Ireland down Wales in Rugby World Cup warm-up

Ireland defeated Wales 35-21 in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the first World Cup warm-up for each side on Saturday, although it was marred by a serious looking injury to Irish flanker Tommy O'Donnell.

Tries from stand-in captain Jamie Heaslip, Darren Cave, Keith Earls, Simon Zebo and Felix Jones ensured the Irish triumphed in a clash between two sides that fielded virtual second-string line-ups.

Wales even had four debutants in their starting side but it was a first team regulars Richard Hibbard, Justin Tipuric and Alex Cuthbert who scored their tries.

An early blitz in the first half hour saw Ireland already well out of sight at 25-0 up following scores from Heaslip, Cave and Earls, and four successful kicks from the boot of Paddy Jackson.
Wales briefly rallied at the end of the first period as debutant Eli Walker had a try ruled out by the TV match official just after Hibbard's score.

But further second-half tries from Zebo and Jones completed a comfortable win for the Six Nations champions before Tipuric and Cuthbert's late consolations.

Five minutes from time flanker O'Donnell had to be taken from the field on a stretcher after a clash with Cuthbert.

Wales play hosts England, Australia, Fiji and Uruguay in Pool A at the World Cup, which starts on September 18, while Ireland are in Pool D alongside France, Italy, Canada and Romania.
Source: AFP