Ireland still good without Best

JUNE SPOTLIGHT: Ireland regular captain Rory Best’s absence opens the door for a new leader to step up ahead of the first Test against Australia on Saturday.

Best has been ruled out of the tour of Australia with a hamstring injury he sustained during the build-up to Ulster’s Champions Cup play-off with Ospreys, missing the province’s 35-17 victory on May 20.

The Grand Slam winning skipper is a huge loss to the side’s three-Test series. Since taking over as captain in 2016 the team recorded their first victory over the Springboks in South Africa, a historic victory over the All Blacks and have managed to climb to No.2 on the World rankings.

Head coach Joe Schmidt revealed that Johnny Sexton and Peter O’Mahony are set to share captaincy duties in the absence of the British and Irish Lions front row.

While, scrum coach Greg Fleek, who included the names of Christiaan Stander, Conor Murray and Keith Earls into the captaincy mix, believes that Ireland have enough leadership prowess to fulfil the void left by Best.

“We have a leadership group that has been solid and tight. Anyone of those guys could step in,” Feek told reporters at the press conference.

“There is a well-experienced leadership group with people like CJ, Pete, Johnny, Best, Conor and Earls,”

Speaking about the threat posed by Australia, Feek said: “If you look at how their Super Rugby teams are playing, they’re playing some pretty good rugby in terms of tries scored and physical approach.

“They’ve got some exciting players that the fans here will want to see get their hands on the ball. Think if you don’t look after the ball they X-factor players will punish you.

“Don’t think they will come out an reinvent the wheel, they will work well with what works them,”

Feek has moved to Japan to take up the role as assistant coach at club side NEC Green Rockets and is juggling that role with his duties with the IRFU.