Granted, the spirit level bubbles was way off centre for crucial Six Nations games this year, but Best has been widely acknowledged as one of the finest Northern Hemisphere hookers in the modern game. In an era where the hooker often becomes an extra flanker, Best’s dogged style is up with the best.
Speaking to BBC Newsline, the Ulsterman tried his best at pragmatism but the overriding sense of disappointment was clear. “It’s going to take a long time to get completely over it,” said Best. “It was very disappointing but, unfortunately, that’s sport. You don’t always get your own way. Obviously, if I was selecting for the tour I’d be on [the squad] but that’s not the way it works.” He added:
There’s no advance call. Everyone watches it at 11 o’clock. We were training and I got wind of it by the fact that everyone was avoiding me. No-one was making eye contact with me. As the session went on and we got further passed 11, it became more and more obvious that it wasn’t happening. Eventually Dan Tuohy came up, shook my hand and said ‘commiserations’.
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A ‘bitterly disappointed’ Best left training and spent the afternoon with his family as he tried to shake free the initial distaste of his non-inclusion in the 37-man squad. ”I tried not to think about it,” he said, “but, at the end of the day, it is the pinnacle of every player’s rugby career. You hope and pray that you are close, you know you are close. You’re hoping that you are going to be on that plane. When you are told you are not, it’s disappointing.
“Unfortunately, this sport has given me so many highs but with highs there are lows. You just have to take them and roll with them if you can.”
Brian O’Driscoll also gave his views on the Lions squad, and the lack of a plane ticket for Best, to the BBC. He said, “It’s a very tough one for Rory to take. I think he had been in a lot of people’s squads. There were always going to be a few surprise exclusions. None more so than his. I really felt for him. It must have been tough viewing but when you’re taking about [bringing] only 37 players you are obviously going to have some disappointed, high-quality players.”
The ‘good thing’ about Ulster’s season – the currently lead the Pro12 standings – is that Best has to dust himself down quickly and focus on the next must-win game. “You have to get yourself ready,” Best commented. “We have a massive game on Friday night and a league to turn around and win now.”
To add insult, or bovine illness, to injury Best’s prize cows are not able to enter the annual Ulster Show as they have been struck down with TB.
He reflected, “That was probably the most disappointing thing. It goes from bad to worse, doesn’t it.”
'It's going to take a long time to get completely over it' - Rory Best on Lions
ULSTER AND IRELAND hooker Rory Best’s omission from the British & Irish Lions squad was one of Warren Gatland’s most controversial decisions.
Granted, the spirit level bubbles was way off centre for crucial Six Nations games this year, but Best has been widely acknowledged as one of the finest Northern Hemisphere hookers in the modern game. In an era where the hooker often becomes an extra flanker, Best’s dogged style is up with the best.
Speaking to BBC Newsline, the Ulsterman tried his best at pragmatism but the overriding sense of disappointment was clear. “It’s going to take a long time to get completely over it,” said Best. “It was very disappointing but, unfortunately, that’s sport. You don’t always get your own way. Obviously, if I was selecting for the tour I’d be on [the squad] but that’s not the way it works.” He added:
A ‘bitterly disappointed’ Best left training and spent the afternoon with his family as he tried to shake free the initial distaste of his non-inclusion in the 37-man squad. ”I tried not to think about it,” he said, “but, at the end of the day, it is the pinnacle of every player’s rugby career. You hope and pray that you are close, you know you are close. You’re hoping that you are going to be on that plane. When you are told you are not, it’s disappointing.
“Unfortunately, this sport has given me so many highs but with highs there are lows. You just have to take them and roll with them if you can.”
Brian O’Driscoll also gave his views on the Lions squad, and the lack of a plane ticket for Best, to the BBC. He said, “It’s a very tough one for Rory to take. I think he had been in a lot of people’s squads. There were always going to be a few surprise exclusions. None more so than his. I really felt for him. It must have been tough viewing but when you’re taking about [bringing] only 37 players you are obviously going to have some disappointed, high-quality players.”
Rory Best and Brian O’Driscoll (l) team up in 2011. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
The ‘good thing’ about Ulster’s season – the currently lead the Pro12 standings – is that Best has to dust himself down quickly and focus on the next must-win game. “You have to get yourself ready,” Best commented. “We have a massive game on Friday night and a league to turn around and win now.”
To add insult, or bovine illness, to injury Best’s prize cows are not able to enter the annual Ulster Show as they have been struck down with TB.
He reflected, “That was probably the most disappointing thing. It goes from bad to worse, doesn’t it.”
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