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RORY BEST:
SKIPPER RORY’S FRENCH RELISH
In a way it has revitalised a hooker who leads the
side out tonight for a Champions Cup game with
Toulouse, which he is relishing.
“When Les Kiss, during international camp, told
me it was me he wanted to lead the side when he
arrived at Kingspan Stadium as Director of Rugby,
it was like a whole new challenge.
“Each game has been part of that challenge, and
we feel as players we’ve come through a difficult
period, regrouped after a horrendous rash of
injuries, and Europe is always special. It’s special to
play in, just as it was for me to watch as a fan as a
youngster and I think we can guarantee the crowd
on Friday will make the stadium white-hot.
“We’re well-prepared, we’re confident and we
really want to perform and kick-start a campaign
we believe we can progress in despite what some
of the commentators might think. This is only our
second pool match, and even if you look back to
last season you get inspiration from what Bath did
in reaching the knockout stages despite losing their
first two games.”
Looking into his steely eyes it’s clear Rory Best
doesn’t intend to leave the pitch tonight without a
win under his team’s belt.
“Yes, I’d been skipper before, and I always
cherished that honour. I felt I could bring something
to the role, experience obviously but also a really
fierce ambition to win things,” said the most-
capped hooker in Irish history and a player
energetically approaching 200 appearances in an
Ulster shirt.
“But I knew this was going to be an exciting time
at Ulster, I’d known Les for a long time through his
seven years in the Ireland coaching set-up, I was a
fan, and saw great possibilities with him in tandem
with Neil Doak and the rest of the guys here.
“He’s such a personable fella, but there was a
reason that he’d survived, if you like, under different
Irish regimes. He’s a world-class coach, I know that
from personal experience, he’s also got a ruthless
side, and to me that is the perfect cocktail for the
modern coach.
“That Ulster had gone out and sought him out
showed the ambition we all needed to have, and
to be told he wanted me to lead the side really did
have my juices flowing again.
“I’d already got the appetite for Ulster and for
the game, but it was like getting even more new
batteries when Les arrived. It was like a jigsaw, the
pieces were now in place and I really believed we
could build something that would last.
“I’ve looked on from a bit of a distance and seen
how teams like Leinster were shaped, how they
were led, and how they became so consistently
successful, operating like an international side.
I just believe we can do something like that at
the Kingspan, and as long as I’m involved and
justifying my place in the team I would love to be
part of that,” says the always affable and patient
Best.
He’s just signed a contract extension with Ulster
and Ireland until 2018, and he accepts with a shy,
winning smile that he’s played the best rugby of his
career in the last two years.
“When you face a bit of adversity you can either let
it affect you, or you can see it as something to get
through and come out stronger on the other side.
“I can sort of say that July 2013 was a real turning
point for me. The Lions’ tour hadn’t gone as I’d
have liked, but I just decided that I would work
hard, give everything to Ulster, to Ireland, and see
what happened.
“And yes, I do think I’ve probably played and
enjoyed the best rugby since then.
“And we’ll all need to be at the top of our game
against Toulouse, such a great force in the game
and with players like the great Imanol Harinordiquy,
Louis Picamoles and Thierry Dusautoir available
RORY BEST
To captain Ulster is something Rory Best, despite his distinguished career
in the white of Ulster and green of Ireland, sees as a privilege, but it goes
much deeper than that.