‘Ultimate leader’ Paul O’Connell inspires Ireland to Six Nations success
Murray Kinsella reports from Edinburgh
A FEW MOMENTS stand out in this writer’s memory of realising that there was something different about Paul O’Connell.
O’Connell with his son Paddy after yesterday’s win. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Back in 2007, the second row had already proven himself as a world-class lock and toured with the Lions, even if his three Six Nations titles were yet to come.
It was after a Munster training session on the paddock at the University of Limerick Bowl and the squad was moving upstairs to the pitch-side restaurant to get their recovery underway.
The vast majority of the players went straight to their tables at the rear of the ‘Sports Bar’, but O’Connell took around 20 minutes to make his way from the front door to his seat and a hard-earned plate of grub.
He asked Deirdre behind the counter how the family was and positively listened to the response, shook hands with Paddy and discussed the form of the elderly man’s greyhounds, then posed for a photo with a few wide-eyed supporters.
No airs and graces, no perception of star status; just another man greeting those around him.
O’Connell is as self-effacing an individual as his Ireland head coach, an element of his character that lends itself so well to being one of Irish rugby’s greatest-ever leaders. The respect in which the Limerick man is held abroad speaks volumes, but it’s his teammates who give the greatest insight.
“He’s just an unbelievable leader,” says Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw. “I think the charisma oozes out of him, he’s an unbelievable player, and to be doing what he’s doing at the back end of his career is unreal.
“He’s just an inspirational guy.”
Indeed, it is unreal for O’Connell to have captained Ireland to two Six Nations in the past two seasons, but his own performance levels remain excellent at the age of 35. That’s one of the real keys to his ongoing success: he’s still a bloody good lock forward.
O’Connell holds the Six Nations trophy aloft for the second consecutive year. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Whatever about his mental edge and understanding of how personalities fit together and function towards ensuring collective success, O’Connell is still a class act in the lineouts, tackle zone, rucks, restarts and ball-carrying domain.
“He wouldn’t be all too serious, he likes to have a bit of banter as well,” says Henshaw of the lighter side of the second row.
“So I like that part of him as well, he’s not too intense, he knows how to switch off, and have good craic with the lads. All in all, he’s just the ultimate leader and the ultimate captain.”
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