By Geordan Murphy Ireland and Leicester wing

For the South Africans to say that they did not rate us was just perfect to get us warmed up Ireland 17-12 South Africa More Ireland reaction

What a game - the intensity was simply incredible. That was a special day out there at Lansdowne Road.

The victory over South Africa was such an overwhelming feeling, but you knew that there was something special coming up.

There are a lot of bumps and bruises in the camp and everybody knew that they were in a game. Come to think of it, so did the Springboks.

The game was built up all week with a war of words between the two coaches and management.

I suppose we used that to our advantage and it was a bit of ammunition for us. For the South Africans to say that they did not rate us was just perfect to get us warmed up.

I suppose it really showed on the field. It's a long, long time since I played in a battle like that.

There was a feeling that every man in a white jersey of Ireland would have done anything to lay their lives on the line

There was a feeling that every man in a white jersey of Ireland would have done anything to lay their lives on the line.

The camaraderie amongst the players in the run-up to the game was magnificent.

I had this feeling when I left our team hotel to go to the ground that we were going to win. There was an electric atmosphere all week.

Our coach Eddie O'Sullivan said just before we ran out that we had let ourselves down during the summer when we lost both Tests.

He said that we allowed ourselves to be bullied in the first game and again in the second in Cape Town, even though we made a game of it.

So we set out not to be pushed around like little boys. We made sure that their big forwards were not going to come round the fringes and push us off the ball.

As you saw, nobody took a backwards step. It was real physical stuff.

At half-time when we were 8-3 ahead, Eddie was pleased with the way things were going and told us to keep similar patterns.

We set out not to be pushed around like little boys

He did, though, encourage us to use the backs in the second half against the wind and to play the ball wide. I fancy South Africa might have been expecting more driving from the forwards, who had a fantastic first half.

Naturally, there were a few scary moments, but I suppose that's what the game is all about. To survive at the end made it even more rewarding.

Our defensive play was particularly pleasing. Mike Ford did a lot of work with us during the week.

There was more chat than usual between the players of each team but that's the way they play the game.

They play on the edge and they like to intimidate you, they push you around, and there's a lot of sly little things going on off the ball that you don't really see.

But that's what it's like in games like this when it is fiery and physical.

In the changing room there was plenty of back-slapping and handshakes but everything was just a blur

I suppose we thought we had the game won with about 20 minutes to go when we went two scores ahead. Well, at least I knew then that we were right in it.

But the last few minutes were a little hairy.

Back in the changing room after the game, there was no real outpouring of joy. I suppose everyone was so knackered.

There was plenty of back-slapping and handshakes and everyone had a say, but everything was just a blur.

In time I will look back on it and take pleasure in defeating one of the top teams in the world.