Match Quotes: Ireland 19 England 13

The post-match reaction from Ireland’s nail-biting defeat of the World champions at Lansdowne Road – a result which sees them continue at the top of the Six Nations table on points difference.

RBS Six Nations Man-of-the-match Ronan O’Gara: “We made hard work of it but it’s still special to beat England.

“I had three chances to win the game but didn’t. We have work to do after this but we never take a victory over England lightly.”

Ireland captain and try-scorer Brian O’Driscoll: “We are delighted – we felt if we performed well then we would win but with England also having played very well, it makes it all the sweeter.

“This season for the first time we have been able to play with the favourites’ tag. Hopefully we have proved that today and can continue to keep doing so.

“As for my try it was a move we had worked on all week.

“There was a bit of magic from Geordan Murphy and it was a great break from Denis Hickie.

“The lads were complaining about the time I took to put the ball down at the end but really it was an easy run-in.”

“We did get the bounce of the ball and some days that happens and you’ve just got to jump on the back of it.

England coach Andy Robinson: “I thought that Mark Cueto scored a perfectly good try, and he (referee Jonathan Kaplan) should have gone to the video referee on Josh Lewsey’s late one.

“It is how we use the technology. It is there, and it should be used. I am still trying to work out the Cueto try. I have looked at both, and they both looked tries.

“We are very disappointed, and this will hurt, there is no doubt about that.

“We are upset now, but the referee is in charge and he has called in his way and we have got to be able to cope with that.

“We have done everything but win a game of rugby, but Ireland are a good side – they defended magnificently and they’ve got every chance of winning this Six Nations.”

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan: “In the second half we got the crucial try at the crucial moment.

“We also slotted over our penalties and drop goals and if we hadn’t missed a drop goal and a penalty which Ronan O’Gara would normally have kicked, then we would have put the game away easier.

“As it was we had to defend for long periods and that is all good for the confidence of the team.

“I think our try was very well worked, it was a gem, as good a try as we have scored for a while.

“We played a lot of good stuff today, it wasn’t perfect but then rugby is never perfect. It’s been a long hard week but we take away a lot of satisfaction from this.

“The guys really believe in what they are doing, three or four years ago we wouldn’t have won that game. Right now all the pieces of the jigsaw seem to be coming together.”