If Saturday night ’ s victory over Ireland does prove to be Shaun Edwards ’ final RBS 6 Nations hoorah in Cardiff , then the former rugby league man could not have picked a finer evening to bow out . The Wales defence coach is out of contract after the World Cup and his players delivered a tackling masterclass at the Millennium Stadium . They repelled wave after wave of attacks to send Ireland ’ s Grand Slam ambitions up in smoke , providing the 48-year-old with one of his finest hours behind the glass wall of the tactical box . Made from stuff the local steelworks would be proud of , his Welsh rearguard saw off almost 50 phases in seven second-half minutes to set up a three-way title showdown in the final weekend . Shaun Edwards and his players delivered a tackling masterclass at the Millennium Stadium against Ireland . Cian Healy is held up by the huge Welsh defensive effort on Saturday , with the home side winning 23-16 . VIDEO Wales dash Ireland 's Grand Slam hopes . ‘ Only a Six Nations game can bring the emotion out like that , ’ said Edwards . ‘ Potentially it could be my last Six Nations game with Wales . If it ends up being that way , it was a great way to sign off . ‘ It was a victory for team effort and fitness . To keep tackling for that long , you have to be fit . Our attack was very good in the first 20 minutes and it was an incredible Test match . Ireland are a team that never ever give in ; they are coming back at you all the time . It was everything that is good about the Six Nations. ’ Edwards punched the air in delight on the final whistle . His players racked up a record count of 250 tackles — missing just 22 . It did little to damn the notion that northern-hemisphere rugby is geared towards defence , but there was no question about the entertainment value , with the absorbing close-quarter battles making for the best tie of the championship . Taulupe Faletau puts in one of Wales ' 150 tackles on a superb defensive display by Edwards ' men . The win over Ireland could be Edwards ' last RBS 6 Nations game in Cardiff , it was a good way to bow out . ‘ To defend in your own 22 for nine and a half minutes and concede one try from a maul is a great credit to the lads , ’ said Edwards . ‘ We kept getting off the floor and into position very quickly , which is a massive part of your defence . If you are on the floor , you are out of the game . ‘ Our tackling , in particular our leg chops , was of the highest order . The best form of defence is having the ball , but some periods in a Test match you are going to be asked to defend . I said to the players during the week that potentially we would have to make 150 to 200 tackles. ’ His predictions were right . Ireland had 66 per cent of the possession but lacked the wherewithal to break through the wall of red . The bruising hits took their toll on the hosts , with Wales going into their defining tie against Italy with injury worries in the front row , where Samson Lee ( achilles ) and Gethin Jenkins ( hamstring ) are expected to miss out , while Richard Hibbard will also face concussion tests . Simon Zebo is sent flying by a tackle as Ireland fail to break the Welsh despite having a lot of possession . Ireland 's Sean O'Brien keeps a grip on the ball but the Welsh defence was brilliant at the Millennium Stadium . Jamie Roberts is also doubtful after suffering a blow to the head . The centre is likely to be replaced by Scott Williams , who scored Wales ’ only try on Saturday and is in line for his first start of the competition . With Wales needing to improve their points difference in the championship race , the Scarlets midfielder will be expected to add an attacking edge in Rome . With Wales being the early kick-off this weekend , it will be a case of hit and hope as they watch other results unfold . They have won their last seven games against Italy by an average of 17 points , although an even greater victory is likely to be the minimum requirement at the Stadio Olimpico . ‘ We have given ourselves a fighting chance to go out to Rome and win this title again , ’ said fly-half Dan Biggar . ‘ If we can win it , after everybody writing us off when we lost at home to England , it will be one of this team ’ s best achievements . Maybe Scotland can do us a favour at home to Ireland and France against England at Twickenham . We know we have to score some points in Italy. ’ Luke Charteris ( right ) celebrates with Liam Williams at full time after a Championship-defining victory .
Wales beat Ireland 23 - 13 in Cardiff in the RBS super Nations on Saturday . The premiership side made 250 tackles , delighting their new coach . Shaun Edwards is out of contract after this year 's World Cup . victory over Ireland could be his last Six Nations game with Wales in Cardiff . Edwards calls the win a ' victory for team effort and fitness ' Wales missed just 25 tackles in an absorbing era of super Nations rugby . Samson Lee and Gethin Jenkins are expected to miss clash with Italy .