THE perfect end to the near-perfect year -- the only 'blemish' on the most successful 12 months in Irish rugby history being the draw with twice World Cup winners Australia a fortnight ago.

But when you factor in what the Wallabies did to Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, that puts the Irish display, after a six-month lay-off, in a different perspective.

Had the Autumn International line-up been different, as in Fiji preceding Australia, then we could be well celebrating the perfect 10 from 10 in '09.

We saw in that draw with the Aussies, Brian O'Driscoll and the rest digging into the deepest reserves. And once more on Saturday those traits of courage and resilience were to the fore in abundance, as this time the most precarious of leads was protected to the end against the reigning world champions.

And please, may we be spared the fatigue factor from Peter de Villiers and his fellow Springbok apologists. I don't think the same issue was on the post-match agenda in Cardiff or Marseilles, where the Wallabies and All Blacks cut loose in their last games of the southern- hemisphere season.

For the best part of the opening half they dominated position and possession, squeezing Ireland as they have most every other opposition this almost all-conquering year. It ain't pretty, but it is mighty effective and, given the intensity of the full-court-press, extremely difficult to counter.

The French demonstrated the necessary blueprint in Toulouse and Ireland followed suit, despite a retreating scrum on Saturday.

It is the potential Achilles heel going forward and one Gert Smal will need to address between now and the start of the Six Nations defence in February. Whatever permutation it takes from Cian Healy, Tom Court, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Tony Buckley and the hopefully fit-again Marcus Horan, a more solid scrum remains top of Declan Kidney's wish list for Christmas.

That apart, all nine forwards were outstanding on Saturday, but with Flannery, both locks and the dynamic Jamie Heaslip particularly so.

Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell made the desired second-row statement, although the enforced withdrawal of Bakkies Botha was a massive blow to the 'Boks, both psychologically and practically.

Victor Matfield's reliance on his Blue Bulls' team-mate was there for all to see. The 2007 World Cup 'Player of the tournament' is a much lesser presence minus his partner.

Heaslip is never afraid to get down and get dirty and much like his skipper in midfield, does so much donkey work that goes unheralded. He is becoming one of the real leaders in the side and a live candidate for future captaincy.

Rob Kearney got the official nod for 'Man of the Match,' and far be it for me to argue with that, but with the qualification that the skipper was yet again truly awesome. Kearney, too, is now a serious presence in the side and like Heaslip a fast developing leader behind the scrum.

I understand fully the politics of provincial measured against national needs, but in the best interests of player (Kearney), province (Leinster) and country I would urge Kidney to take a stronger line in his dealings with Michael Cheika regarding Kearney. He is the best full-back in the country by a proverbial mile and with a primary instinct to counter that must never, ever be stifled.

substance

As for Jonathan Sexton? His was a performance of real substance. Not only have we now got a genuine alternative to Ronan O'Gara, but one that looks likely to be in pole position for the Six Nations.

O'Gara has much to offer yet. It is not by any means the end of a very great player, but what this autumn series has done is to create an out-half rivalry set to benefit Kidney's Ireland up to and perhaps even beyond 2011.

Again on Saturday, as at the RDS, Sexton was nerveless in most everything he did. When your full-back and out-half are clearly in control then the ripple effect on any team is tangible.

To that add hooker, both locks, No 8 and the midfield general wearing No 13 and it fair to say you're in with a shout of a result, irrespective of the opposition.

In the end they got the win they undoubtedly deserved and -- New Zealand apart -- it doesn't come any bigger than against the world champions, particularly in a year when they annexed Tri Nations and Lions Series.

The Springboks beat the all Blacks three times on their way to that Tri Nations success -- what would Ireland now give for just one win anywhere, anytime over the Kiwis.

- Tony Ward

Irish Independent