Ireland captain Rory Best is adamant that the defeat to England will not have a lasting negative effect on the team after a disappointing night at the Aviva Stadium.
The away side were 32-20 winners as Joe Schmidt’s side produced an uncharacteristic error-strewn display in front of a sold-out crowd in Dublin 4.
Ahead of the trip to face an improving Scotland team, Best feels that he and his team-mates have to prove they are as strong as has previously been perceived.
He told RTÉ Sport: "We talk a lot about the character this team has. It’s easy to say it when you go win-on-win. We’ll see how we bounce back from it. It’ll be a massive test of what character is within this group.
"I have no doubt we will bounce back because we have some quality players and we just didn’t show what we’re capable of tonight.
"We’ve very disappointed. We got used to winning and got used to having some great moments in that changing room and this is one we’re just going to have to stomach, look back at it and see how how we can be better. There is a lot of harsh learnings from that.
"England are a cracking team and we knew that before we arrived. They put us under a lot of pressure There was a few errors and a few bits and pieces. We’ll have to take a good look at it.
"It just shows at this level and against quality sides that if you don’t start well or let them get a foothold in the game, it leaves it very difficult for you."
The World Cup may be the longer-term focus, but everyone associated with the team has been at pains to reiterate that the Six Nations is the primary focus.
"We’ll have to have a look at the way we started and that error count. We’ll have to look at the way we went about managing the game. They put us under a lot of pressure.
"Our philosophy has always been the next game and we’ll have to roll the sleeves up and take a very good look at how we’re going to beat a very strong Scotland team"
"We didn’t do enough right across the board to relieve that pressure.
"We said at the very start that if lose your first game and especially if it is at home that you put yourself on the back foot.That is where we are.
"Our philosophy has always been the next game and we’ll have to roll the sleeves up and take a very good look at how we’re going to beat a very strong Scotland team."
