O'Driscoll, who scored his side's only try, said: We are delighted, we felt if we performed well then we would win but with England also having played very well it makes it all the sweeter.

''We did get the bounce of the ball and some days that happens and you've just got to jump on the back of it.''

The star centre also insisted Ireland were ready to live up to an RBS 6 Nations championship in which they are rapidly becoming the form team.

''This season for the first time we have been able to play with the favourites' tag,'' he said.

''Hopefully we have proved that today and can continue to keep doing so.

''As for my try it was a move we had worked on all week.

''There was a bit of magic from Geordan Murphy and it was a great break from Denis Hickie.

''The lads were complaining about the time I took to put the ball down at the end but really it was an easy run-in.''