Ireland's Paul O'Connell hailed the team's character after they got their Six Nations title defence back on track with a 20-16 victory away to England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Ireland, whose dreams of back-to-back grand slams ended with a 33-10 loss away to unbeaten leaders France last time out, were facing a second successive defeat when, with just seven minutes left, Jonny Wilkinson kicked a drop-goal to nudge England 16-13 in front.
But Ireland hit back with a slick move that saw Tommy Bowe beat Wilkinson to score his second try, and Ireland's third, in a match where his fellow wing Keith Earls also crossed England's line.
"I thought there was plenty of time to come back," O'Connell told reporters.
"Teams are defined by how they respond to losses."
Second row O'Connell, the British and Irish Lions captain in South Africa last year, said the visitors had been inspired by the sight of prop John Hayes becoming the first player to win 100 caps for Ireland.
"We made it a good day for John Hayes and his family and that worked in our favour," O'Connell explained.
Ireland's sharp finishing on a day where wet conditions hampered running rugby, may have caught the eye but, following their mauling in Paris, an improved defensive display had much to do with their sixth win in seven games against England.
Match statistics indicated Ireland had missed just one out of 100 tackles and O'Connell praised the input of Les Kiss, the defence coach.
"Les Kiss has brought us on to another level. We were disappointed with that aspect against France. For all the defensive systems in the world, sometimes it's just about making those tackles."
O'Connell was speaking at the post-match news conference instead of Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll after an accidental clash between the duo had seen the centre go off in the closing stages with a nasty looking head injury.
However, Ireland coach Declan Kidney said: "Brian's head hit Paul's knee but he's fine. We just felt Paul should give this press conference to make up for that bang."
Ireland's tries all came courtesy of well-worked moves by their backs and O'Connell said: "It's great when we have backs like we have at the moment.
"To score three tries is massive for us."
Defeat in a match where Wilkinson missed three goalkicks for the second straight fixture after a mixed display in a 17-12 win away to Italy, ended England's hopes of a grand slam.
They did though come from 6-13 down to level at 13-13 thanks to prop forward Dan Cole's first Test try.
And upbeat England manager Martin Johnson said: "We are a work in progress and will be better for it (this defeat).
"We've got to keep this horrible feeling inside you for two weeks and release it at Murrayfield (where England next play Scotland).
"It's difficult, when you've got six minutes on the clock, you're there and you lose the game," England's 2003 World Cup winning captain added.
Ireland, who next face Wales - beaten 26-20 by France in Cardiff on Friday - in Dublin on March 13, could yet retain their title if the French slip-up in their remaining matches, both in Paris, against Italy and England.
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