At that stage Ireland trailed 12-9 after four first half Chris Paterson penalties to three from Ronan O'Gara had seen the home side lead 12-9 at the break. But there was a greater urgency and cohension to the Irish from the restart.

In the 56th minute O'Gara landed a marvellous drop goal but that score was cancelled out four minutes later when Paterson landed his fifth successful penalty.

O'Gara was wide with a 64th minute penalty but made no mistake in the 70th with a difficult effort from the right and from then on Ireland controlled the game to set up a tilt at the Grand Slam next weekend.

Ireland: R Kearney (G Murphy 75th min); T Bowe, B O'Driscoll capt, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; R O'Gara, P Stringer (T O'Leary 65th min); M Horan, R Best (J Flannery 61st min), J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Ferris, D Wallace, D Leamy (J Heaslip16th min).

Referee - Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).