I won’t have Johnny’s back this time, says Best

They have led the Irish team to greatness and back again and together will carry a nation’s World Cup hopes to Japan, but right now Rory Best is seeing one advantage in going up against Johnny Sexton.

When they lead their respective provinces out at the Aviva Stadium for Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final, it will be the first time the Ireland captain and one of his vice-captains have faced each other in a game of this stature. Being in opposite corners is exactly the type of challenge they’ll embrace, and Best can appreciate the irony.