Mack Hansen revealed the gravity of Ireland's Grand Slam bid left him dealing with more than butterflies in his stomach on Saturday.
Usually cool as a cucumber, one of the biggest stars of Ireland's championship clean sweep admitted he needed medication to keep everything in before kick-off against England at a packed Aviva Stadium.
Speaking pitchside after the game, Hansen confessed he felt "very, very, very nervous" before taking the field.
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“I was taking some tablets before the game so I didn't s**t myself," he said.
"I was very nervous. I think everyone was, and I think you could kind of see then in the way we were playing.
"That's something for us to improve on, so for now we're going to enjoy this.”
While England had nothing to play for but pride, Ireland were in finals mode and their nerves were all too obvious until they powered to a 29-16 victory with a powerful fourth quarter display.
For Hansen, who was outstanding in only his second Six Nations championship, the victory was the icing on the cake.
“Absolutely amazing, it's hard to put into words at the moment," the 24-year-old smiled. "It's a crazy feeling.
“It's just been such an atmosphere, it's crazy.
“It's different gravy, isn't it? It's like something I've never seen before, it's incredible. It just shows how much Ireland is behind us, and we love it.
“This is what footy is all about, connecting with people in the stadium, it means as much to them as it does to us.
“It wasn't our best game but that's purely because England showed up, they played unbelievable. Fourteen lads, to take it to us like they did, you can't say what they did wasn't amazing.
"We were able to just keep calm, composed, and pull a rabbit out of the hat.”
Hansen hails from Canberra, where his Irish mam Diana moved to from Cork with her parents when she was four.
His parents watched the Grand Slam triumph in Australia on TV but Hansen had plenty of family present on Lansdowne Road.
“I've got my Mum's brother, and my auntie and uncle Gabe and Lorraine are over, and some aunties and uncles up from Cork," he grinned.
"One of my mates from Australia is over. I've got enough family to enjoy it but I wish my mum, dad and brother were here.”
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