Best looking forward to ‘special’ day at Aviva

Rory Best has captained his country before but three years and a whole other universe separate the Ulster hooker’s previous experiences from what he is about to go through this Saturday.

Canada provided the opposition the first day and a warm and wonderfully-named Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver the location. He doubled up eight days later with another victory, this time against the USA in Santa Clara, California.

There can be no diluting the honour of leading your country onto the field but the fact remains that the cream of the country’s crop was 10,000 miles away, preparing for the British and Irish Lions’ tour opener in South Africa.