Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland defeat Wales 32-9 in tournament opener

Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland defeat Wales 32-9 in tournament opener.

A dominant first half and a late James Lowe try helped Ireland claim a 32-9 victory over Wales in the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup match in Dublin.

Quinn Roux's try helped the hosts to a 10-point half-time lead as Wales' set-piece struggles saw them fall to a sixth straight defeat with pressure mounting on head coach Wayne Pivac.

Despite a marked improvement after the break, Wales failed to convert their pressure into points as Ireland debutant Lowe scored an injury-time try.

The abrupt departure of defence coach Byron Hayward earlier this week increased the scrutiny around a Wales squad coming off the back of a desperately disappointing campaign.

[Source: BBC]