New Ireland captain Rory Best admitted that he tried to hide his excitement during the phone call with Joe Schmidt, which informed him of his new role.
The Ulster hooker was today named as Paul O'Connell's successor as Ireland captain as the 35-man squad for the Six Nations was announced.
"They spoke and they spoke well, and people listened. But the big thing that they didn’t do was try to be somebody else." - Rory Best
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Best said that it was a huge honour personally and for his family: "He (Joe Schmidt) phoned me up and said the coaching staff had a meeting and they discussed a few things, and if I would accept it then they would love me to be captain.
"Obviously, I was trying to play it cool but I said 'to be honest Joe it would be a massive honour to captain the side'. Inside I was a lot more excited than I let on to him. It's a massive honour, it's a really big deal for my family.
"We have been rugby fans, supporters and players all of our lives, and to now captain my country going into a Six Nations is a massive thing for me and my family."
VIDEO: New Ireland captain Rory Best admitted he tried to hide his excitement after the phone call from Joe Schmidt https://t.co/8e95EVubyZ
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 20, 2016
Best has the daunting task of replacing talisman O'Connell and the Banbridge clubman is keen to draw on some of the experienced he had under the Toulon player and previous captain Brian O'Driscoll as well as putting his own stamp on the role.
"I think it’s obviously a challenge. Both Paul and Brian were fantastic captains for Ireland and they very much led by example. They spoke and they spoke well, and people listened. But the big thing that they didn’t do was try to be somebody else.
"They were their own person and man, and led the way they did for their provinces and probably every other club that they had played for leading up to that point. I think that is something I will really take from them. Ultimately you lead by what you do and for me it’s a massive challenge.
"I was very privileged to play alongside Paul O’Connell and to be captained by him. It’s a big challenge but it’s one that is exciting."
Congrats @RoryBest2 on captaincy. Well deserved. Good squad. No POC & Hendy = light in the row! Shame no Garry Ringrose.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) January 20, 2016
The possibility of a third Six Nations crown in a row awaits Ireland ahead of the start of this campaign and it would be an unprecedented achievement for an Irish team. But dwelling on such a thought would be "very foolish" according to the new captain.
Wales will provide a big test to their credentials at the Aviva Stadium in their opening fixture and focus on that game is something the 33-year-old will look to impart on his fellow players.
"When you’re dealing with a group of players that we have, it’s always a prospect that we are going to win games and potentially win things. But I think for us, and the reason that Ireland has been successful under Joe Schmidt, is that it’s always about the next game. It’s not third, fourth or fifth game in the Six Nations, it’s about the next one.
"We’ll not be looking beyond Wales and that is what has made Ireland as consistent as we have been under Joe. I can’t see that changing now. If we look beyond Wales it would be very foolish and would go away from the core principles of what we are about."
