WHEN FORMER IRELAND flanker Neil Best explains how he selects his targets, he almost sounds like a military sniper. And back in the autumn of 2006 there was probably no harder hitter in world rugby than the bulldozer from Belfast.
The fiery flanker is famous for levelling opponents with either bone-liquefying hits or huge haymakers and when he shares his tackling technique, you quickly understand how he put a hurt on so many opponents.
‘Ideally you want the opposition to be coming off the touchline,” Best says.
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Never has a journey between process and result looked so seamless. His destructive peak may have been in the previous decade but at 35, Best still makes a living in the game playing for London Scottish in the English second-tier.
Now, his shuddering smashes are enjoyed in Youtube compilations rather than on the pitch.
“I don’t do much of that now,” Best says.
“I try to stay out of trouble. It’s not the same now that I have three kids. I don’t really have time to work on my physique so it is harder to make those big tackles.”
He might not crunch opponents as much as he used to but Best is enjoying life at the Championship club, who are currently in fourth place pushing for promotion to the Aviva Premiership.
He says their head coach, James Buckland, is the best he has ever played under and at 33, thinks he has a huge future in the game as he gains experience.
Tackling was one thing that Best never really needed to be coached and it was his calling card during his rise from Ulster novice to international flanker. He was so enthusiastic for physicality that he thought nothing of levelling a team-mate or two at Ulster training.
Best found it hard not to smash his own team-mates in training. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
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He even earned a unique nickname for how he conducted himself in the first six years of his career, which began with Ulster in 2002.
“They used to call me ‘friendly fire’ because I would be hitting one of our own players or accidentally stepping on them or purposefully doing something,” Best said.
By his own admission, Best was a wild player as a young man. After leaving Ulster, he picked up a lengthy ban for gouging at Northampton and he was also involved in a fair few punch-ups during his career.
By his estimation, he was involved in one incident at Ulster, two or three at Northampton, two or three at Worcester and none so far at London Scottish.
And that is just with his own team-mates, by the way.
He says witnessing Paul O’Connell ‘almost kill’ Ryan Caldwell with a punch in training before the ’07 World Cup – as well as having three sons – changed his outlook on violence in the game.
“I’ve mellowed a lot with age and also since the Paul O’Connell/ Ryan Caldwell incident,” he says.
“That was pretty terrifying. After that I said I would never punch someone in the face again – unless a red mist completely descends on me.”
Of course, as Best says above, exceptions have to be made in the throes of combat. Like this incident with Cobus Visagie from Ireland vs the Barbarians in 2008 (go to 55 seconds).
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“I didn’t do anything there, Visagie hit me first,” Best says.
“It was a Barbarians game, I’m not going to go out to try and f**king punch people.”
One potentially mouth-watering training ground tussle would have been between Best in his prime and a young Stephen Ferris, but even someone as tough as Best knew that it would be hard to overpower that particular colleague.
“Stevie was just starting his career then but you knew early on how powerful he was,” Best says.
“I really liked him and we were usually on the same team in training. You have to pick your battles too though, he was about 18 stone and could run like the wind.”
Best’s 18-cap international career was brief but highly memorable. He was involved in Eddie O’Sullivan’s Ireland team when they were playing some of the best rugby in our nation’s history and most fans will remember his dominant all-round display against Australia in 2006.
Best put on a tackling clinic and also bulldozed some Wallabies in attack too, but he doesn’t remember the game as fondly as most fans.
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“I remember it was raining beforehand and I was just thinking, ‘I couldn’t be arsed for this’,” Best says.
One great perk about interviewing Neil Best is being able to pull out a question like, ‘Who is the most well-known rugby player that you have punched in the face?’
Andy Ward was one name discussed, but ultimately he settled on a two-time Scottish Lion.
“Back in 2007 we were playing Edinburgh and I punched Simon Taylor,” he says.
