Stopping Slam wasn’t motivation, says Best

RORY BEST insisted that the Ireland squad was not focused on ending England’s Grand Slam dream at Lansdowne Road yesterday, but were instead determined to put in a big performance and right the wrongs of this Six Nations campaign in front of their home support.

‘We talked all week that it wasn’t about stopping them doing anything, it was about producing a performance worthy of this team, this crowd and the occasion that it was,’ the Ireland captain said.

‘I think we’re very happy with that. We’ll look back at aspects of this campaign that we’re not happy with but that was more like us.’

It was a bruising encounter, with Ireland No 10 Johnny Sexton once again shipping a number of massive hits − prompting Best to at one stage plead with referee Jerome Garces to look out for the Leinster star.

‘Look it’s a Test match with a lot at stake and there are going to be big hits,’ he continued. ‘Both teams fronted up, as we knew they would, and it was physical − and it was everything a Six Nations game should be, and everything you grew up watching as a kid.’ One of the more impressive aspects of the hard-fought win was that Ireland got the job done without a number of their most influential individuals. With both Jamie Heaslip and Conor Murray ruled out before the game, Ireland played out the final stages on the attack with both Andrew Conway and Luke McGrath − who hit one superb kick to touch shortly after his late introduction − slotting in effortlessly after Kieran Marmion had put in a hugely impressive shift at scrum-half. By then Best (left), Jack McGrath, Seán O’Brien, Donnacha Ryan and Tadhg Furlong had taken their leave. ‘I think when you look at the impact of the boys coming off the bench... that kick from Luke McGrath to put them back in the corner again, it showed real maturity for guys with little experience. ‘It’s a squad game and we had to dig deep again.’