Most people left Lansdowne Road on Saturday afternoon with every reason to be content. For the South Africans, in particular, it was an historic occasion. They now take their place in the record books and it will be a long time before some other team wins 17 successive internationals.

The South Africans are not finished yet. I think it is unlikely that England will beat them in their remaining Test match on this tour and they may add significantly to their record.

For the Irish team, management and supporters the fact that we were competitive against the best in the world for the entire 80 minutes was deeply satisfying. The players got the clear message on Saturday from the Irish rugby public that the primary expectation is a performance of pride and commitment.

It was fully accepted that we were beaten by a better, more athletic side and that every Irish player had given it his best shot. The huge applause given to the Irish team when they left the pitch at half-time was in stark contrast to some of the more forgettable moments in recent years.

The result was decided in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Going in at 6-7 down we needed to resume where we had left off but, unfortunately, this was not the case. From the South African kick-off we failed to obey the golden rule of getting out of our own half, kicked the ball straight into South African hands and were lucky not to concede a try. We did concede a penalty, however, which allowed the South Africans to go 10-6 up. Obviously their coach, Nick Mallett had changed tactics at half-time and they now began to take the ball directly up the middle of the park through their forwards and, particularly through their out-half Henry Honiball who, after a very mixed first half, dominated the game in the second.

Shortly thereafter, from a South African short lineout, Bobby Skinstad was put through the middle and rounded Conor O'Shea with a sidestep and speed that we seldom see from forwards in this part of the world.

A couple of minutes later, following poor Irish control in a scrum, Skinstad did the damage again leading to a try by van der Westhuisen under the Irish posts. Suddenly Ireland were 24-6 behind and things looked very bleak. To their credit the Irish players stuck to their task and, crucially, scored next when Keith Wood went over the South African line after a period of pressure. Had South Africa scored before Wood's try, they could have run away with the game but the Irish try kept them cautious. Like all teams on a long winning run the result had become imperative; the margin and the manner less so. This will eventually lead to their defeat as it generally does to all great teams. In the time remaining, Ireland created numerous chances and these, as well as a few in the first half, were not capitalised upon. We seemed to panic and lose our shape when we got close to the opposition line. Bad decisions were taken and people went on their own when they should have passed. I would also question our decision to opt for scrums when given penalties near the South African line.

They were more comfortable than we were in the scrums and we were never going to push them over. I am not suggesting that we should have kicked to touch so close to their line but rather that we should have used some pre-planned penalty moves.

In the end, this very talented South African side deserved their win. They do not have any weaknesses and are probably capable of playing better. Their defence is terrifically strong and, while their finishing from attacking positions was not clinical, they looked capable from the very start of scoring from any place on the pitch.

They have an enormous amount of pace all through the side but especially in the key areas of back-row, half-back and on the wings. It took South African rugby some time to catch up after their isolation from the world game but they have proved that they are quick learners.

The only disappointing aspect of their performance was the manner in which Keith Wood was singled out for "special treatment" from the start. From the Irish point of view the commitment was fantastic. The tackling was as good as I have seen. However, the fact remains that we have difficulty when we try to play an expansive game. Warren Gatland seems to have decided that Conor McGuinness and Eric Elwood are going to be his half-backs for the foreseeable future. If that is so, then our game plan will follow accordingly.

My only concern in this regard is that our lack of scoring potential will make it almost impossible for us to win high-scoring games.

We can look forward to the Five Nations championship with hope but, if we are to be successful, we have to learn to take a higher percentage of the scoring opportunities which come our way.

(In an interview with Sean Kilfeather)