DUBLIN. – Ireland captain Rory Best said his side owe themselves a better performance when they try to stop England completing a Grand Slam in Dublin today.

England, who’ve already retained their Six Nations title, are bidding for a win that would see them set a new record of 19 consecutive test victories by a leading rugby union nation.

It would also mean they had become the first side in the Six Nations era to complete back-to-back Grand Slams. An extra dimension comes from the battle for places in the British and Irish Lions squad for their tour of New Zealand in June and July.

Both Best and England captain Dylan Hartley are vying to be the Lions’ starting hooker.

But with Ireland having seen their title hopes end with last week’s 22-9 defeat by Wales in Cardiff, team success on Saturday is the overwhelming priority for Best. “I wouldn’t say it feels personal, it feels like we owe ourselves a better performance than we delivered,” Best told reporters at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road on Friday. – AFP.

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