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JAMIE HEASLIP WILL lead Leinster into their winner-takes-all Champions Cup clash with Wasps on Saturday (1pm).
The Ireland back-row came through 50 minutes unscathed on his return from a shoulder injury against Castres last week, and is passed fit to start at number eight in the Ricoh Arena.
Matt O’Connor’s side lead their hosts by two points and know that a win would clinch their place as Pool 2 winners and a home quarter-final.
There are two changes in the pack with Kane Douglas starting alongside Devin Toner, who wins his 40th European cap, while Dominic Ryan is preferred to Jack Conan on the blindside.
It’s as you were otherwise with the backs unchanged from the side which ran in seven tries last weekend.
Isaac Boss is named as replacement scrum-half with Luke McGrath missing out.
Wasps make two changes of their own with James Gaskell and Ben Jacobs both starting.
Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “Tomorrow’s game will be as close as you get to Test Match rugby at club level. It’s a huge opportunity for players to show everyone they can compete on the big stage.
“There is no shortage of motivation and you can be sure that nothing will be left out on the pitch.”
Wasps
15. Rob Miller
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Ben Jacobs
11. Tom Varndell
10. Andy Goode
9. Joe Simpson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Edd Shervington
3. Lorenzo Cittadini
4. Bradley Davies
5. James Gaskell
6. Ashley Johnson
7. James Haskell (c)
8. Nathan Hughes
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Replacements
16. Carlo Festuccia
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Jake Cooper-Woolley
19. Kearnan Myall
20. Guy Thompson
21. Ed Jackson
22. Alex Lozowski
23. Andrea Masi
Leinster
15. Rob Kearney
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Luke Fitzgerald
12. Ian Madigan
11. Dave Kearney
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Michael Bent
2. Sean Cronin
3. Marty Moore
4. Devin Toner
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
Replacements
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Jamie Hagan
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Mike McCarthy
20. Jack Conan
21. Isaac Boss
22. Gordon D’Arcy
23. Darragh Fanning
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RTÉ HAVE RESPONDED in tight-lipped fashion after the future of the Six Nations broadcasting rights was thrown into doubt today.
A report in this morning’s Telegraph quoted Six Nations chief John Feehan suggesting that he would consider allowing satellite channels such as Sky and BT to bid for future rights to the competition.
And speaking to The42 today, an RTÉ spokesperson confirmed that the Irish broadcaster’s current Six Nations contract runs up until 2017, but was unwilling to say whether they feared losing out in any future deals.
“RTÉ doesn’t comment on the details of rights deals, either current deals or rights that will be up for negotiation or re-negotiation in the future,” the spokesperson said.
Irish law prohibits sporting “events of major importance” from being shown on satellite TV, however the Six Nations is not protected under this legislation.
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Murray Kinsella reports from Stadio Olimpico
ITALY CAPTAIN SERGIO Parisse has admitted the Azzurri were surprised by Joe Schmidt’s selection of Ian Keatley in Ireland’s number 10 shirt for tomorrow’s Six Nations meeting in Rome.
Parisse also stated that there will be “big pressure” on the Munster man at Stadio Olimpico as Schmidt’s side get their title defence underway.
Parisse led Italy on their captain’s run this morning in Rome. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
There was some surprise on Irish soil after yesterday’s team announcement, and the Italians had also been expecting to hear Ian Madigan’s name read out.
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“We didn’t expect probably to play against Keatley at number 10, we thought in our minds that it would be Madigan,” said Parisse this afternoon following Italy’s captain’s run at Stadio Olimpico.
“In any case, they are two different kinds of player. Madigan is the kind of player that attacks the line more, a good step and Keatley has another kind of game. From the tactical point of view, he’s probably more similar to [Johnny] Sexton.
Keatley is set for his Six Nations debut at the age of 27, after taking a somewhat roundabout route to this point. Having left his native Leinster in 2008, the out-half impressed over three years with Connacht before switching to Munster.
