The Kiwi is impressed with the Ulsterman’s improvement in recent years.
What a difference a weekend can make.
Pro12, Premiership, Champions Cup, Six Nations – There is so much rugby to be played over the next couple of months that the arguments and conversations surrounding Lions picks and captaincy candidates will constantly be evolving.
There will also be monumental moments – bits of play which will suddenly change the landscape.
We witnessed one of these moments at the weekend during the Pool 4 encounter at Franklin’s Gardens between Northampton Saints and Leinster.
As we all know, England captain and one of the favourites for the Lions captaincy, Dylan Hartley, received a red card for a reckless challenge on Sean O’Brien.
Straight red 😡 https://t.co/L8gA9jSEkG
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 9, 2016
In all likelihood, that red card ended Hartley’s chances of having the honour of captaining the British & Irish Lions for their tour of New Zealand next summer.
Timing can be a funny thing sometimes.
Less than 24 hours after Hartley committed this cowardly offence, Best led his Ulster team to a famous and emphatic victory over Top 14 leaders, Clermont Auvergne.
This incredible shift in momentum for Best and his Lions captaincy aspirations were further compounded by comments made by Warren Gatland at the weekend.
“He is scrummaging well, he is experienced. He has grown into that leadership role. There is a lot to admire about Rory Best,” Gatland told the New Zealand Herald.
What has impressed Gatland the most, however, is the level of progression which Best has shown over the last number of years, particularly since the Lions tour of Australia in 2013, where Best wasn’t in the initial selection.
“There is no doubt Rory Best has done a really good job. He looks comfortable. We didn’t take him initially in 2013 [to Australia] because we felt his line-out throwing was not good enough. He has obviously improved enormously.”
Rather ironically, it was a suspension given to Hartley that led to the Ulsterman’s call-up.
As we saw in November, the All Blacks will try to use any means possible to gain an edge over their opponents, even if this borders on illegal levels of physicality.
Having someone like Hartley there could be a recipe for disaster.
Although he is a good player, and clearly a leader in some respect, he arguably does not have the temperament to lead this Lions team in the face of what will be close to an insurmountable challenge.
What is needed is someone who is calm, collected and who can lead this team through not only his words, but also his actions.
Rory Best is that man and it seems like Gatland is beginning to realise that too.
Diarmuid Connolly makes his long overdue GAA Hour debut and talks to Colm Parkinson about everything from the black card to his rivalry with Lee Keegan and how he honed the ability to kick accurately with either foot.
