Andy Farrell dismissed the suggestion that relief was his primary emotion following Ireland's nervy Six Nations win over Italy and believes the experience will stand to his side in the long term.
The visitors, who have never won in Dublin in the championship, threatened an upset as they led 10-5 at the break and were within seven points as Ireland fought back and then held out in their own 22 at the death for a 20-13 victory.
"We were playing against a very good Italian side that was never going to go away, because history shows us that, and how they've been performing," Farrell, who made six changes to his side from the defeat to France, told RTÉ Sport.
"But obviously, it was more than that, wasn't it?
"They were trying to batter the door down at the end.
"So, the resilience that we showed to win the game was fantastic to see. So, that's the bigger picture stuff.
"Obviously, there's too many errors within our game at certain times, but the character shown to come back and have the courage to play the type of rugby that we did at times was very encouraging.
"To say that we were under a bit of pressure....the [third] try that we scored with all those phases was as good a try as we've ever scored.
"So, it just shows that we're able to back ourselves. I think, on top of that, the experience that some of these lads are getting is absolutely huge.
"The lads [players left out and former players] that are watching in the stand or at home who are not here, the big names, the lads that have been there and done that, they've been through all this.
"They've been through this type of pressure and come out the other side and they've grown because of it.
"These lads that managed to do that today, to stand up tall, (it) will certainly stand to them. So, (I'm) delighted with the win against a very good Italian side."
Winger Rob Baloucoune scored the crucial third try after a superb Irish move and Farrell was delighted that the Ulster man took his chance in his first Six Nations outing on this fifth cap.
"Delighted for him because we've obviously had a few caps before, but it's been a stop-start and it's been frustrating for him," he said.
"The talent for everyone to see when he puts the Ulster jersey on, to get the opportunity now coming back into fitness and to show what he can do at this type of level is very pleasing for him and for the rest of us.
"To see him believing in himself and backing himself, not just beating people and scoring tries, but winning balls in the air. A very good defensive decision-maker as well.
"The flow, the continuity, the speed of [the move for his try was great].
"The want to call the play that we wanted to happen rather than just settle for something that was conservative, or setting stuff up and being able to play to space early and Jack (Crowley) was at the forefront of that."
Tries from Jamie Osborne, Jack Conan and Baloucoune and five points from the boot of Jack Crowley got Ireland over the line but they missed a chance to secure a bonus point when the replacement out-half missed a touch kick to the corner in overtime.
"I thought Jack played outstandingly well when he came on, so I'm actually gutted for him because you know he wouldn't normally do that," said Farrell (above).
"There's a few things to check there as far as offside and jumping up and down in his eyeline for the kick, but still it was a bit of a shank, but that wouldn't be the overriding thought of what I take from Jack's game."
Ireland next face England in Twickenham on Saturday and Farrell, whose side conceded 10 penalties, including a handful at the scrum, and 14 turnovers, knows there's plenty of work to be done before they come up against Steve Borthwick's outfit, who lost 31-20 to Scotland.
He said: "Everyone's talking up England and rightly so because the form is good and they're playing some good rugby.
"It's another fantastic experience for us. It's a big away game, we had one of those last week [against France], we didn't turn up for that.
"We need to learn some lessons from it but we've a big test coming up and we need to get excited about that and we are because it's another experience that will stand to us."
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada, whose side lost 36-0 at the Aviva Stadium two years ago, said: "We are competitors and when you see the last minutes of the game and the whole game, you can feel that we were close at least to a nice and deserved draw.
"I'm also aware that we are playing in Dublin against Ireland and the size of this team, in every sense of the word. My main emotion is a lot of pride."
Captain Michele Lamaro said of Hollie Davidson’s landmark game as she became the first female referee to take charge of a men's Six Nations game: "Obviously the referee, Hollie Davidson, has been outstanding.
"It’s the first time ever for a woman referee at the (men’s) Six Nations and I just want to congratulate her.
"I appreciated the work we have done together today on the pitch."
