WALES enjoyed a perfect pre-World Cup tonic by ending Ireland’s nine-Test home winning streak at the Aviva Stadium.

Warren Gatland’s men ruined Paul O’Connell’s Dublin farewell thanks to a first half driving lineout score by man of the match Justin Tipuric and 11 points from the unerring right boot of Leigh Halfpenny.

While a victory was nice – and lifted Wales above England in the world rankings – it was the hugely encouraging performance that really mattered.

Wales were defensively sound, thrived at the breakdown and scrummaged well while they looked much sharper in attack.

Openside Tipuric was super when the sides met in Cardiff at the start of the month and was lively again to ensure the back row selection debate won’t go away.

However, blindside Dan Lydiate was also excellent and it would be a surprise if Gatland doesn’t plump for Tipuric as an impact sub at the World Cup.

And it was the defence that ensured that Ireland lost on their own turf for the first time since suffering heartbreak at the death against New Zealand in 2013.

Gatland names his 31-strong squad for the World Cup on Monday and in truth the events in Dublin won't have much of a bearing on that - those that took to the field were already among his "25 or 26" nailed-on players.

Wales were always going to be slicker than they had been in Cardiff after bringing back their big guns and they led 10-0 after 25 impressive minutes.

Leigh Halfpenny rewarded their efforts with an 18th-minute penalty and then he bisected the posts with a conversion after a driving lineout – their third – went over the line with flanker Justin Tipuric the man that dotted down.

Tipuric was impressing again while tighthead Tomas Francis was looking the part on debut before tiring yet Wales headed into the break on level terms despite an impressive first half.

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton got the hosts on the scoreboard approaching the half hour and then, with the clock in the red, Ulster lock Iain Henderson powered under the sticks from close range.

The hosts started the second half strongly but Wales’ defence, with blindside Dan Lydiate to the fore, held firm.

The score remained locked at 10-10 entering the final quarter before a breakdown penalty enabled Halfpenny to regain the lead.

The full-back stretched the advantage to six points in the 71st minute and the Irish were suddenly struggling in the rain after replacing key half-backs Conor Murray and Sexton.

However, the hosts ended on the front foot and laid siege to the Welsh line, eventually barging over the line only for replacement prop Aaron Jarvis and Halfpenny to hold up Sean Cronin over the line.

Ireland: R Kearney; D Kearney, L Fitzgerald (D Ryan 67), R Henshaw, K Earls (F Jones 63) J Sexton (P Jackson 63), C Murray (E Reddan 63), J McGrath (D Kilcoyne 60), R Strauss (S Cronin 50), N White (T Furlong 56), I Henderson, P O’Connell (captain); P O’Mahony (S O’Brien 51), J Murphy, J Heaslip.

Scorers: try – I Henderson; conversion – J Sexton; penalty – J Sexton

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, S Williams, J Roberts (H Amos 60), G North, D Biggar (R Priestland 63), R Webb (G Davies 63), G Jenkins (P James 46), K Owens (S Baldwin 54), T Francis (A Jarvis 53), B Davies (L Charteris 53), A-W Jones (captain, J King 72), D Lydiate (J King 50-60), J Tipuric, T Faletau.

Scorers: try – J Tipuric; conversion – L Halfpenny; penalties – L Halfpenny (3)

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)