Listen to the full interview via the podcast.
It did not show as Rory Best powered over a try against the All Blacks in that agonizing defeat, but his contract situation was weighing on his mind to some degree.
The Ulster hooker, who is currently recovering from a broken arm sustained in that match, chatted to Ger tonight and revealed how worrying it can be as a contract runs out.
"There's a bit of relief to have your future secured. It's never a great time, coming into the last year of your contract. That uncertainty...you never know when you're going to pick up an injury before you have your future secured.
"But now I can focus on Ulster for the next three years."
His new deal runs until 2016 but regardless, farming will remain an important part in his life as he keeps one eye on his post-rugby career.
"For me, farming is something I've always done. I grew up on a farm. It was actually when I hurt my neck [in 2009] that I started to take a lot more involvement in it and started to buy cattle myself. That's given me a safety blanket just to make sure that if the worst happens, I have other interests and other goals that I can fall back on," said the Armagh native.
"Farming is a nice release. When I come home for training I can go out and look around at the cattle, do bits and pieces and takes my mind off rugby for a bit which has kept me mentally fresher when I'm playing."
But he added that farming would not have necessarily been an impediment to moving abroad because his Ireland and Lions career has meant that he is away from home for long stretches of time and his father looks after the farm during his absences.
It also helps that Ulster are in good form and contenders for Rabo and European honours, while Ireland's future is intriguing under Joe Schmidt.
"That comes into consideration. Ultimately, I love playing for Ulster and Ireland. There's always something special playing for Ireland in the big games. You have to be realistic. There aren't many players in Ireland that can go away and be guaranteed to start," revealed Best.
He also admitted that the advantages of staying within the IRFU's player welfare program will give him a better chance of playing in the 2015 World Cup rather than playing too many games in France.
Best also revealed how the future of the Heineken Cup is affecting his thinking in terms of the future and detailed the "crunch" which left him with a broken arm.
Listen to the full interview via the podcast.
Main image by ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
