Best on top of the world Down Under

Rory Best has had a roller coaster month of emotions. Simon Lewis caught up with him in Perth

As Rory Best drove to the Ulster training ground nine days ago, his mind was still turning over the way a season of promise had turned in every way to disappointment.

A poor Six Nations for Ireland, a Heineken Cup quarter-final exit to Saracens and the latest woe, a RaboDirect Pro12 final defeat by Leinster, it was a pretty miserable collection of events to mull as he tried to get himself organised for the Ireland tour to North America.

Then the hooker’s world turned upside down, or rather Down Under, as Best received the call that he was going on a different tour, to Hong Kong and Australia with the British & Irish Lions. Overlooked by Warren Gatland when the squad was announced on April 30, Best came back into the frame the minute Dylan Hartley committed professional self-destruction and swore at Aviva Premiership final referee Wayne Barnes.

Hartley’s 11-week ban removed the English hooker from the plane and Best was the grateful beneficiary.

“To miss out on the initial selection was bitterly disappointing but I had to try and get over it a bit quicker than if Ulster hadn’t been involved in such big games,” he said yesterday.

“I had to try and for the team’s sake dust myself down as quickly as I could and get back in. We had a couple of crucial games which took my mind off it. But it’s the same thing: you’re not in the squad, there is so much hype about it and you can’t avoid it. Obviously the disappointment of losing the final with Ulster, then the next day going to the complete opposite extreme of getting the phone call to say they want you in London on Monday morning to fly out to Hong Kong. I don’t think there has ever been a higher high than that for me in rugby.”

Best may have been a late call-up on the eve of the tour but he was only 12 hours behind fellow Ulster Lion Tommy Bowe and the contingents from Leicester and Leinster in going into camp. Forwards coach Graham Rowntree has been impressed by his swift integration.

“There were a couple of positions in the forward pack which we had long conversations about — back row and hooker. He was very close and I’ve been impressed with his attitude coming on. He’s got up to speed with everything and been very professional. He’s good to have around and gets on with things.”

Getting on with things is exactly what Best has in mind today against the Western Force when he packs down alongside Ireland team-mate Cian Healy and English tighthead Dan Cole, the fact of his late call-up now an irrelevance as the Lions stake their claim for Test places.

“I think everyone here now has the same approach. We want each game to get better, we want each unit to be as good as it can be and everyone wants to push on and play their best rugby.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Few people get to do it and you want to get out there, do your best and push to be selected for the last three [Tests] and everyone has the same mindset for that.

“Competition for places is what it’s all about.

“For me, whether I was selected in the initial [squad] or coming in late as I did, I’m here and I’m getting a chance to play. It’s a massive honour for me to be playing.”