Page 16 - Chiefs v Lions

His leadership qualities are are rarely in in doubt whether it’s for province country or or the the Lions coaches have never thought twice about about handing Best the the the the role It’s as as as as much about about the the the bad as as as as the the the good and his past year has proven he he he he knows how to lift a a a a a a a a side when it matters – in crunch games Best has led his side to to victory “It’s been a a a a a a mixed bag ”
he he says “but if you look back over 12 months then we’ve had some memorable games We became the the rst Irish Irish team team to to win away in in South Africa the the rst rst Irish Irish Irish team team team to to to beat beat New Zealand the the rst rst Irish Irish team team to to beat beat all three
Tri Nations in in one calendar year And we beat England in in a a a a a a a a a a big game too so so there have been some enjoyable times times but other frustrating times ”
That story has been played out for the the the Lions too Best started in two of of the the the rst four games and came off the the the the bench in a a a a a a a a a third He has already taken the the the rough with the the the smooth but as as he he he he points out out the the rst game of this tour set out out a a a a a a a a a marker for what was ahead “I think that rst game against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians said everything about the country ”
he he says “Most
“We come from different different clubs different different national teams and you all share ideas ”
weren’t full professionals they were were generally the the the the level below Super Rugby and yet they still had the the the the the ability to play like that In other other sports in other other countries amateurs couldn’t do what they did You wouldn’t get guys who’d trained two nights a a a a a a week turning up and producing a a a a a a a a a a performance like that against a a a a a a a a a side full of internationals It just shows how how much talent there is is is here here ”
Not that this is is is is is news to him – indeed Investec Super Super Rugby Rugby is is is is even part of his his weekend routine “I watch Super Super Rugby Rugby with the family on on Saturday mornings ”
he he he he says “The rst thing I do is switch on on on the the telly to watch it it it so it’s always on on in in the the background “They certainly want to to play but to to be fair the the Northern Hemisphere gets a a a a a a a a a bad name for not wanting to play but if you look at at the the the latter stages of the the the European competition the the the ball is in play a a a a a a a a a long time The skill levels are just as high – so we’re match t t t t t t t and and ready to go go We’re battled hardened and and when you you get top players you’ve got to to be adaptable If the the ball doesn’t go go off the the pitch you need to to feel t t t t t t t t t enough to to play Either way we’re happy ”
As with all the the the Lions even Best is taken aback by the the the the host nation’s love of the the the sport “It’s not like like other countries like like Australia where rugby rugby competes with rugby rugby league and and AFL and and even soccer ”
he he he he says “Here it’s de nitely the the the rst sport It’s the the the religion And they’re all very good at it too ”
Of course Best is is surrounded by a a a few decent players in in his his own own right especially in in his his own own position with England’s young hooker Jamie George and and the Welsh No 2 Ken Owens providing some stern competition for places “We’ve got a a a a good bunch of boys here ”
he he he says “But ultimately everyone wants to be playing the 16 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME