Dublin win gives Wales hope
The result at Lansdowne Road was timely reminder that they can win on the road against major opposition. Earlier this month Wales lost 21-35 to Ireland in Cardiff.
Justin Tipuric's first-half try and the kicking of Leigh Halfpenny saw Wales end a nine-game unbeaten run at home for Six Nations champions Ireland, now ranked as the world's second-best team.
And with Wales facing two potentially decisive pool ties in the World Cup against Australia and England at Twickenham, the significance of Saturday's display was not lost on coach Warren Gatland.
"Our focus was to win a big game away from home because that’s what we will have to do at Twickenham in the World Cup," said Gatland, with the issue of whether Wales get out of a tough group set to be determined by how they perform in their two crunch fixtures in London.
"To beat the second-best side in the world was very pleasing and potentially it could have been more comfortable," the New Zealander added.
"It was a good performance and one we knew we were capable of. It was heart-stopping stuff at times. With three minutes to go, I turned to the guys and said 'this next three minutes is going to be hell', and they were," the former Ireland coach recalled.
"But it would have been heart-breaking if Ireland had won at the end."
Sean Cronin came desperately close to handing Jonathan Sexton a conversion in front of the posts to win the match for Ireland but was held up over the line by three Wales defenders in the final seconds of the game.
Defeat, however, would have been tough on a Wales side who dominated the match.
Agence France-Presse
