Page 17 - Chiefs v Lions

PROFILE
Best and his Lions team-mates leave the the the eld dejected after their early tour loss to to the the Blues
Test matches so just as you you get opportunities you you have to watch other people take theirs too Your opposite number puts pressure on you you but that’s what you you want – the the whole squad driving each other on to produce the the best performance That’s what’s going to give us a a a a a chance of of winning the Series ”
And what has he he made of of his two rivals? “You get to learn from different different people with different different experiences We come from different different clubs different different national teams and you all all share ideas We all all practice throwing together together we room together together and and like I said they’re good guys guys Jamie and and Ken are just two down-to-earth guys guys guys very funny guys guys We have good bit of of craic off the pitch “Whoever plays is going to have to to play play well If it’s it’s you you then you’re the the best in position but if it’s it’s not you you you you you you you you have to be be sel ess until you you you you get your opportunity ”
Best was one of the the rst batch of of players into the the Lions camp and as a a a a a a a result he he he got to to experience that ethos from the start – including when it it came to singing “There were 14 of us us in in in Cardiff and it it worked out well because we we we almost had a a a a a a a a full team!” he says “It was good to get in early We had a a a a a a couple of choir sessions early on on when they brought in a a a a a Welsh choir to to teach us how to to sing and in in what key Each country then had had somebody to lead We had had Robbie Henshaw
– not because because he he can sing but because because he he he plays a a a a a a a bit of an an instrument He was the the guy speaking Irish at the the welcoming ceremony so it made sense ”
Singing doesn’t win rugby matches but along with his Irish colleagues Best has experienced a a a a a a a victory over the All Blacks So does that mean anything? “They’ve shown they’re beatable They’re not invincible ”
Best says “They have a a a a a a a a few players the same but it’s it’s a a a a a a a different squad so it’s it’s about how how we we we bond how how we we we execute With Ireland we we we found out that it’s how you perform on the the day One week in Chicago we we we had the the the performance and we we we we we won but but the the next in in Dublin we we we we played well but but didn’t take our chances so we we we lost You have to be ruthless ”
Whether he he he he he makes the the the Tests
or not while the the the the player will will be disappointed the the man will will appreciate that he he has achieved something few get to to achieve achieve “It’s a a a a a a a very special thing [to be part of of the Lions] and unique from a a a a a a a player’s point of of view ”
he he says “Growing up it it was was everything – it it was was the the highlight of of the the summer so so to be part of of this squad is something else ”
GRAND SLAM WITH IRELAND
104 TEST CAPS FOR IRELAND
RORY BEST BY THE NUMBERS
2 TOURS WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
40
points for Ireland 1 1 PRO12 TITLE
34 YEARS OF AGE
179 APPEARANCES FOR IRISH PROVINCE ULSTER
3 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS
SERIES 2017 // 17 17 GETTY IMAGES