It is NOT a game for the faint-hearted.
Previous clashes between Ireland and Wales have taught us that they’re nothing if not absolutely savage affairs and tonight’s Six Nations encounter at the Millennium Stadium is no different.
The hosts came into the game on the back of a mixed bag of a Six Nations campaign to date, but they played like a team with a point to prove for the first 40 minutes.
Ireland gave as good as they got and went in at the break two points behind after George North crossed for the only try of the half, with Ireland leading 2-1 on the converted penalties count.
The biggest takeaway for most people watching the first half, however, was the sheer physicality of it, with Jonathan Sexton (who was sin-binned at the end of the half) and Conor Murray amongst those on the receiving end of some truly ferocious hits.
The players will be performing mini-miracles if they can keep this up until the final whistle, but if the second half is anything like the first, then we're in for a cracker.
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