Ireland produced a performance of immense courage and resolve at the Millennium Stadium to end their long wait for Six Nations glory according to Paul Hayward in the Observer.
"This was a sub-standard Six Nations Championship, bedevilled by rule changes, aerial bombardments and dual-personality performances by France and England. Yet, right at the end, serendipity served up a contest of stunning ferocity, in which Wales fought to hold what they had (the title of Grand Slam champions) and Ireland battled for something that has eluded them since the powdered egg days of post-war austerity.
"This was not rugby, this was a battle scene from Lord of the Rings. By the end of the first half, it was reasonable to expect a cart to go around to collect limbs and body parts. Wales and Ireland ripped into each other from the gun. Within five minutes, Ireland's Donncha O'Callaghan and the Wales captain Ryan Jones had each other by the throat after Jones had tripped Ronan O'Gara."
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