Standing up for each and every one on his team.
Irish rugby fans know all too well what a legend and leader Rory Best is.
Not only is best one of the world’s best hookers at the scrum and breakdown, he is a fantastic captain. This has been highlighted by him standing up for injured, unjustly treated or penalised teammates or by buttering up referees.
At Wellington’s Cake Tin stadium on Tuesday, the Ireland captain had the armband for the Lions midweek team, for the second time on tour.
The Lions were making a good fist of it but, just after half-time, their defence was sliced apart with Ngani ‘Mini Bus’ Laumape getting over for a fine score. Outhalf Dan Biggar tried his best to prevent the try but was emphatically bounced by the Hurricanes No.12.
That was all well and good but there was no need for outside centre Vince Aso to rub it in to Biggar as he lay dazed on the ground.
Best did not stand for that and Lions supporters will now know – if they hadn’t already – how strong and loyal a leader the Ulster man is.
Rory Best standing up for Biggar after Vince Aso rubs that Canes try in #HURvBIL pic.twitter.com/bEoUpVijbS
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) June 27, 2017
Biggar went off for a Head Injury Assessment before returning to the field of play and, 15 minutes after that Hurricanes try, made a fine pass to help set up Tommy Seymour for his second journey over the ‘Canes whitewash.
