SHORTLY AFTER THE full-time whistle in Wellington this morning, Rory Best picked out his wife and three young children in the crowd and shared a special moment with his family.
Having captained the Lions for the second time on tour, the Ulster hooker brought his son, Ben, onto the pitch as the players did a lap of honour around the Westpac Stadium before heading down the tunnel.
The moment was captured by photographers and we can often forget that players are away from their families for the best part of two months on tour, with Best admitting afterwards that sharing the experience with his kids makes all the hard work worth it.
“It’s obviously very special and they’ve flown so far to watch me play and I’m eternally indebted to Jodie for flying them out, it’s a thankless task with three kids coming out,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was something we talked about, everyone has something to play for and mine was family. Mum, Dad, my brother Mark, sister Rebecca and I know my brother Simon is at home watching me as well and that’s what it’s all about for me and why you go through the tough bits and that’s why you play your heart out.”
The Lions surrendered a winning position to draw 31-31 with the Hurricanes in the final midweek game of the tour and Best put in a more efficient display as the tourists won all five lineouts.
Best’s Ulster and Ireland team-mate Iain Henderson was superb throughout but it was his yellow card which proved to be the game’s defining moment as the Hurricanes used the man advantage to conjure a stunning comeback.
“It was obviously touch and go but when you’re being officiated by a quality referee like Romain Poite and he takes his time and goes to the TMO, you’ve got to trust that the guy has got it right,” Best said of the officiating.
“The frustrating thing is that we had a penalty advantage there. Hendy was absolutely fabulous and that small error. You could tell that he was disappointed, but we’ve got to be bigger than a yellow card costing us that many points.
"That’s why you play your heart out.”@RoryBest2 on having his family in the stands - including son Ben... #AllForOne #LionsNZ2017 #HURvBIL pic.twitter.com/0qmsrVNnGk
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 27, 2017
“It’s very frustrating. They’re Super Rugby champions and are a very good side. We’ll look back at the mistakes we made that let them back into it and be frustrated.
“This is potentially the last game of the tour for a few of us, so we have to look at the positives as well.
“I cannot fault the effort. Maybe we needed to show more composure and be more clinical at times.”
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