'It was tough mentally in the build-up - we are very, very grateful to win'
Rory Best praised Ireland for their reaction to defeat against England in Saturday's beating of Scotland, although he acknowledges they still must improve.
Last year's Six Nations Grand Slam winners were stunned by England in their Dublin opener, but they bounced back with a 22-13 triumph at Murrayfield.
Ireland lost Johnny Sexton to injury in the first half yet still had too much for Scotland, with Conor Murray, Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls going over to pull clear of the hosts.
And while Best was still not entirely content with the performance level, he reiterated his belief in the rallying visitors.
"We have a lot of belief in what we're doing and how good a team we are," Best told BBC Sport. "That was a really tough game, it was tough mentally in the build-up to it.
"We asked for a reaction, we asked for a physical reaction that we probably didn't get last week and I think we got that.
"It wasn't the most spectacular game of rugby there ever was, but I think it was two teams going hard at each other and we are very, very grateful to win.
"We had our chances and we took them, we were clinical. We've obviously got a lot of improving to do but, at the same time, we just had to wear them down.
"They were well organised in defence and we knew how dangerous they would be in attack. By and large we fronted up to the task, as we had to."
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The author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
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