Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

to a Test win in South Africa for the first time, skippered his country to historic victory over New Zealand at the aptly-named Soldier Field in Chicago. His ambition for Ireland and Ulster is undimmed, and Australia vanquished, a resurgent Pro 12 and European campaign, then Six Nations success in the New Year will be quietly on his list of targets. That 100th appearance for Ireland tomorrow will be absorbed and also filed for deeper reflection later, the appreciation of the wide rugby public gently accepted, but under the Aviva Stadium lights he’ll concentrate on his job, giving his all, leading by example, providing compass when sometimes others lose direction. In the summer there is the Lions tour to New Zealand, and he’ll let events take their course but it’s not just in this country that good judges think Rory Best is not just the player needed to take the battle once more to the All Blacks but to lead the squad Warren Gatland selects. For one of Best’s great qualities is the way he brings different personalities and cultures within sides together, he’s not given to parochialism, his interests are broad, and the affection and, significantly, respect in which he’s held is just as wide. English, Welsh and Scots they may be, players and individuals with common cause they would be with Best at the helm. But that’s for another day. Let’s celebrate a remarkable personal achievement for one of our own, and show how much we know he has still to give to his country and to the Ulster club with which he’s won silverware and craves more. For his wife Jodie and his three young children there’ll be a very special pride as tomorrow evening unfolds, and it’s to his family he’ll return at the weekend, the same good, caring and committed man who – for a significant while – brought his values to the international top table. Rory Best will live his life, play his rugby, in his own particular, honest and engaging way. He’s his own man, but he’s ours too. A century in green, box ticked.

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