, becoming the first Italian to referee a Men’s Six Nations match.

500 – This was Ireland’s 500th Home/Five/Six Nations Championship game.

0 – Ireland are just the second team to hold their opponents scoreless in the first half of back-to-back Six Nations home games after nilling Italy last week. Wales were the first team to do it, holding Ireland and Italy across the 2019 and 2020 Championships.

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Records

7 – Ireland forward Dan Sheehan scored his fourth try of the campaign and in doing so became the top try-scoring hooker in the Six Nations, since Italy joined in 2000, surpassing Jamie George (6).

7 – Ireland have now won seven of the eight seven meetings with their only defeat in that time a 21-16 loss in Cardiff in the 2021 Six Nations, when Wales won the Championship.

12 – It’s now 12 years since Wales’ last win in Dublin.

9 – Warren Gatland’s side were extremely well-disciplined in the first two games of the Six Nations, conceding just nine penalties across the matches (4 v Scotland, 5 against England), but they equalled that tally in the first half against Ireland.

0 – In fact, against England, Wales did not concede a single penalty in the first half.

13 – Wales finished the fixture having conceded 13 penalties in total, including eight in their own half.

Individual stat leaders

21 – Wales flanker Tommy Reffell put in another strong shift in defeat as he racked up 21 tackles – a match-high.

107 – Cameron Winnett topped the running metres in the game as he gained 107 in total.

6 – Rio Dyer and Ciaran Frawley both beat six defenders in the match, with Tadhg Beirne topping the count for the forwards with five.

14 – James Lowe made more carries (14) than any other player, while Aaron Wainwright (11) topped the count among the forwards.

100 – Jack Crowley finished the match with a 100% success rate off of the tee, nailing all five of his shots at goal, this after missing three of his five attempts against Italy.

Ireland starting fast

69 – It was a dominant first-half performance from Ireland, as Andy Farrell’s charges had 69% possession and 60% territory.

53 – That has been a common theme of Ireland’s performances this year as they have scored a total of 53 points in the first half of match, conceding just 10 points. Ireland’s half-time scores this year: FRA 10-17 IRE, IRE 19-0 ITA and IRE 17-0 WAL.

15 – Ireland have picked 15 out of a possible 15 points in the opening three rounds of the Six Nations, collecting bonus point wins in each fixture.

11 – They have also won their last 11 matches in the Championship.

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Ireland’s incredible home run and Andy Farrell’s record

18 – Farrell’s men have won 18 straight matches at home, with their last loss at home being the 15-13 defeat to France during the 2021 Six Nations.

12 – Ireland have beaten 12 different nations during that run: Wales (2), Italy (3), England (3), France, Australia, Fiji, South Africa, Scotland, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan (2), USA.

1 – This is their longest winning run at home, eclipsing the 12-game winning streak between 2016-18.

38 – The Aviva Stadium is well and truly a fortress nowadays as Ireland have won 38 of their last 40 Test matches at the ground over the past eight years – only France have had success at the ground during that period.

3 – Wales’ only points came through a penalty try; it was just the third time that they have been awarded points in that fashion in the Six Nations and their second in as many games.

50 – Peter O’Mahony earned his 50th Six Nations appearance today, becoming just the ninth Irish player to reach the milestone.

8 – The eight players before him are: Ronan O’Gara, Brian O’Driscoll, Cian Healy, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, John Hayes and Paul O’Connell.

38 – Farrell has won 38 of his 45 matches in charge of Ireland, giving him a win percentage of 84%, a 2% increase from his success rate before the game – he is the most successful permanent head coach of Ireland in the professional era.

18 – Included in that record are now 18 wins from 23 Six Nations matches, a win rate of 78%.

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Facts & Stats