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Last Updated: Saturday, 18 March 2006, 19:40 GMT
O'Driscoll lauds Irish character
Brian O'Driscoll celebrates after Ireland's Triple Crown success
A delighted Brian O'Driscoll holds aloft the Triple Crown trophy
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

"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.

Highlights: England 24-28 Ireland

Interview: Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan

Interview: Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll

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


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