Robbie Henshaw: Late flourish against Wales will stand to Ireland

The lasting impression of a game can swing dramatically, even with the clock in the red.

When James Ryan was yellow-carded after persistent Irish infringements in their own 22 on 75 minutes yesterday, and Wales were laying siege on the Irish tryline in search of a consolation score, it felt like Andy Farrell's side would have to be content with their lot, leaving a bonus-point behind them.

A win is a win, but having been 17-0 up at half-time and in utter control, it seemed inconceivable for Ireland not to come away with a bonus-point win. Every minute of the 80 counts though, and when Tadhg Beirne charged through a gap in the defence with the final action of the game, it brought up that bonus-point score, and with it a healthier 31-7 scoreboard.

Tries like that, in the grand scheme of things, can be worth a lot more than the points on the day.

Beirne's score brought to mind the second row's try in the final minute of Ireland's 82-8 win against Romania at the Rugby World Cup. In Bordeaux that day, Andy Farrell couldn't contain his happiness at how his team milked every possible point out of the game, with Beirne emptying his tank in the 80th minute, in what had been scorching weather conditions.

Yesterday at the Aviva, the fourth and final try ensured a patchy performance ended on a positive note.

"It's brilliant," centre Robbie Henshaw said. "The game itself was quite scrappy, we got momentum and then it stalled a bit and then they’d get back up the pitch."

And while Ireland were more dominant and played their best rugby in the opening half, Henshaw says they will get greater belief from how they closed things out.

"I probably think the finish was hugely positive, we knew the message coming on was to go for the bonus point. In