England coach Stuart Lancaster hailed the maturity of his young team after they battled to a first RBS 6 Nations victory over Ireland in Dublin for a decade.
Owen Farrell kicked four penalties as England won a ferocious encounter 12-6 and passed what Lancaster rated as one of the biggest tests of their character.
"I am delighted to get the win here today," Lancaster said. "When you have the conditions as they were it was going to be a tight game and down to small margins."
England captain Chris Robshaw is jubilant at the final whistle
He went on: "To come here with a young side and show that kind of maturity to close the game out was hugely pleasing. It is a very difficult to play rugby against experienced players when we have lads on single figures in terms of caps, it is great testament to their maturity.
"As a test of character it was right up there because of the quality of the Ireland side and the ability to get the win."
Under incessant rain, it was what Lancaster calls England's "warrior spirit" which shone through in a game of brutal intensity.
Ireland 6-12 England
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Ireland's Jonathan Sexton, top left, is tackled by England's Tom Youngs during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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England's Billy Twelvetrees after the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England celebrate at the final whistle of the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Craig Gilroy (left) and Conor Murray are tackled by England's Owen Farrell during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
Rugby Union - RBS 6 Nations Championship 2013 - Ireland v England - Aviva Stadium(05 of70)
Ireland's Jonathan Sexton is tackled by England's Joe Marler (left) and Tom Youngs during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Jonathan Sexton limps off injured during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Gordan D'Arcy is tackled by England's Owen Farrell during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Manu Tuilagi celebrates after the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Gordan D'Arcy attempts to block the kick of England's Brad Barritt during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England celebrate after the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
Rugby Union - RBS 6 Nations Championship 2013 - Ireland v England - Aviva Stadium(11 of70)
Ireland's Rob Kearney and Gordan D'Arcy (left) tackles England's Brad Barritt during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Peter O'Mahony is tackled by England's James Haskell during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Jamie Heaslip is tackled by England's Brad Barritt during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
Rugby Union - RBS 6 Nations Championship 2013 - Ireland v England - Aviva Stadium(14 of70)
England celebrate victory during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Gordan D'Arcy is tackled by England's Owen Farrell and Joe Launchbury (right) during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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An Irish fan during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Jonathan Sexton walks off injured during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, left, is tackled by England's Chris Ashton during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Sean O'Brien, left, is tackled by England's Joe Marler, far left, during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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England's Manu Tuilagi smiles after his side defeated Ireland during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Jonny Sexton is tackled by England's Chris Robshaw and Owen Farrell during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Manu Tuilagi, far left, reacts with Chris Ashton after the final whistle during their Six Nations rugby match against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Rob Kearney is tackled by England's Courtney Lawes during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England captain Chris Robshaw acknowledges the crowd after victory in the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Tom and Ben Youngs celebrate victory over Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England coach Stuart Lancaster after the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Mike Brown is tackled by Ireland's Jamie Heaslip during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland players leave the field after defeat in the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Owen Farrell during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Courtney Lawes, center, wins the line out against Ireland during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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England's Joe Launchbury is tackled by Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Billy Twelvetrees is tackled by Ireland's Jamie Heaslip during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Owen Farrell acknowledges the crowd after victory in the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Mike Ross gets hold of England's Tom Wood during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip shows his dejection after defeat in the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Billy Twelvetrees runs at Irelands Jamie Heaslip during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Owen Farrell kicks a penalty for England during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Sean O'Brien, center, is tackled by England's Tom Youngs, left, during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Sean O'Brien, right, is tackled by England's James Haskell during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Owen Farrell kicks a penalty for England during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Owen Farrell prepares to kick a penalty against Ireland during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Peter O'Mahony wins a line out against England during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll reacts while playing against England during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll is tackled by England's Billy Twelvetrees during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Chris Robshaw leads England's celebrations at the final whistle of the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Chris Robshaw (center) leads England's celebrations at the final whistle of the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Jonny Sexton makes his way off injured during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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Ireland's Jonny Sexton makes his way off injured during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (credit:PA)
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England's Owen Farell takes a penalty kick against Ireland during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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England's Geoff Parling, top left, wins the line out against Ireland during their Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:AP)
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DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Tom Wood (l) wins a lineout ball during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Flyhalf Owen Farrell of England lines up a penalty kick at goal during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(53 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Brad Barritt of England celerbates after their victory during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(54 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Owen Farrell, who scored all of England's twelve points, smiles during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
RUGBYU-6NATIONS-IRL-ENG(55 of70)
England's scrum half Ben Youngs (C) goes airborne as he kicks the ball upfield in front of Ireland's centre Brian O'Driscoll (L) during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 10, 2013. England won the game 12-6. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Chris Robshaw, the England captain celebrates after their victory during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(57 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Ben Youngs clears the ball during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(58 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Ronan O'Gara of Ireland looses the ball as he is tackled by Chris Ashton of England during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(59 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Billy Twelvetrees celebrates after the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(60 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Stuart Lancaster, (L) the England head coach and Manu Tuilagi celebrate after their victory during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(61 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Billy Twelvetrees (c) starts an attack during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(62 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Mike Brown of England is tackled by Rob Kearney as Thomas Waldrom avoids the challenge during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Mike Brown of England is tackled by Rob Kearney during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(64 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Owen Farrell (l) starts an attack during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(65 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Ireland player Brian O' Driscoll (floor) is stopped by the England defence during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(66 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Owen Farrell (l) starts an attack during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
RUGBYU-6NATIONS-IRL-ENG(67 of70)
England's Dylan Hartley (C) celebrates with team mates after as defeating Ireland to win the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 10, 2013. England won 12 - 6. AFP PHOTO / PETER MUHLY (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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England's scrum half Ben Youngs (C) kicks the ball away to clear his line against Ireland during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 10, 2013. England won the game 12-6. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(69 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: England player Owen Farrell starts an attack during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland v England - RBS Six Nations(70 of70)
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 10: Wing Mike Brown of England and England captain Chris Robshaw celebrate following their team's victory during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ireland enjoyed most of the first-half posession but England defended like rabid dogs at times and they led 6-0 at the interval. Ronan O'Gara landed two penalties to draw Ireland level and with, James Haskell in the sin-bin, England were suddenly up against it. But England maintained their composure and won that 10-minute period, with Farrell restoring their six-point advantage.
"I put that up there as an absolutely massive win, a huge win," said assistant coach Andy Farrell. "We have come to Ireland and we have played against a very good Ireland side.
"For a young side to play like that in a pressured situation against a team that has been there and done that, and been successful with it, is a credit to everyone."