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Ireland bounced back from a record loss against England and boosted their World Cup preparations by inflicting a rare home defeat on Wales.<\/p>\nIreland bounced back from a record loss against England and boosted their World Cup preparations by inflicting a rare home defeat on Wales.<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s 22-17 victory meant that Wales were beaten in Cardiff for the first time since November 2017.<\/p>\n
Wing Jacob Stockdale led the way with two first-half tries as Wales head coach Warren Gatland\u2019s final Principality Stadium Test before he departs after the World Cup ended frustratingly.<\/p>\n
Ireland, crushed 57-15 by England seven days ago, bossed most critical areas ahead of next Saturday\u2019s return game in Dublin.<\/p>\n
Fly-half Jack Carty added a conversion and penalty for the visitors, while his opposite number Jarrod Evans kicked a penalty before going off at half-time and being replaced by Rhys Patchell, with a second-half penalty try sealing Wales\u2019 fate.<\/p>\n
Wales finished strongly, with debutante wing Owen Lane and Patchell claiming late tries and Patchell converting both, but it was not enough.<\/p>\n
Gatland names his 31-man World Cup squad tomorrow, yet only Lane and Patchell made strong claims for any of the few remaining places.<\/p>\n
Ireland boss Joe Schmidt, though, will have been encouraged by his team\u2019s recovery powers following a shambolic effort at Twickenham when England crushed them under an eight-try onslaught.<\/p>\n
Stockdale, who departed at the interval, Carty, centre Bundee Aki, skipper Peter O\u2019Mahony and his fellow flanker Tadhg Beirne were among those that impressed.<\/p>\n