His time at the southern province has seen Keatley succeed Ronan O’Gara as first-choice out-half, seeing off the challenge of JJ Hanrahan in the last two seasons.
Keatley has played in high-pressure Champions Cup semi-finals and already has three Ireland caps, but Parisse says tomorrow’s Six Nations meeting will be another major step up for the Irishman.
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“I suppose for him it’s a great opportunity,” said the Stade Français number eight. “He will have great pressure on his shoulders before the match tomorrow, but he plays for Munster and has the attitude to play at good levels.
“We don’t think too much, we must keep pressure on him, but not just only on him. Obviously with any team you want to put the number 10 under pressure.
“When you have an opportunity to play for your country in a match in the Six Nations, there is a big responsibility, big pressure. So it’s for him to manage this pressure.
The scrutiny on Keatley will be intense from the opening minute, but the Italians have a Six Nations debutant of their own at out-half tomorrow to worry about.
Kiwi native Kelly Haimona impressed in his first three starts in the November Tests and now head coach Jacques Brunel is handing the former Bay of Plenty halfback a chance on an even bigger stage.
While Parisse and the Italian pack will look to heap the pressure on Keatley, they will be simultaneously be focused on relieving 28-year-old Haimona of any burden.
Keatley will line up opposite a fellow Six Nations debutant. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
“Obviously, the Six Nations is another competition with more pressure than the Tests in November,” said Parisse. “Kelly has the chance to play again and I think he wants to improve and play well for the team.
“For my point of view, all of the team has my confidence and support. Every single match for a number 10, you must have a platform for him. We must play well in the scrum and give him the possiblity to have a lot of opportunities to attack, and from the lineout.
“It’s going to be important to keep him from having too much pressure.”
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WHILE ALL THE celebrations were going on after Ireland’s immensely satisfying 19-9 win over England, many Irish fans were probably still pacing between pints worrying about Johnny Sexton and Sean O’Brien’s injuries.
The absence of the former would potentially be more serious than the latter, given that Ireland showed in November they can adequately replace the Tullow Tank whereas in the final quarter today the game plan didn’t seem to fit as well in the absence of the Racing Métro out-half.
Afterwards, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said Sexton was withdrawn to ensure no further damage was done after he injured his hamstring, but declined to comment on whether Sexton is now in any doubt for the clash with Wales on 14 March.
“Johnny just felt a twinge in his hamstring when he was kicking that conversion from the corner,” Schmidt said after the game.
“Again, we haven’t had that assessed yet so I can’t really comment as to the severity or non-severity of that.”
Earlier in the game, Sean O’Brien had to be replaced after running into George Ford and suffering an apparent concussion. It was a big carry by the flanker, who was very unsteady on his feet thereafter.
Similarly, outside centre Jared Payne departed the game for concussion testing, although Schmidt explained that the Ulsterman passed those assessments.
“With Sean, we’re not too sure how it happened,” said Schmidt. “We had a look at the tape and maybe it was a head-to-head clash, but he’s going to through the HIA [Head Injury Assessment] protocols and he’ll work his way through those in the next six days.
“He’s certainly asymptomatic at the moment, he’s fine, just a little bit grumpy and disappointed he didn’t see out the match.
“Jared Payne is absolutely fine. He actually passed everything on the side of the pitch.
“We just felt that is was pertinent to leave him at that stage and we feel pretty comfortable with Tommy going into centre, and Felix has been great for us so he went onto the wing.”
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Source: Tony Monaghan/YouTube
DO YOU KNOW of a faster try scored in the history of the All-Ireland league?
It’d be hard to beat Tullamore winger Jordan Conroy’s effort last Saturday in their clash against Ards in Division 2B of the competition sponsored now by Ulster Bank.
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Conroy showed a brilliant burst of speed to weave through the Ards rearguard and touch down after just 21 seconds. That set the tone for a comfortable afternoon for the Offaly club as they ran out 60-10 victors at Spollanstown.
