Best facing up to split loyalties

IN TRUTH, it was probably no great surprise to Dick Best that his London Irish upstarts had their Premiership title prospects put in perspective when running into the immovable object that is Leicester a fortnight ago. Tomorrow's Cup quarterfinal at Wasps offers a far more credible route to a trophy this season.

After a run of 11 wins in 13 games, London Irish are in palpably better fettle than when losing to Wasps at the same stage a year ago by 41-7. However, although Irish are only two games away from the Twickenham decider, Best is phlegmatic about the cup competition's place in the overall scheme of his club's season and even their chances of winning it.

"We've already surpassed where we thought we would end up. The fact that we got billed in the what was perceived as the game of the season two weeks ago is a massive compliment to what we have achieved so far. But to say that we're going to win the Cup or a trophy in our first year with a new-look squad is a bit ambitious.

"Our role this season was to consolidate and gain some respect within the Premiership - which I think we have done - and to end up about midway and hopefully try and get into the European stage. That was our main focus and if we manage to pick up a trophy or get anywhere near a final we'd be pleased with that."

Even nailing down a top four or five finish, and so earn one of the four or five English places which has been mooted as part of their return to the European fold next season, remains a tall order. The quartet of clubs within four points of fourth-placed London Irish all have two games in hand, as do Northampton and Saracens immediately above them. The midtable mantra could well come true.

Nonetheless, Best has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for a club which last season only held onto their Premiership status via an extension of the top flight and then a play-off. Hence Best cites the league game at Wasps a fortnight hence as a much bigger means to an end.

Given this turnaround came after most of the Irish players at the club departed and were replaced by mostly second-tier southern hemisphere players, it wouldn't seem to reflect too well on last season's crop.

But Best counters: "Many of the boys who left went to Ulster and won the European Cup and quite rightly achieved great things and we're all very proud of them for what they've achieved. Hopefully they took a little something from here and gone on and prospered and improved. I'm personally very proud of them."

Best applies the change-is-as-good-as-a-rest theory to the remaining Irish at Sunbury. Injuries to Malcolm O'Kelly and Kieron Dawson have left the team with only the outside three of Justin Bishop, Conor O'Shea and Niall Woods to apply a truly Irish flourish, but that they've done.

"I'm hugely delighted by the performances of all three and to be perfectly honest they've responded magnificently to the challenge this year and I think they've enjoyed having a fresh approach with new players coming in. It's sort of woken everybody up and there's a tremendous amount of competition for places, and that always brings out the best in people."

Best defends the oft-criticised defence of Woods, and points out that he's the leading try scorer in the Premiership. Reflecting on his one-off return for Ireland against Wales last week, Best says: "It was always going to be difficult for him being called in late to the side. There was obviously quite a bit of pressure on him and I thought he did okay. But people have this hang-up about his defence. I see him week to week, I've discussed this with him before, and I personally don't have an issue with it. I wouldn't say he's the worst defender in our club."

Best will be in Dublin next week, ostensibly in his new role as an honorary selector or adviser in the English set-up. For the first time in his life he confesses to having split loyalties on such an occasion due to the presence of O'Shea and Bishop.

"They have been great allies all season. I've worked very closely with Conor in particular as captain. I have a great affinity and affection for him as a rugby player but there comes a time, as in all things in life, when we have to stand our ground and look at people eye to eye, and I'm afraid my nationalistic pride must take precedence here."

No insider information though. "I wish I could pass on any weaknesses in his (O'Shea's) game but unfortunately I can't do that. I wouldn't say he's faultless but he's improved so much this season and he's playing so well that all I'll be saying is don't kick the ball anywhere near him. And likewise Bishop. He's been one of the players of the season here in terms of his all-round game."

As the then coach of England when they were beaten 17-3 in Dublin six years ago, Best is more wary than most Englishmen. "I think England need to reproduce their form of the first 15 minutes against Scotland over 80 minutes against Ireland."