GIVE YOUR BEST
Ireland will leave it all on pitch to stop England, says Rory
RORY BEST is banking on Ireland upsetting the form book to clinch a second-place Six Nations finish and ruin England’s quest for a second successive Grand Slam and a record 19th successive Test win.
Ireland dominated the fixture when the hooker first burst on the scene in 2005, England beaten in seven of eight consecutive Six Nations encounters.
However, while that pendulum now firmly favours the visiting English, winners in six of the last seven meetings (five in the championship and two friendlies), the skipper remains confident a winning display can be fashioned despite struggling Ireland already losing twice in this year’s Six Nations.
‘We have really struggled in Twickenham, probably just the start of the games more than anything,’ said Best, partly explaining the lop-sided recent pattern versus England.
‘We won two years ago (at home), narrowly lost in the heavy rain four years ago.
‘But this is a fresh new challenge. I don’t think there is a lot we can learn from the patterns in the last years. I can’t really put my finger on why it has changed from there being regular Irish wins to regular English wins.
‘This is about the challenge
we face Saturday and wanting to perform and wanting to show what we are worth. Especially at home, it’s a big deal to put in a performance.
‘It’s about leaving this championship on a high because we certainly didn’t start on one (the loss in Scotland), so it’s making sure we finish on one. We also have a big opportunity to finish second. It’s not where we started the championship wanting to finish but that is the best we can finish.
‘They are playing for a Grand Slam but we have got a home record we want to keep intact, so there is pressure on us. We want to finish with a massive result. I don’t think that England’s want for this game is any more than ours.’
Ireland have party-spoiling history, denying England the Slam in Dublin in 2001 and 2011 and it’s just 19 weeks since they stopped New Zealand in Chicago from going 19 matches unbeaten.
Joe Schmidt’s side are plotting this latest ambush, though, minus Conor Murray, Kieran Marmion learning Thursday he is getting a first Six Nations start.
Best, a winner in nine of 18 outings as skipper, wants to make the new No.9’s life as easy as possible.
‘I’m pretty sure the half-backs want the pack going forward, want quality ball, and we have to produce that. We know Johnny (Sexton) can play off anything but for Kieran it’s important we give him as big an armchair ride as possible… we have no doubt he can perform well.’