Rory Best warns Scotland must not be taken for granted

Ireland captain Rory Best has warned his side they will have to play better than they did to beat the All Blacks if they want to get their 2017 RBS 6 Nations campaign off to a winning start in Scotland next week.

The Irish begin their bid to unseat reigning champions England with a difficult trip to Murrayfield in nine days but though confidence is high after last year’s victories over South Africa, Australia and an historic first win over New Zealand in Chicago, the national skipper is adamant that nothing can be taken for granted against Vern Cotter’s Scots.

“Yes, there’s a bit of confidence about,” Best said yesterday at the RBS 6 Nations media launch in London.