Jack Conan says that Sunday’s win in Murrayfield was one of the greatest he’s been involved in as an Irish player.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Ireland, with no fewer than five players having to go off with injuries, but that didn’t stop them.
Against the head, Andy Farrell’s team ground their way to a 22-7 victory.
Conan himself was called on earlier than he might have expected.
An injury to Caelan Doris meant he was thrown into the action after just 12 minutes. But even with Doris, Sheehan, Henderson, Ringrose and Kelleher all picking up injuries, Ireland still had too much for their Scottish opponents.
Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Conan himself scored the crucial tries and the Leinster back-row paid tribute to his team-mates and coaches in a passionate interview after the game.
The 30-year-old from Bray says they were ready for anything.
“I think it’s a testament to the belief that we, as a squad, have in each other, that the management has in us.
“We spoke during the week about adversity, about what happened here a few years ago, rocking up a few minutes late, and we said ‘no excuses.’
“Andy spoke during the week about rocking up ten minutes before the game and getting the job done. We could have walked off the bus and played and it wouldn’t have mattered to us.”
"We could have walked off the bus and played and it wouldn't have mattered to us" – Jack Conan hails the Irish psychology after a big win in Scotland #RTErugby #SixNations pic.twitter.com/s4k5ClTQYR
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“It’s a testament to how mentally strong we are, and the resolve the lads have, and that has been fortified in us by the coaching staff.
“To lose both hookers, two world class players, to lose one of the best back-rowers in the world in Caelan Doris, one of the best second rows in the world in Iain Henderson.
“I don’t know how many other teams in the world can bounce back from that and put on the performance that we did.”
Conan was quick to deflect the praise onto his team-mates after the win, which goes to show the spirit in the Irish camp.
“We weren’t great at times. Especially, when I came on at the start, I was a bit sluggish, a little bit slow in some of my contacts but it was one of the best days I’ve ever been involved in as an Irish squad.”
“To get to win here, after everything we went through, is just so special.”
So now history beckons on Saturday. Ireland host England in the Aviva Stadium with the Grand Slam on the line, Ireland in hot pursuit of a fourth ever. But if they do it, it will be the first time they’ve ever won it in Dublin.
Great to see pic.twitter.com/Jh4iD6VzJp
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“If you were going to write it, it doesn’t get much better than that.
“But look, we’ll need to be better than we were today at stages. Our first thing is to make sure we’re physically ready. But I think everyone’s excited. What a special day it’s going to be,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, on RTÉ, Simon Zebo and Eddie O’Sullivan praised the team’s resilience.
“Facing adversity, sticking in the fight. When you don’t play your best, to still find that grit and that dog to win the battle is really pleasing,” said Simon Zebo on RTÉ after the game.
“I thought it was a superb performance,” added Eddie O’Sullivan.
“Technically and tactically, you can pick holes in it, but in terms of character, it was brilliant. Ireland were really compromised, there were so many curve-balls thrown at them, but they still went on and got the job done.”
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