Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / SIX NATIONS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability Sport | Olympics 2012 | Sport Relief | Other Sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | Photo Galleries | Sport Academy | Health & Fitness | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Rugby Union Contents:  Internationals | European Club | English | Irish | Scottish | Welsh | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Live scores |

Saturday, 18 March 2006, 19:40 GMT

O'Driscoll lauds Irish character

Brian O'Driscoll celebrates after Ireland's Triple Crown success Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll praised his team's "phenomenal spirit" after their 28-24 win over England sealed the Triple Crown.

"It's a fantastic day for us. That was the 80 minutes of rugby that we had been waiting for this team to produce," said the centre.

"This is a big stepping-stone for us on to bigger things hopefully.

"To produce a hat-trick of performances against England is no mean feat. We'll celebrate this tonight."

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan felt the Triple Crown was slipping away from his side in the closing minutes of the game before Shane Horgan's clinching try.

"They got a lot of big men off the bench and were hanging on to the football," said O'Sullivan.

"It came down to the wire but what a way to finish it.

"If England had won, we couldn't have blamed them and they would have deserved it"
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan

Report: England 24-28 Ireland

"We took a punt with the chip and chase and it came up right for Brian. Shane did an incredible job to get in the corner."

O'Sullivan said that he had feared that Simon Easterby's second-half sin-binning might cost his team the game.

"I thought we were in big trouble but we showed a lot of heart, got Simon back on the pitch and that proved to be the difference," said O'Sullivan.


"In the first half, we played against the wind but we held on to the football and ran at them.

"England came at us in waves in the second half and I thought they played very well.

"If they had won, we couldn't have blamed them and they would have deserved it. But we eked out a great victory and I suppose they can't complain now."

It was the first time in 30 years Ireland had recorded three wins a row against England, and also their highest-ever points total against them.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

England 24-28 Ireland (17 Mar 06 |  Six Nations )
Clockwatch: England 24-28 Ireland (18 Mar 06 |  Six Nations )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Pundit predictions
BBC coverage
Team Guides
RBS Six Nations
England
Ireland
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability Sport | Olympics 2012 | Sport Relief | Other Sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | Photo Galleries | Sport Academy | Health & Fitness | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Rugby Union Contents:  Internationals | European Club | English | Irish | Scottish | Welsh | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Live scores |

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©