Rory Best hopes to make the plane to South Africa first. Anything else would be a bonus.
Given that Ireland did not win the 2016 Six Nations, many of the questions, after their 35-25 win over Scotland, were about the future. Onwards and upwards, and all that.
The Ulsterman has coped admirably with a heavier mental, and media, workload since taking over from Paul O’Connell as Ireland captain.
Peter O’Mahony would have been the favourite to take over from his former Munster and Ireland colleague but injury ruled him out of the entire championship.
O’Mahony is hoping to return before the end of the season and it may present Schmidt with an opportunity to battle-test him on the three Test tour to South Africa.
Best was asked, twice, for his thoughts on captaining Ireland against the Springboks. To the latter query, he replied:
“There’s obviously a fair bit of rugby to play between now and then hopefully back at our provinces.
“We’ll sign out tomorrow and look forward to knocking lumps out of each other for two months.
“If that’s the case, we’ll get to South Africa and we’ve now won two games and we can go there and try to create history by winning Test matches over there.
“It has been really enjoyable this Six Nations and, I suppose, I’ll just wait and see if the old body holds up.”
Best lamented that Ireland did not ‘make our own luck’ in the opening three games of the championship. However, he is optimistic that Ireland can cause some waves in South Africa with a squad as injury free as the fates allow.
Ireland flanker Tommy O’Donnell is certain that Best is the right man to lead Ireland forward.
“I would [back him]. Rory has always been a natural leader in the squad since ever since I came in.
“There is a great abundance of leaders in the squad and, yes, Paulie was that talismanic figure but Rory was always one of those vice captains and chipping in. He has stepped up well to the main role now.”
Winning makes every picture rosier and Best will breathe easier now that his team have found a habit that deserted them in Cardiff and carried on into 2016.
