Ireland refuse to be drawn into Jones 'sideshow'
Rory Best has insisted Ireland will not be dragged into Eddie Jones' "sideshow" on Johnny Sexton's welfare ahead of Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with England.
England boss Jones questioned the wisdom of Ireland fielding fly-half Sexton following his latest fitness scare, a "whiplash injury" in the 10-9 defeat to France on February 13.
Jones claimed Sexton's parents "would be worried" about his long-term health, heightening tensions especially given the Leinster fly-half's history of being stood down for 12 weeks in 2014 after four concussions inside 12 months.
Ireland have been at pains all week to rise above England head coach Jones' verbal barbs ahead of Saturday's Twickenham encounter, and hooker Best followed suit.
"There's a lot of things going on in the media, we have enough going on with our own stuff," said Best.
"We're not worried about that. We've got to make sure we're as close to perfect as we can be.
"Everything else apart from the rugby is a sideshow that we don't want to get involved in.
"All we know is that Johnny's a quality player."