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Rory Best on emulating Paul O'Connell's ability to pick and choose moments to speak out

In the first Six Nations in aoens that features neither Brian O'Driscoll or Paul O'Connell, new I...



Rory Best on emulating Paul O&...
Rugby

Rory Best on emulating Paul O'Connell's ability to pick and choose moments to speak out

In the first Six Nations in aoens that features neither Brian O'Driscoll or Paul O'Connell, new Ireland captain Rory Best believes the Irish squad still has a nice mix between experience and young blood.

Off The Ball's Cian Murtagh was at today's Six Nations launch in London as the Ulster captain looked ahead to a defence of the tournament, without O'Connell involved.

"It's a nice mix. Obviously Paulie's retired and we've a few injuries, but there are some very talented young guys coming in, their first time in the squad, their first time potentially getting capped, as well as a there's a good spine of senior players," he said.

"There's guys in there who've captained provinces, they've captained Ireland, they've gone on Lions tours, they've won provincial honours, so they know what it's like. They've been there and done it."  

Rory Best ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Best also told Cian that he hopes his captaincy can be similar to O'Connell's and explained that his former team-mate knew how to pick his moments.

"One thing that you notice when you're in camp is that he doesn't speak all the time. It's not a constant commentary of what's going on. It's whenever something needs to be said, he'd stand up and say it and because he's so well respected, people listen. And because it's not all the time, people listen," said the hooker.

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