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Proud Best hails Ireland: We knew it would take a monumental effort
By Christopher Devine
Ireland captain Rory Best hailed the "monumental effort" his side produced to deny England a Six Nations Grand Slam in Dublin.
England's record-equalling streak of 18 successive Test wins was brought to an end on Saturday as Ireland produced a performance of high intensity to triumph 13-9 in a bruising encounter.
Iain Henderson scored the only try after 24 minutes and Ireland remained ahead thereafter, the tournament champions unable to pull off a fightback that would have seen them complete a second straight Slam.
"It was a really tough game," Best told ITV Sport in an on-pitch interview. "We're probably going to wake up tomorrow and there'll be a lot of sore bodies.
"They're a quality team, we knew that. You don't come here looking for back-to-back Grand Slams - and looking for a world record - if you're not a good outfit.
"We were trying to look at ourselves. We knew it was going to take a monumental effort to stop a team like this and it's days like this that you have to be very proud of the boys and the way they fronted up against a quality outfit.
"They [England] are going to go and lift the trophy now and they're deserved champions the way they've played this season, but we're very happy with that win."
.@RoryBest2: "We’re proud of the boys for fronting up against a quality outfit. They’re deserved champions but we’re happy with that win." pic.twitter.com/RklHdtUWdM
— RBS 6 Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2017
Ireland's form earlier in the competition had been mixed, but they rose to the occasion to repeat the feat they achieved in 2011 by preventing England from securing a Grand Slam.
"We'll look back on another day at aspects of this campaign we let slip by, but I think that was a lot more like us." Best added.
"We can leave this championship proud of the effort that we had. Big occasions and big men rise to it, we had plenty of those and we just need to get a bit more consistency."
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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