Dragons duo Nick Tompkins and Leon Brown both featured as Wales started their 2021 Guinness Six Nations campaign with a 21-16 victory over 14-man Ireland at an eerily empty Principality Stadium.
Wayne Pivac’s side scored second-half tries from George North and Louis Rees-Zammit to come out on top after Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony had been sent off early on.
Ireland’s try came from former Scarlets forward Tadhg Beirne and they were ahead at the break despite their numerical disadvantage.
But Wales turned the tables with Leigh Halfpenny kicking the rest of their points in a brutal match in which both teams suffered several injuries.
Wales next face an away clash at BT Murrayfield, Scotland on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 4.45pm).
