Ireland finished the Six Nations as the championship's top scorers but it is his side's "true grit" that Andy Farrell takes most satisfaction in.
It will please the former England and Lions defence coach that it is exactly that part of Ireland's game that will be tested to the max when the players next meet up for the tour of New Zealand in July.
Having missed out on summer tours to Fiji and Australia in the last two years due to Covid, Farrell is set to take around 42 players to New Zealand.