Joe Schmidt believes Ireland reasserted their World Cup credentials with their nourishing victory over France this afternoon.
The Ireland coach conceded that his team had slipped off the perch of their stellar 2018 in losing to England and labouring past Scotland and Italy - but believes today's controlled victory plots the course back to top form.
Asked if the comprehensive France victory can prove a timely reminder of World Cup aims, Schmidt said: "Probably. Again I know there's been some frustration externally, and it has been internal as well.
"We've been frustrated that we haven't been as cohesive as we would have liked, and that we started the championship on a really flat note.
"And one of the great reminders for us is you get nothing back in a Test match. You can't go and say 'ah well we missed that opportunity, can we go and play it again tomorrow?'
"You get one window and you can't just open it a little to let the breeze in, you've got to open it right up and get through it.
"So I think that's what we showed a little bit more of today. It will give confidence, but we know what a challenge next week's going to be anyway.
"We said all along this is a little bit similar to what we'll have to contend with at the end of the year anyway, with a six-day turnaround from a team in blue to a team in red.
"It's not something that we want to miss a beat with now. We want to keep building over these next six days if we can.
"And I'm sure the Welsh boys were sitting back with feet up watching and they will be very much primed for us next week."
Ireland pinned France into their own 22 for almost the entire first-half in a stunning muscle-flexing turn, leaving Schmidt suitably impressed.
"I don't think I've ever seen in the last six years a team control a 40 minutes like we did in that first-half," said Schmidt.
"We've traditionally had very tight games against France bar the World Cup. But today was by far the most dominant performance we've put in against the French.
"We kept that pressure on, and to keep that pressure on four that 40 minutes spoke volumes about the energy and the intensity we brought to our game.
"We need the confidence as well, we need to get back on the front foot.
From where we were last time we sat in this room, it's taken a while but there was a bit of our rhythm back today.
"But in six days' time it becomes a whole different equation. Wales in Cardiff is always a complicated fixture for us."
Ireland could still retain the Six Nations championship but the chances are rather remote, dependent as it is on an injury-ravaged Scotland beating England in Twickenham, something they haven't achieved since 1983.
Schmidt isn't inclined to fixate on the possibilities and says a second place spot would be a good reward considering the difficulties they've weathered in the campaign.
"It would be pretty difficult," he told RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"With the points differential that England have, with the injuries that Scotland have. I thought Scotland were very good yesterday, they stayed in the fight, they put all the pressure on in the second half and couldn't quite find an answer.
"Regardless of what may happen in the England-Scotland game, we just want to finish on a positive note. If we can get a win, then we can get second.
"And if we can get second, from where we came in that first weekend and the amount of changes we had to make in this championship, then I think it'll be a pretty good reward."
Rob Kearney pulled out of the game at the last minute with a calf injury, but Schmidt expects the Leinster full-back to be fit to face Wales.
Robbie Henshaw is unlikely to recover from his dead leg in time however, leaving Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose the favourites to start in Cardiff.
"I think Rob Kearney will be a really good chance, he just had calf tightness yesterday," said Schmidt.
"So I'd be surprised if Rob wasn't training on Tuesday, or Wednesday, depending on when we next train. That will depend how the recovery goes, tomorrow and Tuesday.
"Robbie Henshaw would be less of a chance. Robbie is recovering but it's slower than expected.
"That dead leg has just unfortunately lingered. It's a long, long time ago since I played but I had one.
"And in some situations it's almost impossible to get rid of it fast. You just have to let it recover in its own time."
