PLAYERS' REACTION:ROB KEARNEY, Tommy Bowe and Denis Leamy are scattered to the four corners of the mixed zone in the bowels of the Millennium Stadium surrounded by a phalanx of tape recorders, each player holding individual court to sundry media.

Although they are unaware of what each other is saying there is a familiar theme that peppers their conversation as they independently refer to a special bond, fostered by coach Declan Kidney and his management team but eagerly embraced by the players. It is the glue that allowed a group of Ireland players to win a Grand Slam in Cardiff.

The genesis for Saturday’s triumph was a meeting at a hotel in Enfield last December that incorporated a full and frank exchange of views. Kearney takes up the story.

“It was massive. We were there for three days and we did 45 minutes on the pitch. That’s really where a lot of the groundwork was done. That was one of the occasions which went a long way to building a team. A lot of people were laying things down the line, just being truthful and honest.

“I think honesty is the bottom line in a lot of these things. There were a lot of things thrown from both ends but it’s the sign of a great team that you can take those things on board and learn from them.”

Ireland’s fullback singled out the outstanding work by the backroom team, coaches, medical staff and analysts that facilitated the team’s development and charted an unbeaten journey through the Six Nations. He also sought to explain the input and impact that Kidney has enjoyed since taking over the reins.

“I just think we’re a great team now. There’s so much to be said for a close, tight unit. When the chips are down that’s when you need to be playing with your friends. Over the last six months since he’s come in, I can certainly say that everyone I play with now is a friend rather than a colleague.”

Kearney also singled out the input of Ronan O’Gara both before and during the match.

“He said that on Wednesday or Thursday that you would be sitting on your couch at home and only then would you realise potentially what we could have done for our country. It was simple but effective.” And what of the winning drop goal? “I don’t think it was ever in doubt. I felt he did really well today. Even though they did target him, he stood up to it and he’ll be remembered for that drop goal for life.”

Leamy also addresses O’Gara’s seminal intervention: “When there is five minutes left on the clock, the game isn’t over. There was every chance that we could get possession and create a chance for ourselves. We did that, got the position and Rog, well there’s no better man to have in the right place. He chipped it over a wall of defenders . . . great moment.

“I was in a ruck and just got up in time to watch and block some fella on the blindside. I was fairly knackered at that stage. From where I was standing, I looked at the wall of defenders and didn’t think he was going to get it.

“He chipped it beautifully; bit of a sand wedge, brilliant. It is probably the one memory I will take away from the day, Rog’s drop goal. It’s a magic moment in Irish sport and we will be seeing that once or twice again.”

For Leamy it was a marvellous end to a week of uncertainty, only being given the medical all-clear on the Friday from the shoulder injury he sustained against Scotland.

“I wasn’t expecting to come on after eight minutes but Stephen Ferris got a bad injury. It’s very hard to describe what goes through your body and the rush it (the final whistle) gives you.

“I don’t think you can get it in any other walk of life. It’s a sense of fulfilment. There are many times when you work really hard and don’t get the rewards but when you do you savour it.”

It wasn’t all serious po-faced analysis from the trio of Irish players. Kearney spoke about what winning a Grand Slam meant to him and also some of the elder statesmen in the team. He smiled: “It hasn’t sunk in but I’ll have it for life now, won’t I? I’m more delighted for the older lads, the 50 or 60-plus (years of age on the team). They’ve worked so hard for this.”

But it was Bowe who drew peals of laughter when asked had he slept soundly the night before the match. “I slept like a baby! But the craic within the team . . . not many will tell you this, but we tied up the bag-man (Rala) in the middle of the night, and sent him down in the lift. We were all sitting there taking photos of this fella going up and down in a glass lift with masking tape over his mouth, and the people in reception didn’t know what was going on.

“But there’s a great atmosphere within the squad. You’d think you would be dead nervous, but the belief and the confidence is such that we are able to enjoy ourselves, and then we switch on. The nerves were there today, but we were still able to have a chat, to have the craic but when it comes to it we put the game faces on.”

And what of the try?

“All through the game I have been asking for a couple of (cross) kicks like that one for the try. There was a lot of space there.

“The ball bounced up perfectly for me but I got a nice whack in the gut from Gav (Henson). I was winded but kept going. I thought ‘there must be someone coming across here’. Luckily I made the posts, people jumped on top of me and I couldn’t breathe.

“It was one of those moments where I’d like to have celebrated more, but I couldn’t.” There’ll be plenty of scope for that in the coming weeks and months.