Best 'honoured' to achieve dream
Rory Best is celebrating the realisation of a boyhood dream after being named Ireland captain for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland.
The Ulster hooker leads a team showing two injury-enforced changes following the agonising 17-17 draw with France, with lock Donnacha Ryan and scrum-half Eoin Reddan replacing Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray.
Best has been given the captaincy after O’Connell was ruled out of Ireland’s two remaining games against Scotland and England with a knee injury.
It is a role the 29-year-old has performed twice before against Canada and the United States during the 2009 summer tour, but his recognition for the Six Nations holds far greater personal significance.
Elder brother Simon also skippered Ireland twice – against Argentina in 2007 - before retiring a year later due to an irregular heartbeat.
And while Saturday will be a proud day for Best’s family, he will only be able to enjoy the occasion if wooden spoon contenders Scotland are dispatched at the Aviva Stadium.
