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'It has been in the back of my mind this will be my last home Six Nations game'
Ireland captain Rory Best has admitted he expects to retire after the
2019 Rugby World Cup.
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Best will win his 116th cap in Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations clash
against France in Dublin, but now intends to bring down the curtain on
an international career dating back to 2005 before this calendar year is out.
The evergreen 36-year-old now hopes his Test swansong could be leading
Ireland to a first-ever World Cup semi-final, and maybe even beyond,
come the autumn tournament in Japan.
Best will captain Ireland for the 31st time at the Aviva Stadium on
Sunday in what should now become his last home match in the Six Nations.
“I think it’s fairly certain that the World Cup will be the end for me,” said Best. “I think that I feel really good, I don’t feel I’m playing any worse. I’m really enjoying rugby and part of that might be because I haven’t 100 per cent made the decision.
(Continue reading below…)
“But I’m fairly sure it will be, and part of the reason I’m enjoying rugby so much – and I hope playing well – is because there’s that weight lifted off.
“When you’re playing, you start to get fixated with what’s coming, or if you’re playing well in this Six Nations you put yourself in the window for the World Cup.
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“And if you play well in the World Cup there’s two more Six Nations and you’re in the window to the Lions tour. And you start to get bogged down with things that don’t really matter.”
Watch: @RoryBest2 At Captain's Run – the camaraderie in camp, pulling on the green jersey and France.#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IREvFRA https://t.co/wVQPh7KmOM pic.twitter.com/gBl13n2jcZ
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 9, 2019
Ulster and British and Irish Lions hooker Best sits third on Ireland’s
all-time appearance list, behind Ronan O’Gara with 128 caps and and
Brian O’Driscoll with 133.
Best made his Test debut in a 45-7 home defeat to New Zealand in Dublin on November 12, 2005. The uncompromising front-rower spent the first half of his Test career battling with Munster’s Jerry Flannery for the number two shirt.
But as time passed Best forced his claims and eventually overtook the
decorated Flannery, and the Ulsterman then moved on to be named captain in 2016.
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Best has led Ireland to their maiden two victories over New Zealand and to the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam, just the nation’s third clean sweep in history.
With head coach Joe Schmidt also stepping down after the World Cup, the Ireland set-up will be all change come 2020. “I’m feeling very relaxed now that the body feels that it’s happy to go on,” said Best. “And at the minute, mentally I’m really enjoying the rugby.
“But I’m in a really lucky position at the minute that the way I’m feeling, I can go to the World Cup and be at the top of my game. And for me, the way I’m thinking at the minute, that will be a really good time for me. Plus, Joe (Schmidt) said he didn’t want me to keep going without him!”
Best will make his 64th Six Nations appearance against the French, and
admitted it is starting to sink in that this will be his final turn in the tournament in Dublin.
“I suppose in the early part of my career, I thought that every home
game was going to be my last home Six Nations game,” joked Best. “It has been in the back of my mind that this will be my last home Six Nations game.
“I hope that my last game for Ireland isn’t going to be until the very start of November. Now that we’re upon this, the captain’s run, it just reminded me how special this championship has been, for me personally, but also to be able to do captain’s runs, play out there, pull on that jersey in the Six Nations.
“It’s been incredibly special for me and it’s very hard to believe that in just over 24 hours, you’ll potentially not get that opportunity again to play in a Six Nations here.
“It’s a little bit sad but you also have to understand how incredibly lucky and special it’s been and how lucky I’ve been to play for Ireland in so many Six Nations games.”
Comments on RugbyPass
RugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
8 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
17 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
56 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
17 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
56 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
8 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
8 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
8 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
8 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to comments