Ireland scrapes past Wales in Dublin to stay in Six Nations title race

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland scraped past Wales 27-17 and stayed in the Six Nations title race on Friday for at least 24 hours.

France can successfully retain the title by beating Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

While Ireland won its first-ever Friday home championship match with a four-try bonus point, Wales took most of the plaudits.

Wales started as a 20-point underdog but was trailing by only two points as late as the 68th minute.

Wales hadn't beaten Ireland in Dublin in the championship in 14 years but Irish flyhalf Jack Crowley was made to kick a 77th-minute penalty to avoid the chance of a humbling draw.

Wales was second best in terms of territory and possession but backed up its three-point home loss to Scotland in the last round with magnificent defense, and an even better all-round show of commitment and progress.

Wales' Six Nations losing streak was extended to 15 games and it may yet finish the tournament with a third consecutive wooden spoon, but it was more encouragingly competitive against Ireland than coach Steve Tandy hoped for.

“We're disappointed but massive pride in our character,” Tandy said. “There's confidence building in the team and that is going to take us to the win in the near future.”

There was none of the fist-pumping joy by Ireland coach Andy Farrell during the record away win against England two weeks ago as his team failed to back that up with the expected big win over Wales.

“Credit to Wales, they were outstanding, certainly getting better defensively," he told broadcaster ITV. "They made it a scrap so to come away with a bonus-point, happy with that."

Wales didn't give Ireland the space on the outside that it enjoyed against England. Wales' rush defense, spearheaded by center Eddie James, frequently shut down Ireland attempts to go wide.

The defense was outstanding, especially on the tryline. Alex Mann made 28 tackles and two turnovers in his 22, Dafydd Jenkins added 27 tackles, James Botham 24 and Dewi Lake 23.

Ireland started impressively. Winger Jacob Stockdale ran off the shoulder of midfielder Stuart McCloskey, his Ulster clubmate, to score his first test try since 2021.

Ireland had two more attacks of at least a dozen phases in the first 20 minutes. But an Irish knock-on rubbed out a try for Jack Conan, and the second chance was turned over by Mann.

Holding out Ireland galvanized Wales.

Ireland took a half-hour to score again, through Crowley, who couldn't convert his own try.

The Irish looked set to reach halftime up 12-3. But Wales prop Rhys Carre, who was prevented from adding another tap penalty try that he managed against France and Scotland, made like a winger from 35 meters out and blew past three Irish for a brilliant try. Wales' leading try-scorer in the championship was even smiling before he scored.

"I saw some space and went as hard as I could and no one caught me,” Carre told ITV.

The Irish gave themselves breathing room on the scoreboard again when Conan scored from a tap penalty after halftime.

But Wales refused to bow down. Josh Adams botched a try chance throwing a forward pass to Botham but Botham scored off a ruck and Dan Edwards converted for 19-17.

It took a Joe McCarthy steal to launch the fourth Irish try walked in by fullback Jamie Osborne with 12 minutes to go. Wales lost scrumhalf Tomos Williams to the sin-bin and Crowley, who missed two easy goalkicks, made the result safe for Ireland with his only penalty.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Ireland's Jacob Stockdale, right, compete to catch the ball with Wales' Ellis Mee during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's Robert Baloucoune, right, is tackled by Wales' Eddie James during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's Garry Ringrose, front, scores a try as Wales' Eddie James tackles him during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Wales' Rhys Carre, front, breaks through to score his team's first try during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's Rónan Kelleher, center, is tackled by Wales' players during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s belated birthday present to himself will be a return to the game that was abruptly taken away from him last season.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum will start the Celtics’ home matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, marking his season debut almost 10 months after having surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

“It's been a long journey. And the culmination of a new journey begins today,” Mazzulla said during his pregame news conference.

Tatum was listed as questionable for the game Thursday. It marked the first time this season he hadn’t been listed as out after rehabilitation for the injury he suffered during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks last May.

Tatum, who turned 28 this week, previously indicated his return to the court would be for a home game. That time has arrived.

"We've been having constant conversations, where you want to get to, how you're going to get there and what goes into that," Mazzulla said of the process Tatum took to get ready to play. “Really from Day 1 it's just been a constant conversation. Throughout the process you've just trusted this journey. I give him credit. We always knew he was coming back this year.”

Tatum's return will be on the same night that Mavericks No. 1 pick and Maine native Cooper Flagg will play his first NBA game at TD Garden.

But the night will almost certainly belong to Tatum, who arrived at the Garden with seats covered by white and green Celtics T-shirts featuring his name and No. 0 on the back.

The Celtics (41-21) have 20 games remaining in the regular season, including 11 at TD Garden. Boston is currently in second place in the East standings.

The typical rehabilitation window to return to basketball action following Achilles tendon surgery is between nine and 12 months.

Tatum, who had surgery on May 13, will make his return to the court after 298 days.

He's been clear since the start of his rehab process that his intention was to try to return to the court as the same player who was a catalyst during Boston's 2024 NBA championship run and who has earned five All-NBA and eight All-Star selections during his previous eight seasons.

“I didn’t come back to be no role player, Doc,” Tatum said weeks after the surgery to his physician during a checkup that was chronicled in the recently released documentary “The Quiet Work,” which followed his rehab process.

Celtics forward Sam Hauser said Tatum’s drive to return to action has been evident throughout the season, from his daily workouts to traveling with the team on road trips while not missing a beat in his rehab process.

“It speaks volumes to how much he loves the game of basketball. He has been out roughly 10 months and him willing to come back on every single trip,” Hauser told reporters following the Celtics’ shootaround Friday morning. “He wants to be part of this.”

When Tatum went down with his injury last season, his thoughts quickly pivoted away from the devastation he felt for himself and what would soon be the end of his team’s bid to repeat as NBA champions.

He made the decision almost immediately to begin turning the page and opted to have surgery the very next day.

His return wouldn't be far beyond the recovery time it took for Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins to recover from his Achilles tendon rupture. Wilkins returned at age 33 after 283 days to play in the 1992-93 season. He went on to appear in 71 regular-season games that year, averaging 29.9 points and being voted to the All-Star team.

Tatum’s childhood idol, Kobe Bryant, made it back to the court after about eight months, but was hampered by subsequent injuries.

Tatum is in the first season of the five-year, $314 million extension he signed in 2024.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, second from left, who has not played since injuring his achilles tendon during the 2025 NBA playoffs, is greeted by fans during a practice prior to an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum stands next to bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)