H/T: Maureen Catterson for sending the clip our way
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HEAD COACH JOE Schmidt says the ‘wear and tear’ Simon Zebo has built up during nine consecutive games for Ireland partly explains the decision to include Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing for Saturday’s clash with Scotland.
Schmidt has been pleased with Zebo’s reaction in training. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The Munster man drops out of the match day altogether, although he will travel with Ireland to Edinburgh this evening and provide back-up to Schmidt’s 23.
Schmidt unsurprisingly admitted that both Zebo and Jack McGrath – who has been replaced by Cian Healy in the starting XV for this Six Nations clash – were disappointed to learn of their fate earlier this week.
“Probably with Simon, he started the last nine Test matches for us and he’s played throughout the Six Nations for us and he’s just showing signs of wear and tear, he’s got a few niggles,” said Schmidt this afternoon in Carton House when asked to outline his thinking in making the two changes.
“We just wanted to have somebody that’s at 100% [Fitzgerald], as opposed to someone who has fitted in really well, has worked incredibly hard on their game, but is just starting to show those signs of wear and tear.
“I think if you’re forever coming off the bench, you don’t get as much time in the team and for Cian to get comfortable in the week. They’ve shared a bit of time in the last two matches anyway.”
When asked how Zebo and McGrath had handled the news of their dropping, Schmidt pointed to the positive attitude of both players. Having started Ireland’s first four games of the championship, Zebo unsurprisingly did not agree that his body needed a break.
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“I don’t think a player ever feels that they need a rest, to be honest,” said Schmidt of Zebo. “Players always want to keep going and when it’s Test matches that are competitive in the championship, they want to be there.
McGrath was in good spirits at training in Carton House today. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
“So there’s a bit of disappointment and at the same time, there’s probably a little sense of relief because he has been showing those signs of wear and tear.
“Simon’s rebounded and trained well; I thought he trained particularly well today and he’ll certainly be coming with us [to Scotland] as part of the group.”
As for McGrath, Schmidt pointed out that he and Leinster teammate Healy have been playing something of a double act in the last three games.
“This way, we thought we’d rotate that around a little bit. We’re really happy to have two really good, effective loosehead props. They both scrum very strongly, they’re both very consistent with their set-piece as far as lineout is concerned, both very effective lifters, and they offer real value and consistency around the pitch.
“Cian has a little more experience, but Jack has continuity with the group that might be really important if we’re trying to close the game out or chase the game. I don’t think there’ll be a massive distance between the sides at the end of the day.”
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GEORGE NORTH HAS had a rough couple of weeks.
The winger was knocked out twice during Wales’ Six Nations defeat to England last month and tonight was involved in a sickening collision which resulted in the Wasps back-row, Nathan Hughes, being sent-off.
Moments after crossing the try line for the second time at Franklin’s Gardens, North was out cold as Hughes’ knee collided with the Welsh international’s head.
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After watching several replays, referee Craig Maxwell-Keyes produced a red for Hughes as North received lengthy treatment in the in-goal area.
As he was being stretchered off the pitch, there was an angry exchanges of words between Northampton coach Dorian West and a member of the Wasps backroom team.
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THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT from yesterday’s Champions Cup quarter-final between Leinster and Bath wasn’t that the home side didn’t cross the whitewash for a five-pointer, but rather that the television audience were deprived of a replay of Fergus McFadden’s monstrous hit right on half time.
Anthony Watson marauded for metres with ease throughout yesterday’s contest but as the clock struck 40 minutes, he ran right into the Leinster wing, who lit him up.
https://vine.co/v/Olw7O2uTK5T
Unfortunately for McFadden, his game ended just after half time when he caught his head on Kyle Eastmond’s shoulder.
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It’s just a two week turnaround until Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final so it will be interesting to see if McFadden makes it back in time. Dave Kearney was omitted from the 23 for yesterday’s game, but would be a very high quality replacement if the wing isn’t fit for the final four clash.
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