SHAUN Edwards was a proud man after Wales' defensive heroics against Ireland – but revealed it could be his last stand in the Six Nations at the Millennium Stadium.

The defence coach is out of contract at the end of the World Cup and while his value to the Welsh squad is clear, his future will probably depend on a safe passage through a group of death featuring hosts England, bogey team Australia and awkward customers Fiji.

The Wales players were quick to sing the praises of Edwards as the inspiration behind their 250-tackle display that ensured they ended Irish Grand Slam hopes to set up a three-way title tussle on Saturday.

And after bringing up the contract issue unprompted the former rugby league great, who has been with Wales since Warren Gatland took the helm in 2008, said it would be a fitting finale.

"It was a very emotional game for everybody, really," said Edwards. "I think only a Six Nations game can bring the emotion out like that, particularly for me.

"Potentially it could be one of my last Six Nations games with Wales, with our contracts all being up after the World Cup. If it ends up being that way, it's a great way to sign off (in Cardiff).

"It could be my last one and to defend in your own 22 for nine and a half minutes and concede just one try, from a maul, is great credit to the lads and the fitness staff, too."

"We got off the floor and got into position very quickly – there are mental and physical aspects to that – and our tackling, in particular our leg chops, was of the highest order."

"I just thought it was an incredible Test match," he continued. "Ireland are a team that never ever give in, they are coming back at you all the time. It was everything what is good about the Six Nations."

Edwards believes the manner of the victory against an Ireland side that had climbed to third in the world rankings thanks to a run of 10 straight Test wins bodes well for England 2015.

"We are a better team than we were before the (2011) World Cup," he said. "I am not going to say we are a better team than we were at the World Cup, but we are in better shape than what we were in 2011 going into the World Cup.

"I just think we have got a bit more understanding, the players have played together longer and some of them are a bit more mature."

And Edwards hopes that a combination of ruthless attacking and steely defence in Italy on Saturday can lead to Wales going to the World Cup as Six Nations champions.

He said: "We have given ourselves a chance. What we have got to do next week is obviously score as many points as possible, but we have also got to stop them scoring points."