Ireland v South Africa Reaction: Don't get overly excited. Don't get carried away. This immense performance had its flaws, but it was one, nonetheless, that allows Ireland to think of themselves as a side that can develop further, one that can beat Australia next Sunday and go on to put a big dent in this season's Six Nations championship.

And what about the World Cup after Saturday's controlled demolition of the touring South Africans? There is still too much water to cross before considerations on pool rivals France are crystallised, but the feelings are good.

"The South Africans had an experimental side. I think we are fully aware of what we beat," said Irish outhalf Ronan O'Gara, surely a player in a seam of golden form. "It wasn't the Test team. We are aware of what we beat but we won't get carried away. We were glad to win but a few of us were a little disappointed that we gifted them soft goals and that's not good enough."

The restraint and self-examination have been features of Irish performances now for some time. The collective mindset has set the bar as high as, or higher than, it has ever been and while the players were justifiably glowing in the success of having delivered on the undeclared promise to win, they feel there is more to come against what is expected to be a different proposition in the Australians.

"Against big teams we sometimes panic but I think we were able to make contact on our terms and even in the second half with the big wind, we didn't spend much time in our own half," added O'Gara.

"I felt very comfortable but it will be a different game next week. Yes, they (Australia) beat us in the summer but that was at the end of the season and you can see we are fresh now and looking forward to it. That's the key mentally. Whatever team we come up against at home, we now expect to beat and we have to shoulder that responsibility."

As for Paul O'Connell, there are few who carry expectations as well. The Munster lock also looks to next week and sees a touring team that won't fracture as frequently as the Springboks did when the Irish team link.

O'Connell has never been one for exaggerating an achievement, and even in the afterglow of a heartwarming win he sounded a caution.

"In New Zealand after two tough Tests we still struggled badly against Australia. So they are going to be a massive challenge next week. I think they will be very organised. They are the best defensive team in the world in my opinion and their running lines down in Australia were sensational," he said.

"They seem to be very well coached in the setpiece and there doesn't seem to be any weakness in their game. There is no point in saying that what we beat today was a first-choice South African team, it wasn't, and barring a few players we will be playing against a first-choice Australian side.

"Sure, beating South Africa was right up there, one of our best performances, but you have to keep it in perspective. They were missing a lot of players and maybe their defence was in a small bit of disarray. We were very good but what we were saying in the dressing-room was that we have to keep it in perspective."

The rampaging Neil Best, who was rarely far away from clambering all over the Springbok rucks and mauls, emerged battle weary but typically armed with his own views of what transpired on the pitch. The Ulster backrow started in his sixth Test match but was unlikely to get carried away by his relative inexperience.

"To win against a Tri-Nations side, that's good," said the Ulsterman. "It was an odd situation to be in, that an Irish side were favourites to beat a team from South Africa. In the first half we were very dominant at the breakdown, dominant breaking through the line on first phase and second phase, and that was very encouraging. In the second half we weren't so good and let them in for some soft tries. Overall, it was a good performance, something to build on."

Leicester's Geordan Murphy, who arrived into the fray late in the match, felt Ireland not only dominated the Springboks but also coped brilliantly with the weather.

"The conditions were atrocious," he said. "You'd throw the ball at the target and the wind would just pick it up and take it three or four yards behind you. It was very, very difficult and I was impressed by the way the guys played, especially in the first 50 or 60 minutes.

"Quite pleased," added Murphy. "But still room for improvement."