Wales down Ireland in rugby Test

Aug 30, 2015 - 2:56 AM Wales gave themselves a timely reminder they can win on the road against major opposition with an impressive 16-10 victory away to Ireland in a World Cup warm-up match at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

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."

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.

Ireland play their final World Cup warm-up match against England at Twickenham next Saturday (September 5) and will clearly require an improved display if they are to live up to their billing as genuine contenders for the Webb Ellis trophy.

"There are a certain amount of things we wanted to improve on from and we didn't do that," said Ireland captain Paul O'Connell.

"From our point of view, that is disappointing."

Source: AAP