After the farewell, will Ireland now fare well?

We have become programmed to expect the worst when we travel to Paris in the spring but mercifully this Irish team failed to read the script and accept the inevitable.

This squad is made of sterner stuff, battle-hardened from countless Heineken Cup treks to the rugby strongholds of southern France and returning, more often that not, with the spoils.

This was the day when the national team finally reaped the rewards from the mental durability accumulated over those years of provincial achievement. The biggest plus of all, especially with a World Cup beginning to come into focus, is that Ireland closed out this heart-stopping contest with a callow group of youngsters on board. Yes, they were pushed to the brink and rode their luck at times but the fact they succeeded will deliver further benefits down the line.