WHAT BEGAN AS one of the proudest nights of his rugby career ended in sheepish admissions in front of TV cameras and microphones for Rory Best.
The Ulsterman, a late call-up to the squad, became the third Lions captain from Ireland on this year’s tour and was hoping for a strong showing to force his way into the Test picture. With the lineouts not yet clicking on the 10-match tour, a solid, under-the-radar throwing game would have been Best’s wish.
By the time Jerome Garces blew the final whistle to confirm a 14-12 loss, the wonky lineout was headline news. For a Lions team that included five men starting in the backline for the first time on tour — including an internationally retired Welshman over from Japan’s second division — that is saying something.
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Best’s evening began well when he threw long and bravely to the very back of the line. He located Richie Gray, who in turn fed Ben Youngs to launch an attack. The next throw, however was not straight. The one after that was stolen. The hooker ended the half with six lineouts won off his throw and four lost. He needed to start well in the second half but three of the first four throws were either lost on penalised for being crooked.
Even when throws were won they were either on the edge of legality of not taken securely. Best, along with an underperforming front row of Matt Stevens and Ryan Grant, was called ashore on 59 minutes. Their replacements upped the intensity at the scrum and lineouts started to stick. Alas, for the Lions, it was too late.
Speaking after the match, Best told Sky Sports, “We were physically beaten up, up front… there was pressure on the set-piece and we got nervy.”
The captain refused to use the untried backline as an excuse for the two-point loss as head coach Warren Gatland had brought in ‘quality players’. The winning and losing of the game, he insisted, came about at the breakdown where, once again, the Brumbies beat the Lions up. Asked about the lineout troubles, Best said:
We definitely got nervy. Small units misfired. If you can’t secure ball, you’ll always be under pressure. The forwards here have to put their hands up.”
Best added, “We were fresh coming into tonight and feeling confident beforehand. we just didn’t front up tonight. they wanted it more, right from the off.”
You have to hand it to Gatland. I was very surprised, shocked actually that Rory Best was not picked in the original lions squad. Well, after this performance today, Gatland and his crew made the right decision weeks ago. RB was horrific today at lineout time. It cannot be all blamed on wrong calls, unfamiliar targets in the lineout etc. He could not even throw the bloody ball straight, never mind hit his own man. I believe he got pinged at least three times if not more, for not throwing straight.
I can’t understand why Best hasn’t sorted out his line out throws. He’s a hooker, he’s a professional and after the terrible year he’s had in the line outs surely he’s had to do extra training to fix the problem. Apart from his throwing he’s a fantastic hooker. Strange..
The Irish had 2 group 1 winners and 2 other winners in Royal Ascot today, the biggest flat racing festival in the world and not a bean about it on the score, yet these egg-chasing numpties have wall to wall coverage. Pathetic!!!
Egg chasers or a man whipping a horse to run faster than he wants to so mugs can gamble on who can whip the horse into running fastest.
At least rugby players choose to play rather than been whipped into it.
Horse racing isn’t a sport, and no matter how many tax breaks and Irish Raiders that win races in England its not a sport. All I see is lads spends their days and wages in the bookies, ain’t none of them getting fit following the gee gees!
Well said Chris… Absolute joke that there was no coverage of Ascot….Typical that the one sport that we actually consistently excel in on a world stage and we dont even give any coverage to it! Horse racing isnt a sport? Yeah right , tell that to Minister Coveney who brings in over 3 billion from the horse racing industry alone each year!
The whip is completely painless. Its comprehensively explained in the above. If a half ton animal wants to do something nobody will stop it from doing it. The horse racing industry employs 4000 people in this country and is our most successful sporting endeavour. Today was a great day for Irish sport with our greatest sportsmen competing and winning on a world stage and winning. These horses are bred to race. That’s why they exist. The sports record on animal welfare is very good. Its not exemplary but what sport doesn’t have a few blemishes on its card.
The Lions have yet to play a meaningful game yet there’s ten or twelve articles on here about them. There are articles about the Premier League fixture list that’s out tomorrow for games that won’t be played for 6 weeks. I’m just astounded at the complete lack of coverage of Ascot here.
Well thank you for this insight into hours racing chris but umm This is a rugby debate !! Won’t ask you who should play on the wing “beef or salmon” is it ?
Felt sorry for Besty today. He’s a good player that has lost his good form and as a result, been stripped of confidence, Hope they can get him back together as he is only an injury away from playing in the Tests. As a former Hooker, Gatland should have some idea as to what’s required. Expect him to come back strong next year.
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You have to hand it to Gatland. I was very surprised, shocked actually that Rory Best was not picked in the original lions squad. Well, after this performance today, Gatland and his crew made the right decision weeks ago. RB was horrific today at lineout time. It cannot be all blamed on wrong calls, unfamiliar targets in the lineout etc. He could not even throw the bloody ball straight, never mind hit his own man. I believe he got pinged at least three times if not more, for not throwing straight.
Poor Rory couldn’t hit a horse’s arse with a banjo.
I can’t understand why Best hasn’t sorted out his line out throws. He’s a hooker, he’s a professional and after the terrible year he’s had in the line outs surely he’s had to do extra training to fix the problem. Apart from his throwing he’s a fantastic hooker. Strange..
For a hooker, the yips are mostly mental. It can be technique breaking down under pressure
The Irish had 2 group 1 winners and 2 other winners in Royal Ascot today, the biggest flat racing festival in the world and not a bean about it on the score, yet these egg-chasing numpties have wall to wall coverage. Pathetic!!!
Egg chasers or a man whipping a horse to run faster than he wants to so mugs can gamble on who can whip the horse into running fastest.
At least rugby players choose to play rather than been whipped into it.
Horse racing isn’t a sport, and no matter how many tax breaks and Irish Raiders that win races in England its not a sport. All I see is lads spends their days and wages in the bookies, ain’t none of them getting fit following the gee gees!
Well said Chris… Absolute joke that there was no coverage of Ascot….Typical that the one sport that we actually consistently excel in on a world stage and we dont even give any coverage to it! Horse racing isnt a sport? Yeah right , tell that to Minister Coveney who brings in over 3 billion from the horse racing industry alone each year!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/sep/29/horseracing-whip-review-cruel-public
The whip is completely painless. Its comprehensively explained in the above. If a half ton animal wants to do something nobody will stop it from doing it. The horse racing industry employs 4000 people in this country and is our most successful sporting endeavour. Today was a great day for Irish sport with our greatest sportsmen competing and winning on a world stage and winning. These horses are bred to race. That’s why they exist. The sports record on animal welfare is very good. Its not exemplary but what sport doesn’t have a few blemishes on its card.
The Lions have yet to play a meaningful game yet there’s ten or twelve articles on here about them. There are articles about the Premier League fixture list that’s out tomorrow for games that won’t be played for 6 weeks. I’m just astounded at the complete lack of coverage of Ascot here.
getting whipped in the ribs accidentally or not is painful so ur talking shite there
Well thank you for this insight into hours racing chris but umm This is a rugby debate !! Won’t ask you who should play on the wing “beef or salmon” is it ?
Felt sorry for Besty today. He’s a good player that has lost his good form and as a result, been stripped of confidence, Hope they can get him back together as he is only an injury away from playing in the Tests. As a former Hooker, Gatland should have some idea as to what’s required. Expect him to come back strong next year.