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Published 14:38 31 Aug 2017 BST
Updated 18:19 1 Sept 2017 BST
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Were Best to stay on as Ireland captain, his season could be one relentless parade of responsibilities, functions, speeches and handshakes. Week in, week out.
Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien and Johnny Sexton are alternatives but both McLaughlin and O'Gara back Best to handle the dual captaincy. O'Gara said:
"It seems like a big work-load but I was thinking that with Jono Gibbes going into Ulster [as head coach], he would readily identify with the qualities of Rory Best. He wants to put his stamp on it. "Best will probably be the Irish captain - he will be - but Jono wants him emphasising all his qualities and being the leader of his pack. Rory's hard, honest, direct and he has everything you'd want in a captain. He has serious qualities as a leader as well."Best is the right man for the job if Ulster are to put Ulster first. As for a back-row captaining Ireland on a permanent basis any time soon, O'Gara is not so sure.
"I would say it is far more likely him. An Irish captain in the back row at this current stage would be a bigger call, I would feel, with the competition for places there."The Ulster forward would be 37 were he to make it to his fourth World Cup, in 2019, but he appears to be the clear frontrunner to lead Ireland further down that road to Japan.
Fans tear into Leo Cullen after the Leinster boss slams media actions
A war of words! Following Leinster’s defeat of Toulon yesterday, head coach Leo Cullen took advantage of the situation to rub it into what he perceives as an unfair media. Despite continued appearances in Champions Cup finals and a semi-final loss to Northampton last year, as well as URC titles, Leinster do face their fair […]
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Brilliant footage shows Toulon doing training drills on Dublin street ahead of Leinster loss
This is great! Ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster this afternoon at the Aviva Stadium, Toulon were seen training in a rather unusual spot. Instead of a field or the gym, they were filmed on a Dublin street doing maul drills, while others causally tossed the ball around. It is unclear exactly where […]
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Live sport on TV in Ireland this weekend – Football, GAA, Rugby – April 24th to 26th
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