Under the West Stand, they emerged, suits and ties, hands in pockets. A certain amount of satisfaction radiated around the bowels of the Irish changing-rooms but nothing too indulgent. It was almost as though the team had expected as much. Belief had been rewarded.

Outside spectators gathered, all with the same question on their lips - "How many players now Jake?" Whatever fire Eddie O'Sullivan had instilled into his side for the match had now burned out, the players clearly weary from the run of exhaustive hits and upfront aggression of their performance. Big men fagged out. Rarely has it ever been so wretchedly tough in the trenches and sweet when the smoke had cleared.

"We took a lot from what was said in the media and kept quiet ourselves, said the Irish number eight Anthony Foley.

"We said we'd answer him (Jake White) on the pitch. I think he saw that today. At the end they were not going to cross our line. The key was we went at them. We didn't sit back. We attacked at any opportunity we could, showed good composure and took our scores. We talked about it afterwards but we should never have been in the position where we were defending a five-point lead close to our own line.

"We should have been well ahead and that's an area of concern we'll have to improve on if we want to take the next step forward. We should have been nine or 10 points clear and in their half playing the last few minutes. If there was one criticism we had that was it."

Reggie Corrigan, the Irish prop, was another who worked the front line until he could give no more, 10 minutes from full time. Earning his 38th cap, Corrigan said he had never been involved in a more physically demanding match than this, the consistency of the high tempo, the frequency of tackling and the need to constantly make tackles all contributing to an afternoon of supreme effort.

"All week we knew there would be a massive battle in the forwards and (it was) as fast as anything I've ever played - non-stop, quick breakdowns. You were always getting to another break, always running," he said. "There was full-on smashing into each other.

"We had decided we were not going to take a step back at any point during the game. We were going to front up to these guys and get in their face.

"There was a period 15 minutes into the second half when we were defending our own line. They were pummeling us with their big, heavy runners, Oz Du Randt and (Schalk) Burger and these guys. We eventually turned the ball over with savagely strong defence. They never made the gain-line once. Again, at the end, they were camped on our line and again we were able to turn it over for Peter Stringer to kick it into the roof of the stand."

For one player the match was as much a rite of passage as it was a rousing baptism. Irish openside flanker Johnny O'Connor could not have been thrown in much deeper than against the current Tri-Nations champions.

"It wasn't a bad way to start," said O'Connor. "I really enjoyed it, although it took me a while to get used to the pace. I hope to get more (caps) under my belt now.

"I think I was just a bit tense," added O'Connor. "When I found my feet I felt alright, I was happy enough. There were plenty of areas to improve but I won't tell you just yet. I was given a job to do, given an opportunity and I wanted to take it."

The view was that O'Connor delivered. "He should be a proud young man tonight," captain Brian O'Driscoll said. "I don't always see what other players are doing because I'm concentrating on my own game. From what I did see, it was his usual tenacious self on the deck, winning ball, slowing ball, clearing rucks. Phenomenal. He's your typical openside flanker. I don't think that will be the last we will see of Johnny O'Connor."

In recent years Ireland have beaten three of the top sides in the world. Perhaps now the team can not only mix it consistently at this level but also improve further.

"We've beaten Australia, the World champions, England, the World champions, the Tri-nations champions and we won the Triple Crown," said Corrigan. "We are now a squad of players used to winning big games. What we need to do is draw on the experience of winning the games, the preparation, the tactics, the mental side. I don't think there is any reason for this Irish team to fear anybody."