Another fabulous match between these two, who so love to spar with each other and invariably raise us from their seats when they do. It took Ireland until the very death to put Wales away, but the manner in which the visitors hung in there despite overwhelming pressure from their hosts was a marvel in itself.

Nevertheless, it is a third win from three for Ireland and talk of grand slams may now swell. With each round they have shown us more. Putting four tries past this tenacious outfit, albeit on a dry day, was a higher return than England managed at home against the same opponents. Ireland will scratch their heads over how they did not manage more. They hogged two-thirds of possession and were hardly witless with their use of it. Wales are simply a skilful outfit, albeit now doomed to mid-table after these two thankless away assignments.

Ireland turned round at the break with a two-point lead. That they were not out of sight by then with the possession they had – and the quality thereof – might have infuriated a less patient side. Wales were not just tackling but sending in a second man to target the ball. They did so with considerable success, ripping ball from unsuspecting Irish carriers on several occasions.

In the first half Ireland enjoyed three-quarters of the possession and it is not as if they were not using it well. Theirs were the ball-carriers – practically everyone in green took a turn – and theirs the pattern-weavers in midfield. They came at Wales from all angles, just as England had a fortnight ago.

Yet Wales led for almost the entirety of the second quarter, their lead out to 13-5 at one point. Johnny Sexton, so masterful with ball in hand, missed two penalties and a conversion in the first 25 minutes, which did not help Ireland’s cause, but they did at least bookend the half with a pair of tries for that narrow lead.

Both were sweetly worked in different ways by Sexton. His glorious flat pass to Jacob Stockdale put the winger over in the corner for the first of his two tries. Then, as half-time approached, Ireland came at Wales for the umpteenth time, wave after wave of them. Sexton went close off Chris Farrell, but Bundee Aki’s ferocious carry proved one too many. Sexton’s conversion on the stroke of half-time earned them that slender lead at last.

It was so long in coming because of the 10 unanswered points Wales registered between the two tries. Leigh Halfpenny had given Wales the lead with a penalty in the second minute, and more points were to follow. Steff Evans was ripper-in-chief at the end of the first quarter and a neat kick had Wales down the other end in a flash, where they worked a lineout and a few carries, from which Gareth Davies gathered loose ball and beat Stockdale for the nimblest of tries.

Halfpenny and Sexton exchanged penalties in the build-up to half-time, before Ireland struck, their policy of relentlessness finally paying off. They did not let up in the second half. By the end of the third quarter, they had the bonus point and a 27-13 lead. Both tries were scored by heavy-duty carriers, the first by the excellent Dan Leavy, the second by Cian Healy. Ireland seemed set for take-off.

Wales’s tackle count was off the scale, but they proved effective again when next they won some ball. Dan Biggar took an up-and-under in characteristic fashion, Evans and Liam Williams stretched Ireland down the left and Aaron Shingler was worked over on the right. Halfpenny’s touchline conversion pulled Wales, somehow, back to within seven.

With Sexton hobbling off, Conor Murray stepped up to secure Ireland some breathing space with a penalty four minutes from time, but Wales were not done. Steff Evans won the restart and moments later was away for Wales’s third, Halfpenny’s conversion pulled Wales to within three.

Now the fitness they are so proud of had a chance to showcase itself, Wales off in search of a fourth try and the unlikeliest of victories. Alas, Gareth Anscombe’s ambitious pass was picked off by Stockdale and the game was put to bed in the cruellest fashion. Ireland will wonder how it came to be so close, but on they march, looking stronger by the round.