Thursday 21 January 2016 15:26, UK
Sky Sports' Jamie Weir talks to Rory Best about the emotion of being named Ireland captain, and the men who did it before him...
Keith Wood, Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell. The roll call of Ireland captains in recent times has featured some of the game's genuine all-time greats.
I meet the man entrusted with following in the footsteps of these titans, fittingly, a stone's throw from Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
Around these parts the most feted modern-day sportsman is called Rory, its greatest of yesteryear was called Best. Now I sit face-to-face with a man who shares his name with both.
Is Rory Best daunted by filling the sizeable boots of his predecessors? Not one bit.
"I know how unbelievably lucky I am to do it, to take over from a captain like Paulie, but also to captain a squad that has so many good leaders in it," said Best.
"I wouldn't say it was like a 'dream come true' because playing for Ireland is a massive honour in itself, but being asked to captain your country is a very humbling feeling."
"My career hasn't exactly been straightforward. There have been a lot of highs but there have been a few lows along the way."
It won't be the first time Best has led Ireland. In 2009, he captained them on their tour of North America, deputising for O'Driscoll who was otherwise engaged with the Lions in South Africa.
In the 2012 Six Nations he again stepped in, this time for the injured O'Connell, taking the decision to turn down a straightforward three points and kick for the corner against Scotland.
He took the subsequent lineout, collected the return pass and dived over in the corner for the opening try of the game.
On those previous occasions he was just keeping the seat warm. Now the job's his for real.
"It's important that I don't try to be Paul O'Connell or Brian O'Driscoll. I have to be the captain that I am, and that Joe [Schmidt] has seen in me."
Schmidt, a head coach who keeps his cards pressed so closely to his chest, informed Best by phone earlier in the week that he wanted him as his captain.
Best shared the news with his wife Jodie, but couldn't risk telling their five-year-old rugby-mad son Ben for fear of his imminent appointment leaking via the school playground.
"It's been a tough enough secret to keep, and people will have been wondering why I've been a bit grumpy or preoccupied.
"My wife would say that I very rarely choke up, but it was hugely emotional telling my family, they've been through a lot.
"My career hasn't exactly been straightforward. There have been a lot of highs but there have been a few lows along the way."
Missing an entire season due to a chronic disk injury would qualify as one of those, as well as perhaps having to watch his older brother Simon get rushed to hospital during the 2007 World Cup and subsequently announce his retirement from rugby at the age of 29.
The highs have outweighed the lows in recent years, however. He's now Ireland's first-choice hooker, and barring injury or a sudden loss of form, he'll join the 100-cap club in Ireland's final match of 2016, against Australia in Dublin.
Before then, the aim is to lead his country to an unprecedented third Six Nations title in a row, something he admits will be no mean feat.
"There hasn't been a Grand Slam in a good few years now and that's because there are so many quality teams.
"There's also a lot of unknowns, in that we have two new coaches [England's Eddie Jones and France's Guy Noves], Scotland seem to be finding their feet under Vern Cotter and we know how difficult Italy can be.
"For us, it is about the job in hand which is in just over two weeks' time against Wales."
Many see that clash on the opening weekend in Dublin as a potential tournament decider, although Ireland's new captain won't be making bold claims like that.
Winning the 2014 Six Nations was good. Winning the 2015 Six Nations was better. But winning the 2016 Six Nations may be Best yet.
