Television match official Simon McDowell, an Irishman, took several minutes before giving his verdict on Elvis Vermeulens late try as Les Bleus retained the title with a 46-19 triumph over Scotland.

A sparkling 51-24 victory against Italy appeared to have put Ireland in the driving seat but France responded magnificently to edge the Triple Crown holders on points difference.

OSullivan said: I watched the France game in my room. I got back to the hotel in time and got changed watching the game. I felt very helpless like everybody else.

I thought Scotland had done us a favour. The wait to see if the try had been given was excruciating.

The call could have gone either way but went against Scotland and us too. I didnt know which way the call was going to go.

Everyone was on the edge of their seat. The TMO is there to make a tough call and if he thought it was a try then it was a try.

Some days you get those decisions and some days you dont so I dont have any gripe with the decision.

They have to call what they see and what they believe is right. It was a tough call.

Ireland ran in eight tries against the outclassed Azzurri with Girvan Dempsey and Denis Hickie scoring a brace each while Simon Easterby, Gordon DArcy, Shane Horgan and Ronan OGara also crossed.

OSullivan was delighted with the rout at the Stadio Flaminio and felt his side had done everything possible to wrestle the title from Frances grasp.

He said: We went into the game and did the best we could in the circumstances.

If youd told me before the game wed score over 50 points and produce eight tries Id say fair enough, thats a good innings so let the dice roll.

The dice had been rolled but it didnt fall our way.