Cheap shot from Ireland loosehead triggers all-out brawl
When your team are leading 27-3 in the second half of a Test match, it does not really seem like the time or the place for cheap shots, but Ireland loosehead Andrew Porter did not get that message.
Up against Wales in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations at the Principality Stadium, Porter and his side were cruising when they conceded a 46th minute try by Liam Williams. Even though the try had clearly been scored, the Leinster prop saw it as an opportunity to collapse his 125kg frame onto the fullback.
Williams was understandably not happy with that and launched into Porter, sparking an all out brawl. Porter was penalised, with Wales getting a penalty from the kick-off.
Take a look:
Wales XV
15. Liam Williams
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 43 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 109 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 1 cap)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 3 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 103 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 40 caps);
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 17 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 86 caps) captain
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 67 caps)
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 41 caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 155 caps)
6. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 6 caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 89 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 95 caps)
Replacements
16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 34 caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 1 cap)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 4 caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 36 caps)
22. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 3 caps)
23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 55 caps)
Ireland XV
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 25 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 9 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 9 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 15 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 109 caps (c)
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 100 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 27 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 36 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 89 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 23 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 31 caps
17. Dave Kilkoyne
18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 4 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 68 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 33 caps
21. Craig Casey
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
23. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 41 caps