Drop-goal hero Geordan Murphy insists Ireland will not take their eye off the ball as they step up their bid for a first Grand Slam for 55 years.

The Irish maintained their 100% record in the RBS 6 Nations Championship with an absorbing if somewhat fortuitous 15-12 win over defending champions France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Thoughts inevitably turned to a likely Grand Slam decider with England in Dublin on March 30 - but first Eddie O'Sullivan's marauders must see off wooden-spoon candidates Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday week.

Ireland have not lost in Cardiff since 1983, having won seven and drawn one of their last eight matches in the Welsh capital. But Murphy, in football manager parlance, says they will be taking it one game at a time.

"We seem to be on a bit of a roll, but there are still two games to go," he said.

"It's going to be a very big one against Wales, and that's the focal point for us now.

"England is a long way off, and if we don't get a result in Wales talk of a Grand Slam decider is obviously irrelevant."

Murphy, switched from wing to his favourite full-back spot following the late withdrawal of Girvan Dempsey, was a key figure in Ireland's ninth successive win - a record run stretching back to Auckland last June.

He was immaculate in testing conditions under the high ball, and it was his first-minute drop goal - his first for his country - which proved to be the difference between the teams.

Fly-half David Humphreys marked his 50th appearance with four well-struck penalties to take him past 400 points - and, although his opposite number Francois Gelez also hit four penalties, he was off target with three other attempts.

It was a far from flawless performance from Ireland who were grateful for their opponents' inability to cope with a greasy ball, but the two points could prove priceless by the end of the month.

"The conditions didn't suit them, but a win's a win," said Murphy.

"France have traditionally been a bit of a bogey team for us, so this is an absolutely fantastic result."

Murphy, who has been famously described by his Leicester coach Dean Richards as the George Best of rugby, is now hoping he has done enough to retain the full-back jersey - even though he is guaranteed a consolatory place on the wing.

"I prefer playing full-back," he said.

"You get a little bit more ball and a bit more responsibility. But I don't mind where I play as long as it's in a green shirt."

O'Sullivan, meanwhile, paid tribute to Munster prop Marcus Horan who got the chance of a second start following injury to Reggie Corrigan.

The 25-year-old made a seamless step up as the Irish pack eventually got on top of their counterparts and he went desperately close to grabbing a try with a late, blockbusting run.

"There was a lot of talk about Marcus not being to hold his end up at this level, but that performance proves that he is an international-class prop," said O'Sullivan.

"I'm very happy for Marcus. He's been waiting a long time for an opportunity to prove it - and he certainly took it."

Like Murphy, O'Sullivan is not looking beyond Cardiff - but he concedes his side are on a roll.

"Before a ball was kicked, I felt the Six Nations was about generating momentum. I think you can say now we have some momentum," he said.