There were plenty of heroes in green at Murrayfield but Cian Healy is one who is really deserving of acclaim.
Fit again after last playing on January 21 for Leinster in the Champions Cup, the 35-year-old knew at half-time that he was likely to have to go for Ronan Kelleher.
Kelleher had replaced starting hooker Dan Sheehan in the first half but, like his Leinster colleague, suffered a shoulder injury.
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Ireland came back for the restart with flanker Josh van der Flier assigned the role of lineout thrower and, when Kelleher failed to regain power in his arm, Healy replaced him in the middle of the scrum, a position he last played in at school.
Within minutes of coming on, Healy won a scrum penalty and he grew from there into the game.
"It was actually relatively calm at half-time," said Healy after his 121st Ireland appearance.
"I had to just square up on a few roles that the hooker might have and make sure I was on that.
"I've covered all the tighthead roles for training but I haven't gone over the hooker roles for lineouts.
"So with Josh throwing I needed to just make sure I was on that so Paul gave me a couple of minutes of work and we penned it out and I was confident coming out of half-time."
Being adaptable when chaos ensues in a hallmark of Andy Farrell's side and both Healy and van der Flier brilliantly exhibited that trait.
"I suppose it's just a willingness to step in where you might be pretty vulnerable," Healy reflected.
"But we've got a greater cause and I could take it if I was destroyed in the scrum and it wouldn't hit the ego too much.
"I'll go out and I'll try and I'll give it a shot.
"I think it was good and Josh flat out throws in training, he loves it. He's always at it so you back him to the hilt as well.
"The lads coached me around a bit and told me where I had to be for the lineout, so it's all right.
"It's something you can practice training and we're not allowed to huddle in training so you've got to get the call quickly, get to the hookers and make things as smooth as possible.
"It was messy but I think everyone dug in pretty well and took some chances.
"We were dealt a few cards we didn't see coming and everyone had to adapt to what was going on.
"So I think the team dug in well, took our chances, fluffed a few chances and I've got a bit of stick for that already, for the tap and go (just before the end).
"I think I panicked a bit too much. That's something I haven't repped out in training. But luckily it wasn't the worst of it!".
And Healy had a message to Ireland fans ahead of the biggest day in the Six Nations for Ireland in five years.
"I think enjoy it," he said. "It's something special.
"It's an opportunity to do something very special at home on St. Patrick's weekend.
"It's a good buzz of a weekend anyway and if we can add to that, if we can add to what goes on at home and for people abroad that might watch it, if you make everyone feel a part of something special then you've done your job.
"You've made people happy and something people will remember."
He hopes it will be an occasion for his family to savour.
"I'll take it day by day and see how we go. I'd love that," the Clontarf man admitted.
"I'd love to have my family there and go out and represent Ireland again.
"Any time like that when you look off and see wife, kids, mam, dad, sister, everyone that's special, it's something you hold very close."
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