Ryan Giggs outlined his belief that Wales can be a match for any team in the world after delivering a swashbuckling and ruthless display to secure a first victory over the Republic of Ireland in 26 years.

Prior to last night Wales had only scored twice in their last seven meetings with Ireland, but they hit four goals here, three of which came in the first half, to get their Nations League campaign off to an emphatic start. Joe Allen’s pass allowed Tom Lawrence to strike first before Gareth Bale made it 10 goals in his last nine appearances for club and country with a stunning strike on 18 minutes.Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts added to the onslaught before Shaun Williams grabbed a goal back for the visitors.

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“Credit to ourselves, not many teams could have lived with us tonight. I think we’d have given anyone a game,” said Giggs after his fourth game in charge of Wales and first on home soil. “I said to the players, the bad news is you have to keep to that standard, if they drop below they are letting me and the others down. They have to keep getting better, keep improving. But tonight we enjoy it and enjoy the result.”

Wales failed to break down Ireland’s stubborn defensive unit the last time these teams met but it took only six minutes for them to expose the shortcomings of Martin O’Neill’s men in that area this time around.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Connor Roberts drills in his first goal in senior football. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

The irrepressible Ethan Ampadu found David Brooks with a searching ball out to the right wing to start the move. The Bournemouth youngster cut it back for Joe Allen who slipped a perfectly-weighted pass in behind Ciaran Clarke for Lawrence to drill the ball past Darren Randolph.

The visitors appeared to have discovered some composure but were then caught cold by Bale’s brilliance. Ben Davies picked out the Real Madrid forward with a pinpoint long ball following Callum O’Dowda’s misplaced pass and Ireland’s defence could do nothing but watch as Bale went up a gear, cut inside and curled a shot into the corner of the net.

Ireland had no answer for the fast and furious approach of the men in red and had no way back after Ramsey put Giggs’ side out of sight before half-time. Ampadu won the ball back in midfield and put it on a plate for the Arsenal midfielder to beat Randolph at his near post again.

The half-time team talks would have been poles apart as a seething Roy Keane, O’Neill’s assistant, headed into the changing rooms ahead of Giggs, his former Manchester United teammate. But any harsh words in Ireland’s dressing room made little obvious difference as Wales continued to dominate.

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The hosts’ fluid attack line had Ireland on the back foot before Bale sent a square ball across the box to Roberts. The ball sat up for the 22-year-old right-back, who lashed a left-footed half-volley into the back of the net for his first goal in senior football.

There was to be no clean sheet for the hosts, however, as Ramsey took his eye off the ball to gift Williams possession. The 31-year-old Millwall player went on to produce a cool finish, lifting the ball over Wayne Hennessey in the Wales goal.

Tyler Roberts came off the bench and came close to a debut goal before Ireland’s torment was over. Afterwards O’Neill admitted his men had been well beaten, and by Bale in particular. “He is capable of unlocking defences, scoring the goal like he did tonight,” said the manager. “And they’ve got players who accompany him.

“We were well beaten in the game. It was a long way back after going three goals down, but we’ll learn from that.”