Match Reaction: Ireland 43 Romania 12

Eddie O’Sullivan (centre) and the Irish management watch on at Lansdowne Road

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan: “What did I learn? I suppose I learned the positives – we’ve got some young players with a bit of experience now.

Romania coach Daniel Santamans (on his side’s failure to score a try): “I don’t know who the TV referee was but I would like to think he had a good look at each of of try chances (near the Irish line).

“The second time the referee called for TV evidence I was sure it was a try. If it was not, then it should have been at least a penalty try, as the Irish team collapsed the ruck. Instead, they won the ball and ran 80 metres up to our end and scored seven points. That was a crucial moment in the game.”

Ireland fly-half and captain for the day David Humphreys: “In any game of international rugby when you score six tries and over 40 points, you’ve got to be reasonably satisfied. I thought there were some areas of our execution and accuracy where we let ourselves down but we’re reasonably happy with that result.

Ireland centre and man-of-the-match Andrew Trimble: “It’s a great feeling to get out (there) in the green shirt of Ireland.

“To get those two opportunities was brilliant and it was great to be able to finish them off. Romania have a quality front five so there was always going to be a time when we were under the cosh.”

“It was a special day and it was one of those days when everything seemed to happen so quickly, and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely.

“It would have been great to have scored one try, but to have scored two in only my second international appearance makes it that wee bit special for both family and friends.”

Ireland flanker and try-scorer Neil Best (on Andrew Trimble): “I think Trimby has definitely put his hand up (for the Six Nations). He was man-of-the-match and scored two tries – two good tries – and his defence was outstanding.

“He is tackling people who are maybe four or five years older than him and a stone-and-a-half heavier and just dropping them without any fuss.

“I would say he should be very confident about making the Six Nations squad.

“He has been outstanding for Ulster. All he needs now is a bit more experience and a bit more ball. If you give him ball and a bit of space, he does damage.”

“Their whole pack provided a threat and their young full back (Catalin Fercu) looked dangerous the couple of times he got the ball.”

“I think from an Ulster point of view, he (Andrew Trimble) has been our outstanding back this season. He’s a confidence type of player and hopefully this will add to it and he’ll score a few more tries for us (Ulster) in the next few weeks.”

“Andrew Trimble has two good caps under his belt. Denis Leamy and Johnny O’Connor are coming on. Gordon D’Arcy is coming back to form after a very difficult year.

“I learned that our defence has improved week after week. Our scrummaging has improved. We are trying to play a more expansive game and hold on to the football but we have to be a lot more accurate.

“I think we’re doing the hard job of actually causing problems for the defence but we’re careless at the key moment of putting in the key passes.

“If we’re going to be successful we’re going to have to be more clinical in those situations.”

“It’s a question now of whether you believe the glass is half-empty or half-full. My own view is that it’s half-full, although I’m sure there’ll be disagreement about that.”

“There is room for improvement. We’re not firing on all cylinders but I never really anticipated that we’d be firing on all cylinders at this point in the season with the injury profile and the transition that’s going on.

“I think there’s a realistic expectation around the team now that we need a full deck to play with for the Six Nations. I might have hoped for better results but when you sit down and analyse it, it is what it is.”