Positivity and progression. They were the overwhelming feelings about Wales’ encouraging performance against Ireland in the 27-17 Six Nations defeat.
Suffering yet another international loss can not be ignored, but there has been some pride restored after some Irish pundits were denigrating Welsh rugby before Friday’s game.
The individuals that matter, like Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, were not laughing.
In every question Farrell was asked afterwards, he came back to the same assessment. How impressed he had been with Wales.
Plucky losers is a tag Wales have struggled to acquire in recent times because of some of the record hammerings they have suffered.
There have been vast improvements against Scotland and Ireland, but turning that into wins is now the challenge for Wales head coach Steve Tandy.
Wales are bidding to avoid a clean sweep of defeats for the third successive Six Nations when they host Italy on the final weekend.
Perform like they did under the Friday night lights at Aviva Stadium and they might just have a chance.