‘It sometimes takes a reality check’ – Rory Best

Colin Newboult

Ireland captain Rory Best during a press conference at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Ireland captain Rory Best says that their Six Nations disappointment could prove to be beneficial to the team ahead of the World Cup.

Joe Schmidt’s men enjoyed an outstanding 2018, winning the Grand Slam and claiming a superb triumph over world champions New Zealand.

They have failed to build on that in 2019, however, succumbing to both England and Wales in what was a poor Six Nations.

Best has duly suggested that complacency set in heading into that tournament and believes that they have learnt from their mistakes

“The first thing I remember of Joe’s time in charge was sitting in a team meeting and he asked how we perceived ourselves,” he told reporters. “The big word from all the group was ‘inconsistent’.

“The big thing he said was no matter how we play, we have got to prepare the same way. That’s been the hallmark of Joe – to go away from that foundation now would be madness.

“Probably subconsciously, in the 2019 Six Nations, we maybe did. I don’t think it was anything conscious but, when you look back now, we probably believed that we had the ability to turn up and beat anyone.

“That we were this all-conquering force having won the Grand Slam, had tour wins in Australia, and beaten the All Blacks and Argentina.

“It’s funny how those little things go through your head. Maybe, at this level, it’s not doing that extra couple of minutes on the computer tonight. I’ll look at training, but skip a bit.

“It sometimes takes a reality check, finishing third was bitterly disappointing.”

Having reflected on their frustrating Six Nations campaign, Best insists that the players have responded and are both mentally and physically ready for the World Cup.

“When the boys came in at the start of pre-season, everyone was as hungry as I’ve seen when a group of players come together,” he said.

“You always get a pocket who are hungry, a pocket ready to go and another pocket who are just coming in because it is at the start of pre-season and they have to be here.

“But by and large we have a couple of players who want to prove that 2019 was the blip, not 2018.”

Ireland have never gone past the quarter-finals in a World Cup but hopes are higher this time around following their exploits in 2018.

Schmidt has built a strong squad and Best insists that there won’t be a repeat of 2015, which saw injuries hamper them against Argentina in the last-eight.

He added: “When you go to a World Cup, and touch wood there isn’t going to be an injury in the next games, you’ve got to have depth.

“Four years ago, by and large we had the same team, the same 23 put out most weeks in the championship.

“All of a sudden against France, we lost the spine of the team and it was tough to take. We were bringing in quality players who were maybe not experienced – back-up players not just for Ireland, but for the provinces who hadn’t started big Euro games.

“It’s about talent, but also about how to cope with pressure in those big games. It’s a really tough balance to get.”

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