Brian O'Driscoll's Six Nations Diary: A bad day at the office but credit to England for a wonderful defensive performance before turning their pressure into points. The seminal moment was the Mike Tindall try, a big turning point. It was galling to let them in for such a bad try from a defensive perspective.

I'd say I was the guilty party but I'd need another viewing to confirm that. I definitely did badly because I didn't look up. I was watching them running the move and ignored Tindall. That's a mistake because he runs great lines. I remember two years ago he ran a similar line and I just got to him in time and he spilled the ball.

I thought at the time that I was fortunate to catch him as it would have been dangerous had I missed the tackle. Two years on and he showed me just how fatal it could be. Their scramble defence was unbelievable. You really do have to take every opportunity against them. They are so hard to break down. If you look at their performances in this season's Six Nations, with the exception of the France game, they don't give up tries easily.

The pre-match hullabaloo was a storm in a teacup. We weren't trying to be difficult. It is protocol that we stand on the left and the visiting team lines up on the right. We were just observing protocol. There was no big deal and the only unfortunate thing about the whole episode was that President McAleese had to swap the red carpet for the green grass.

Personally it wasn't the most physical game of the Six Nations but some of the other lads might dispute that assertion. I got hit so many times in the Scottish game that I felt shattered after it. Apart from my dead leg I don't feel too bad and nothing like as emotionally drained as after the Welsh game.

The build-up to the match had been good. We spoke about the opportunity that presented itself in this match, that it might never come again, especially to us as a team and that we had to grasp it with both hands. There were to be no regrets, as individuals we were to give everything to the team, expend every last ounce of energy and if we did that, then there could be no recriminations.

You have to be philosophical. If your best isn't good enough then so be it but we emphasised the importance of not waking up on Monday going, "could have, should have, would have." Everyone gave their all out there.

It was an unbelievably quick game. You always know it's a quick game when Strings (Peter Stringer) tells you it is a quick game. The world's fittest man was like a pinball heading between rucks, perpetual motion.

We were nervous because of the opportunity that presented itself but in one sense had nothing to lose. We'd won 10 on the bounce. It would have capped an unbelievable season for us. We charged ourselves with a relatively simple task, "to go and play our hearts out." On the day it wasn't enough.

The scoreline flattered them a little in the end because we were throwing the ball around trying to play catch-up. We could have kept it tight, run down the clock and lost by 12 points less but what sort of aspirations are those: you're here to play rugby and you may as well play it to the end.

In chasing the game we made mistakes but that is the lot of most teams who try and play catch-up rugby. I'd imagine it's rare that when England go in front they're caught from behind. It just reinforces the quality of the team; they're so hard to peg back.

The week leading up to the match had been good, the players relaxed and we enjoyed the visit of Christy Moore. It's incredible, Christy (Moore) comes in and he nearly enjoys it as much as we do.

He's a big rugby fan, chats to the lads afterwards and dedicates certain songs to certain people. It's very personal and a highlight to have a personal concert with a folk legend.

Today was the first time we played our most patterned game, taking them from side to side and we managed that. Structurally we were very sound and it may seem strange saying that when we've just been beaten 42-6 but it merely underlines the quality of their defence.

We didn't always play fantastic rugby in the Six Nations. We were very gutsy and won matches we wouldn't have done in other years. There is a confidence within the squad and that's reflected in the last 10 minutes we managed in all games, bar this one, when we've finished on the right side of the result. In fairness we weren't in a position to do anything against England because they were out of sight at that stage.

We'd had a bit of fun at a run out prior to the match, down in St Andrews College. To while away some time while the forwards took an age over their lineouts, we started taking penalties on the hockey astroturf pitch with a rugby ball. Then we moved out to the first line outside the circle, trying to hit the crossbar.

Rog (Ronan O'Gara) bet me that I couldn't do it from five goes and I confirmed his confidence. Then Rog had five goes and missed the lot. Geordie (Geordan Murphy) stepped up and first go hit the crossbar. We had another few goes and then Den (Denis Hickie) arrived and took a load of pot shots; he wasn't even close.

Geordie then hit one with his left foot and struck the crossbar. "That didn't impress me at all." Show-off. Denis and Rog managed to hit the bloody crossbar eventually and yours truly, chastened had to take the abuse on the bus back to the hotel.

It was a disappointing end to an excellent season. We'd have liked to finish it in style but it wasn't to be.

(In an interview with John O'Sullivan)