Ulster captain, Rory Best, met the media today at the Ireland training camp at Carton House and he was in confident mood ahead of the start of the tournament this weekend:  "We're hoping to be around for a good few weeks over in England and Wales," says Best. "The balance has been really good throughout the summer from the management in terms of weeks when we're in training and weeks where we've been off. It was nice to get three or four days at home to get completely away from rugby. "We came in this morning and started the big build-up. Hopefully, we'll have a lot of time together over the next couple of months." Best says that it's great to have the squad selected and that he and his fellow players can now look ahead to the biggest tournament of them all: "We've always tried to stay focused on the next game, but whenever you do media, all anyone wants to talk about is the World Cup. You'd be doing build-up pieces before the World Cup and be asked: 'imagine you're selected, and imagine this...' "That's not what you want to do, that's not the mindset you want to have. It's nice to come here and speak about a World Cup game and speak about players wanting to put their hand up to be selected for the first World Cup game for Ireland." Best revealed that he is just glad to be in the panel having come through a grueling pre-season schedule with the international side. He says: "Whether it's in the back of your mind, conscious or subconscious, nobody wants to get injured in those last (warm-up) games. Nobody wants to be the guy on the verge of a World Cup but misses out. It's something you try not to think about, but it's something that's there. "We were very focused on all four games, but this is into a tournament now. We are into competitive rugby, a World Cup comes around every four years and I think there's definitely a bit of refocusing in your mind. "Some of us will not get another chance at a World Cup. Others might get one, but you just don't know. "It's a fantastic opportunity for us and you have to make sure as players you do everything you can in the next five days to make sure we are fully prepared to play that game, perform and ultimately we need to win it." Â
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Rory Best on World Cup countdown
14th September 2015
Ulster captain, Rory Best, met the media today at the Ireland training camp at Carton House and he was in confident mood ahead of the start of the tournament this weekend:  "We're hoping to be around for a good few weeks over in England and Wales," says Best. "The balance has been really good throughout the summer from the management in terms of weeks when we're in training and weeks where we've been off. It was nice to get three or four days at home to get completely away from rugby. "We came in this morning and started the big build-up. Hopefully, we'll have a lot of time together over the next couple of months." Best says that it's great to have the squad selected and that he and his fellow players can now look ahead to the biggest tournament of them all: "We've always tried to stay focused on the next game, but whenever you do media, all anyone wants to talk about is the World Cup. You'd be doing build-up pieces before the World Cup and be asked: 'imagine you're selected, and imagine this...' "That's not what you want to do, that's not the mindset you want to have. It's nice to come here and speak about a World Cup game and speak about players wanting to put their hand up to be selected for the first World Cup game for Ireland." Best revealed that he is just glad to be in the panel having come through a grueling pre-season schedule with the international side. He says: "Whether it's in the back of your mind, conscious or subconscious, nobody wants to get injured in those last (warm-up) games. Nobody wants to be the guy on the verge of a World Cup but misses out. It's something you try not to think about, but it's something that's there. "We were very focused on all four games, but this is into a tournament now. We are into competitive rugby, a World Cup comes around every four years and I think there's definitely a bit of refocusing in your mind. "Some of us will not get another chance at a World Cup. Others might get one, but you just don't know. "It's a fantastic opportunity for us and you have to make sure as players you do everything you can in the next five days to make sure we are fully prepared to play that game, perform and ultimately we need to win it." Â