Best misses out as Ford replaces Flannery in Lions squad

RORY BEST was last night left disappointed after missing out on a potential Lions lifeline, after Scotland’s Ross Ford was chosen to replace the injured Jerry Flannery on the tour to South Africa.

Ulster skipper Best was believed to be in line to replace his Irish international colleague, but Lions head coach Ian McGeechan plumped for the 25-year-old Ford instead, bringing the number of Scots in the party to four.

A delighted Ford said: “It’s a great honour. I’m chuffed to bits. ’Geech phoned me and said: ’I think you know why I’m calling’.”