Best out to banish Argentinian nightmares

IRELAND captain Rory Best admits playing Argentina brings back nightmare memories of one of the most disappointing episodes of his 12-year international career. The 35-year-old hooker played in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final defeat by the Pumas but it was his involvement in Ireland’s 2007 horror show under Eddie O’Sullivan that resonates most strongly ahead of today’s clash with Argentina. ‘If you drew a line as to what your most disappointing moments were, that [2007] World Cup will certainly be in the top three,’ said Best. ‘To go there off the back of being two minutes away from grand-slamming in the Six Nations before and all the hope. ‘Nothing clicked and by the time it got to the Argentina game, there was almost a feeling around the camp that people just wanted to go home. They had had enough. I don’t think I have ever been in a squad like that since. ‘It’s hard to say what happened but there was just so much stuff thrown at us. We weren’t playing well, were stuck in that place in Bordeaux that really wasn’t pleasant at all, and Argentina surprised a lot of people.’ Best yesterday played down Friday morning fears over Johnny Sexton’s availability, the Ireland out-half —

a late injury cry-off for the quarter-final two years ago — taking part in kicking practice after being one of a number of players to sit out the captain’s run training. Conor Murray, Sexton’s half-back partner, was also spotted taking place kicks ahead of a November series finale where a French referee has the difficult task of handling English and Spanish-speaking rivals who won’t hold back. Victory for Ireland would be their seventh in a row since defeat at Cardiff to Wales last March, consistency Best attributes to better training ground preparations. ‘The big thing for us is to show that consistency,’ added the Ireland captain. ‘We have asked for consistency more so this season than any other year under my captaincy and Saturday will be a big challenge to see if we can deliver that. ‘If we can take another step down that route, you then go into the Six Nations with a bit of confidence from the performances and also to go: “This is what we achieve when we are consistent in our preparations”. ‘I feel the squad is evolving pretty well at the minute and it’s important we continue to do that while also maintaining a level of performance that we are really not happy to drop below.’ Despite the history between the sides, Best does not believe there is any extra needle going into today’s encounter. ‘There has probably been a few higher profile games, mainly World Cups, even stretching back before my time, but you play any of the top nations, you want to beat them and you know it will be very, very difficult.’