Brian Campsall was the unlikely hero of Lansdowne Road. His interpretation of the video evidence for Australian referee Scott Young for Brian O'Driscoll's second-half try spawned a new buzz word around Ballsbridge - downward pressure. The try of Brian O'Driscoll or the hand of god

Captain Keith Wood dipped his toe into the water but caused few ripples. "We either got the try or we didn't get it. We got it," he said. "We were all negative. We all lined out across the 22 just in case. But it is part and parcel of the game now. The scoreline shows that it was a try, hence it's a try."

"The game has to move on. Video evidence is part of it. The game is professional and has to be professional in all facets of play, the way it's shown, the way decisions can go. It worked for both teams today."

While the management emphasised the 22 player collective rather than the individual, backs coach Eddie O'Sullivan looked to O'Driscoll's effort, the ninth of his international career, as the pivotal moment in the match.

"It was a difficult day for the backs," said O'Sullivan.

"The French defence is one of the better I have seen for a while but in games like this one moment turns it. I think the Brian O'Driscoll try was that moment."

From coach Warren Gatland's perspective the contest had begun last Sunday when the team came together and spoke about what they wanted to achieve and what their realistic objectives could be.

"We talked all week about the confidence in the team and when we came together said we expect to win this game. We're good enough to win this game," said Gatland.

"Mick Galwey spoke early in the week about the talent, the self belief, just having the confidence. It was a little bit scary towards the end but we thoroughly deserved the victory and the result."

Wood echoed Gatland's words and described an Irish team that is beginning to shoulder the weight of higher expectations, a team that is comfortable with its abilities and skills and unafraid to say so.

"We had a chat amongst ourselves and said this is a match we can win," said Wood. "Having that sort of thought, which can seem like arrogance, is something that doesn't really sit well in an Irish context and it hasn't done so in the past. We knew all the work we were going to have to do to make that happen. To start believing it at the beginning of the week and to see it coming to fruition . . . that's a pretty special feeling."

The match peaked and troughed for Ireland and when France stepped up a gear and began to find some fluidity towards the end, Ireland's robust reaction was the difference between what might have happened a few years ago and what was achieved on Saturday.

"There were a lot of penalties, knock-ons and scrums and stuff," said Wood.

"It was very physical, very clean, though fast, very fast at times.

"When France took control of the game for 10 or 15 minutes, it was pretty damned hard work.

"With the scrum I was happier. I'm not entirely happy. I think we brought it up a few notches from a couple of weeks ago. We obviously want to make some sort of progression from today and to do that we have to improve a few facets of our play," he said.

Gatland focussed on the period of French domination.

"We put ourselves under pressure when France took the game to us.

"It is about coping and learning about that type of pressure. When we get together we'll talk about working through bad patches, look at our decision-making and accept the tags of being favourites.

The expectation was with France and I was delighted with the player's attitude and their whole general effort." he said.

"The beauty of winning a match like this is that it gives us a good opportunity to talk about those 15 minutes where we lost our shape and found ourselves under pressure."