Class of 94 admits sense of deja vu

Ten years ago Ireland travelled to Twickenham to face an English side that had the same impregnable reputation Clive Woodward's team carried into Saturday. They'd beaten the touring All Blacks the previous November.

Ireland went to London without a prayer, but came away with a 13-12 win.

"We'd only two players on the '93 Lions tour," says second row on the day Mick Galwey. "A lot felt more players should have been picked but comparing it to this side now, I think that outside of a Triple Crown or Grand Slam it is one of the best performances I've seen from an Irish team. And Anthony Foley? What an occasion. His 50th cap and to go out there and put in a performance like that."

Outhalf Eric Elwood landed two penalties in 1994 and converted a memorable try scored by winger Simon Geoghegan.

"You'd have to say this win was bigger than ours," says Elwood. "They are the world champions. I know Wilko (Wilkinson) wasn't playing and Jonno's (Johnson) retired but I still believe that it was a very, very big achievement for Ireland.

"There were some similarities between Saturday and '94. We got a good try, we tackled all day and we took our chances. But we weren't given a prayer going there. Now it looks like an easy Triple Crown for the lads. I'd say they can't wait to play Italy and with the team playing the way they did it will also take pressure off some individuals."

Michael Bradley, scrumhalf in 1994, ranks the performance with any he's seen from an Irish team over the last 25 years.

"They outplayed England in the scrum and maul," he says. "This Irish side dictated the game more than we did and as a consequence I think we had to defend more . . . We weren't as good as this side; we didn't have as much talent or ability as this team."

Another second-rower a decade ago, Neil Francis saw the same ingredients on Saturday that beat Will Carling and co in 1994.

"Yeah, it was as big a game back then," says Francis. "I don't think they'd lost since '91. Their reputation was good and there was really no sign that we were going to do anything in Twickenham.

"We'd a very decent pack and that was the key - we played a very, very basic game. Saturday was more comprehensive and . . . more thought-out. We didn't spend as much time with the ball in their half in '94 as they did on Saturday but again I think England lacked a little clarity in what they were doing."