Ireland sent centre great Brian O’Driscoll into international retirement with the Six Nations title after a nailbiting 22-20 win over France in Paris on Saturday.
“The emotions are starting to kick in now,” O’Driscoll, the world’s most capped player, told the BBC.
“It feels great to be a two-time Six Nations winner. So many seconds along the years and so many disappointments, it is great to finish my career on a high.
“When I do hang this jersey up on the hook inside it will be with fond memories.
“I am absolutely delighted. There is a huge Irish contingent here and I am glad we gave them something to shout about.”
Jonathan Sexton scored two tries and missed five points with the boot before the Ireland fly-half, who plays his club rugby for Paris-based Racing Metro, was knocked out trying to tackle giant French centre Mathieu Bastareaud.
Ireland then survived a late French rally – Jean-Marc Doussain missing a penalty and Damien Chouly having a try disallowed for a forward pass – to secure their first Six Nations title since 2009.
Ulster wing Andrew Trimble’s try also contributed to a first Ireland win in Paris since 2000, when O’Driscoll scored a memorable hat-trick.
Earlier on ‘Super Saturday’, England went to the top of the table with a 52-11 victory over Italy in Rome.
But although England scored seven tries their points difference of +73 was still marginally worse than previous leaders Ireland’s +81.
That meant any sort of Ireland win would give them the Championship and, with Wales thrashing Scotland, France – who were title contenders at kick-off – finished fourth.
“We scored some great tries and came here and scored 50 (points), not many teams do that,” England coach Stuart Lancaster told the BBC after full-time at the Stadio Olimpico.
“I am proud of the boys,” added Lancaster, whose side would have been celebrating a Grand Slam but for a last-gasp defeat by France in Paris in their tournament opener.
England were 24-6 up at half-time at the Stadio Olimpico after full-back Mike Brown scored two tries and fly-half Owen Farrell also crossed the Italian line.
Then, after Italy were reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of lock Marco Bortolami, England wing Jack Nowell scored the visitors’ fifth try.
Prop Mako Vunipola’s try then put England 32 points in front at 38-6.
Replacement back Manu Tuilagi marked his first England Test in over a year following a chest injury by adding to England’s try tally before Leonardo Sarto pulled one back for Italy.
The last play of the game saw England captain Chris Robshaw score his side’s seventh try which, with Farrell again converting, completed the victory.
Saturday’s second match, which had no bearing on the title, saw two-time defending champions Wales inflict a record 51-3 defeat upon a Scotland in Cardiff.
The Scots were forced to play with just 14 men for nearly an hour after full-back Stuart Hogg was sent off for a late tackle on Wales fly-half Dan Biggar
Scotland took the lead through a Greig Laidlaw penalty but from then it was one way traffic.
Wales scored seven tries, six after Hogg was shown a red card by French referee Jerome Garces, with wing George North and centre Jamie Roberts grabbing two apiece.
“You’ve got to be ruthless and we were ruthless,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland after seeing his side bounce back from last week’s 29-18 loss to England.
This was Scotland’s third heaviest Test defeat of all time, with their previous worst in the Six Nations a 43-3 thrashing by England in 2001.
