Ireland have begun their 2023 Six Nations Campaign having ended a decade long wait for a win on Welsh soil in the competition, coming out 34-10 bonus point winners in Cardiff.

A game of big performances ensured Ireland started the year with a win, Hugo Keenan was sensational at full-back, Dan Sheehan also using his power and speed to drive at Wales caused issues, not a hooker in his past life based on his kicking skill in behind, composed in all areas they were a strong unit.

All of Ireland's points coming from the Leinster representation within the squad, Andy Farrell will be happy but the second half they looked to have switched off and it could have been shades of 2013 where Wales came back to make a real game of it.

Wales' discipline had been under question a lot, allowing Ireland to get into their half with either the boot of Johnny Sexton or their forwards looking for points, Ireland dominated the collisions, playing with a tempo they wanted to play which suited their style, blowing Wales away in the early minutes.

Ireland showed intent from the off through James Lowe, the winger with a little kick in behind after winning back possession from a clearance, Liam WIllimas opted to carry it inside his own line but was tackled he managed to offload but another clearance kick made touch a short distance from the Welsh line.

Driving mauls and a strong lineout game are part and parcel of the Irish game, Dan Sheahan made a great drive as the irish forwards looked to ask some early questions of the Welsh defence, phases and wave after wave of moves from the Irish had them looking confident of a score, James Ryan came within inches after making a powerful drive, Conor Murray a late replacement at scrum-half popped a pass out for Caelan Doris, the Mayo man using his power to get over for the opening trey after two minutes, a first try in the competition for the Mayo native, Sexton converted for an early 7-0 avantage to settle the nerves.

All the energy looked to be with Ireland in the early exchanges, as Wales were left defending their line at all costs as ireland looked dominant and strong in all areas of the field, again they worked possession well as the forwards shone in making ground, after a tap and go penalty Ireland again were within inches of the line, the two pylons in the second row James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne combined to drive at the Welsh line with Beirne managing to touch down for their second try after eight minutes, Sexton adding the extra two as ireland had a dream start in Cardiff.

Wales showed signs of life after a nightmare opening ten minutes, a huge tackle by Gareth Thomas dislodged the ball from Johnny Sexton, Rio Dyer broke clear and kicked ahead to chase an opening try but full-back Hugo Keenan won the foot race to touch down inside the Irish line as Wales had a scrum to build pressure five metres from the line. A first test of the Welsh attacking scrum but Ireland managed it well, however a penalty would bring points for Wales as Dan Biggar found the posts.

At the other end five minutes later Sexton cancelled out the Biggar penalty after Wales were penalised in an area Sexton felt points would be gathered, discipline was an issue for Wales but down by 14 points early on would see any time taking risks to win the ball back.

When the Welsh attacked they looked strong Dyer was unlucky not to beat Keenan early on but the luck was with the men in green, Wales had men out wide and their passes were crisp Biggar spotted two men out wide to offload to and break through the irish line, but James Lowe was there and the winger stole possession with a great intercept and made a lung bursting run toward the Welsh line with no man there to meet him he slid over for the third try after 20 minutes, Sexton in what well may be his last ever six nations added the extras.

Problems persisted at the back for Wales, discipline was costing them as the referee blew for an eight penalty against the Dragons, Sexton from a central position tapped over to make it 27-3, a 24 point gap after just 27 minutes of action, with the kick Sexton closed in on Ronan O'Gara's all-time Six Nations points record.

The Welsh crowd had little to shout out but penalties going their way and moving up the other end of the field certainly increased the decibel level, after Andrew Porter was penalised at the scrum, the Welsh smelt blood and a great carry by both George North and Ken Owens had Wales just short, Jac Morgan felt he had done enough to touch down for a Wales try, but the frame of Porter was underneath him to hold up the grounding, once again the defence from the Irish showing huge resistance, as they went in at the break much the happier of the dressing rooms.

After the restart Wales came out fighting, when ireland last won in Cardiff in 2013 they faced down the barrel of a 20 point deficit at the break, Biggar was hit hard by Gary Ringrose but it allowed them to hold possession and kick into the Ireland half, a penalty in front of the posts was instead kicked to the corner, the line out was strong with Ireland looking to have switched off a little, fast hands from Joe Hawkins after some strong phases saw full-back Liam Williams get over for their try, Biggar converted after some handbags as Porter dived into Williams after he touched down looking to dislodge the ball and stop him touching down but it all kicked off and Wales had a penalty to restart, it looked a little harsh.

Chances were coming for Wales as they were making a more gallant effort in the second half, Williams made a brilliant break from his own half evading the Irish tacklers to race in a danger area, he offloaded wide to Dyer but the pass was too high, Ireland were weathering a storm but defended well however Sexton tried an audacious cross field kick for Peter O’Mahony outside the Irish 22, which Dyer intercepted it needed a big Mack Hansen tackle to stop the winger getting in on the far corner.

Wales have had a lot of possession and territory in the second half but found the points hard to come by, Ireland at times looked good in offence but were not as strong as they had looked in the opening half, Williams found himself going to the bin after 65 minutes for a high tackle on Sexton, substitute Ian Henderson avoided going to the bin earlier on as he collided with Willimas following a kick into the Irish half, the Welsh may have been a bit aggrieved by that decision. 

At half time we would not have said Ireland needed another score to settle themselves into the game, but after Wales showed spirit in the second half plenty of worried looks were going around the Irish camp in Cardiff, they got their score but it took until the 71st minute however the build up play was sheer brilliance, Dan Sheehan, Hansen all with sumptuous offloads to keep Ireland from going out of play, the forwards doing their job as Craig Casey was on to bark the orders at the back, Josh Van Der Flier spot a gap and secured the bonus point for Ireland, Ross Bryne replaced Sexton and had an easy opening kick to make it a 34-10 lead.