Wales landed a psychological blow on World Cup contenders Ireland and spoilt Paul O’Connell’s Dublin send-off with a dramatic 16-10 warm-up victory at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Having been swept aside 35-21 by Ireland in Cardiff just three weeks ago, Justin Tipuric’s try and the boot of Leigh Halfpenny saw Wales defeat the Six Nations champions on home soil.

However, the victory came down to a last-gasp decision by video official Graham Hughes, who ruled Ireland hooker Sean Cronin was held up between the posts. Aaron Jarvis and Leigh Halfpenny, who kicked 11 points, combined to deny Cronin in injury time to secure the win.

Ireland were alo left with a major injury concern regarding wing Keith Earls, taken off on a stretcher in the second half with a neck injury.

Welsh persistence was rewarded at a third line-out drive that ended with openside flanker Justin Tipuric getting the crucial touch in the 25th minute for a try converted by Halfpenny.

Johnny Sexton clawed back three points moments later but it was not until the stroke of half-time that Ireland levelled the scores.

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Wales appeared to have cleared the danger when the outstanding Tipurc claimed another turnover. But his back-row colleague Taulupe Faletau lost possession. Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony made the initial burst and lock Iain Henderson was on-hand, crashing through Dan Biggar and Scott Williams before stretching out to score despite the challenge of Ken Owens.

Sexton converted to tie the scores. The second half was a far tighter affair that was marred by injuries for both teams. Jamie Roberts suffered a heavy knock in a mid-air collision with Rob Kearney and was forced off 10 minutes later.

Sean O’Brien was then ruled to have been held up over the try-line by Hughes.

There was more bad news for Ireland when Earls was carried off with his neck in a brace on 64 minutes.

Halfpenny scored with a second penalty when play resumed and added a third but only after Wales survived an injury scare of their own when Alun Wyn Jones twisted his knee. Jones recovered and Wales held out for a telling result.

Ireland conclude their warm-up programme away to England at Twickenham a week on Saturday, when Wales face Italy at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Elsewhere, Scotland wings Sean Lamont and Tim Visser each plundered two tries as Vern Cotter’s side coasted to a record 48-7 win over Italy at Murrayfield in their only warm up match on home soil before the start of next month’s World Cup in England.

The rout surpassed both the points score and margin of victory Scotland achieved in a 47-15 home win over Italy in a warm-up match prior to the 2003 World Cup.

Flanker John Barclay, starting his first international for two years, and centre Mark Bennett also crossed the Italian try-line for the Scots, who followed up their 16-12 win against a shadow Italian side in Turin last week with a highly impressive step-up in performance.