I was thinking that it was 10 years to the day that we lost to Australia in the 1991 World Cup quarter-final. Australia put Ireland under pressure that time and scored a late try to win the match. England did the same towards the end and couldn't score. This was Ireland's best performance in recent years.

All of the factors that needed to be there were there. Ireland kept England under so much pressure and in the event made one of the best sides in the world look ordinary. It was almost a Munster-type performance taken onto the international stage with a swarming Irish pack all over the place and always in England's face. It was reminisent of the Irish performances in 1987 and 1993.

The backrow were making big tackles, players in possession were supported, something in the past we didn't always do that well, the ball retention was excellent and Ireland were able to get in behind them. I thought we looked dangerous almost every time we got the ball because we were able to get guys there in numbers supporting. England couldn't get their hands on the ball.

Even their lineouts were apalling. We disrupted them well on their throw-in and that's why Philip Greening was taken off at half-time for Dorian West.

That said there were two important moments which may have turned the match in Ireland's favour. The first was that fantastic diving tap-tackle made by Peter Stringer on Dan Luger as he was runing through for what looked like an England try. The second was when Ronan O'Gara came on at outhalf for the injured David Humphreys and had to kick a penalty with his first touch of the ball.

Stringer's tackle definitely changed the game. Had Luger scored, it would have silenced the crowd, who were really a big and important factor in the match, especially in the second half when Ireland needed the lift.

A try then also would have given England the confidence they needed. And they needed confidence because they'd no leader out there with Martin Johnson injured, Lawrence Dallalglio absent and Matt Dawson with a pulled hamstring.

When Austin Healey scored his try it was late in the game with only three or four minutes to go. But Luger's run was about 15 minutes from the end which would have given them more time. I think the pendulum could then have swung the other way.

Throughout the match Ireland had a better understanding of each other. Playing Scotland and Wales first was valuable in building that, while England came into the match cold.

There might also have been a small touch of arrogance or complacency in the England team. Going on memory I think only one player, Kyran Bracken, had ever played against Ireland before and lost. So most of them would have been used to regularly beating Ireland. Keith Wood was picked as man of the match and I wouldn't argue. He's a tailsman in the team and always gives 120 per cent. But everyone played that way.

The big tackles from David Wallace, Eric Miller and Anthony Foley knocked them back and the midfield were also making them. Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan also did a good job in closing Luger and Jason Robinson on the wing.

They were always going to get a chance to run with the ball but were largely kept quiet. What it shows is that Ireland can beat these teams and can now look towards the game against Samoa, who will be big hitters and not easy to play against.

The IRFU should now extend Warren Gatland's contract and allow him take Ireland through to the next World Cup.

This has been an incredible Six Nations and Ireland could actually have won the Grand Slam.

Three weeks ago people were calling for Gatland's head and as I've said before we need to be patient. Ireland don't always perform well in every match and then people tend to overreact when things don't work out the way they should.

For years we used to just win a match or two every year. I think people should be deliriously happy about how Ireland played and what the team achieved this season.