O'Driscoll laments penalty try

The score was locked at 3-3 when Tommy Bowe deliberately palmed the ball over the sidelines with Richie McCaw racing in to touch down. Dan Carter converted to leave Ireland 10-3 down at the interval.

"Obviously it would have been considerably better if we'd gone in at half-time level pegging. The penalty try was a kick in the teeth," said O'Driscoll. "But we did play the majority of the first half in our own half and eventually the All Blacks will make you pay for that."

He added: "I didn't see what happened with regards to the try but there were a few times when we scrambled well and managed to hold them out.

"I wouldn't say it was deflating at half-time but there would have been more of a step in us had we been level pegging.

"On another day we could have been the ones to get a breakaway score just before half-time. It's all about momentum.

"New Zealand are a smart team who have clever players in key positions like Dan Carter."

Ma'a Nonu and Brad Thorn crossed for New Zealand early in the second half to move the visitors out of sight and O'Driscoll was pleased Ireland did not raise the white flag.

"When they scored the third try there was potential for us to capitulate and allow them to cross the whitewash time and time again," he said.

"But we stood under the posts and said we wouldn't let that happen, not at Croke Park. We battled hard for the full 80 (minutes) and contained them."