So Brian O’Driscoll got the send off he thoroughly deserved, probably made all the sweeter by stealing the championship out from under the nose of an expectant England! A fitting end for one of the games true legends who has straddled the world stage with great skill and dignity.

It was also pleasing that this was a win against a French side that decided to turn up even if they did crack in the closing minutes missing a simple penalty and butchering a last minute pass either of which would have won them the game. No matter, the record books will show this as Ireland’s second win in Paris in 47 years and that’s all that matters.

As for the game, France took a 6 – 0 lead through two penalties before Chris Henry put Johnny Sexton through for his first try. The conversion was missed but it wasn’t long before Ireland took the lead with the hugely impressive Andrew Trimble racing on to a Conor Murray break to gallop over unopposed. Sexton found his range with the conversion and Ireland led 12 – 6.

It didn’t last long as France responded almost immediately with a touch of class from Yoann Huget who tapped a cross field kick into the hands of the onrushing Brice Dulin who scored in the corner. The conversion put France back in front 13 – 12 and that’s how it remained at the break with Sexton missing a simple penalty before half time.

France started the second half strongly but a searing break by Trimble found O’Driscoll on the outside and the chosen one should really have popped a simple return to the the Ulster man, who surely would have scored, but you cant blame the great one for a touch of white line fever on his last appearance.  No matter as a quick recycle found Sexton free to scamper over for his second and with his second conversion Ireland were leading 19 -13. Phew.

Sexton increased Ireland’s lead to 22 – 13 before a period of pressure in the Ireland 22 ended with Dimitri Szarzewski dotting the ball down at the base of the posts in the midst of an almighty melee for a converted try to set up a frenetic finale!

Well, as we all now know, Ireland held on and claimed their second Six Nations Championship to give O’Driscoll a fitting send off!

IRELAND: Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Dave Kearney, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Iain Henderson, Jordi Murphy, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

FRANCE: Brice Dulin, Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Maxime Medard, Remi Tales, Maxime Machenaud, Thomas Domingo, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Papé, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Alexandre Lapandry, Damien Chouly. Replacements: Guilhem Guirado, Vincent Debaty, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Jean Marc Doussain, Maxime Mermoz

So, it’s now time for change as Ireland look to build for the 2015 World Cup. As you can see from our info graphic it’s been an Ireland side built on a strong Leinster foundation but what will the time on the pitch look like for Ulster this time next year?

Bowe, Ferris, Gilroy, Tuohy, Henderson, Jackson, Cave and Marshall should all be in the mix and if we assume that Trimble, Henry and Best have established themselves during this campaign it should be exciting times. However they still need to prove themselves at the highest level, and at the expense of the phenomenal O’Driscoll bandwagon,  with a Heineken Cup win.

So, Brian, it’s been an honour to follow you in the green and the blue but, unless Ulster are knocked out of the Heinny, I hope that this was your last “mission impossible” on the pitch! Stand Up For That Leinster Man!