Brian O'Driscoll was delighted with how Ireland took advantage of Lee Byrne's yellow card in their 27-12 win over Wales in the RBS Six Nations clash at Croke Park.
Byrne was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul and it proved a costly ten minutes for Warren Gatland's men as both Keith Earls and Tomas O'Leary went over to give Ireland a comfortable advantage.
It was a spell from which Wales never recovered and O'Driscoll believes Ireland handled the situation intelligently to turn the game in their favour.
"When they went a man down we upped the tempo and went after them," said O'Driscoll. "They struggled to live with us and for those 10 minutes we played intelligently.
"We played a smart game. We didn't try to play too much rugby but when the time arose we took our chances and weren't afraid to throw it around."
Ireland must rely on other results going their way to clinch the Six Nations title but the Triple Crown remains in their control with victory against Scotland their main focus.
"After the disappointment of losing in France it was our target to win our remaining three games and that's still obtainable," said O'Driscoll.
"It's far from a foregone conclusion against Scotland if people are thinking like that.
"In all the times I've played Scotland they've never made it easy. I anticipate it will be as hard as any of our Six Nations games in recent years.
"We want to be challenging for the Triple Crown and still have an outside chance of the championship.
"It's pleasing with the way we've come back from the disappointment of France."
It was a landmark day for the Irish skipper as he became the 13th player to become an international rugby centurion and he admits it was an emotional afternoon for him.
"That was a different feeling, probably more emotional than I thought it would be," he said.
"It was a fantastic feeling and it's a massive, massive honour to have played for my country 100 times.
"The reception on the way out was an extra on winning the game."