Ireland vs Wales live: Latest score and updates as hosts bid to keep Six Nations hopes alive in Dublin

Made in Belfast, finished in Dublin! Ireland convert!

It’s a lovely score, patient and punchy in the Irish 22. It’s Stuart McCloskey again at the heart of it, a lovely short shoulder ball to Jacob Stockdale with Jack Crowley the decoy out the back. Ulster to Ulster and over for the score, which Crowley converts.

Ireland play off the top and into midfield, where Stuart McCloskey makes metres on the rumble. Robert Baloucoune is busy and bright, too, skipping free of two tacklers to venture to within five metres.

Penalty to Ireland. Tomas Francis’s feet are too far back, referee Karl Dickson rules, after the first scrum goes down on impact. A misstep, it seems, from the veteran tighthead. Tom O’Toole takes the head taps of his teammates, the tighthead-turned-loosehead off to a strong start.

Wales build into the Irish half but run out of fluency. Dan Edwards checks back to his right and tries to find the corner, but skews it too far infield – Jamison Gibson-Park watches it scuttle through his in-goal area. Back Ireland will come to feed a scrum just beyond halfway.

A strong first defensive set from Ireland. Nick Timoney clatters into Dan Edwards and inadvertently blocks the fly half’s attempted offload with the top of his bonce, forcing Wales back.

That’s good from Josh Adams, though, winning the first aerial contest above Jamie Osborne.

A deep kick off from Dan Edwards. Jamison Gibson-Park’s first task on his 50th cap is to clear from inside his own 22, which he does with aplomb, up into touch beyond halfway.

Wales, sporting their change white kit, get the action underway.

Three strongly sung anthems, the healthy contingent of Ulstermen in the Irish ranks not, of course, joining in with Amhran na bhFiann. A huge chance for Nick Timoney, Nathan Doak, Jacob Stockdale and co. tonight after some excellent form in the United Rugby Championship this season.

Out the players come into the Dublin night. Good news, Irish fans – I understand that there should be at least one Friday night game confirmed for next year’s Six Nations when the fixtures are revealed on Monday morning. They aren’t to everyone’s liking but the atmosphere sounds lively enough this evening.