In an RBS 6 Nations career that spanned 14 years, three titles and one Grand Slam, Paul O’Connell terrified opponents, tormented opposition line-outs and led his country with ferocious passion.
The Limerick man announced his retirement from all rugby after failing to recover from his hamstring injury sustained in Ireland’s Rugby World Cup victory over France last autumn.
Read Accenture analyst Nick Mallett on the RBS 6 Nations Having won 108 Ireland Caps, seven more for the Lions and featured in four Rugby World Cups, as well as being an IRB player of the year nominee in 2006, O’Connell retires as one of the most universally admired European internationals ever. And here we take a look at the key moments in the Irish talisman’s glittering RBS 6 Nations career:
In 2002, a fiery-haired, 22-year-old Munsterman stepped out for his Test debut against Wales at Landsdowne Road in the RBS 6 Nations. O’Connell was caught by an elbow after just 14 minutes. Miraculously, he still managed to dot down for his first Test try before being hauled off shortly before half-time in tears. It was the first of many unforgettable O’Connell performances.
Lauded universally by former teammates and coaches for his ability to rouse passion and focus, O’Connell’s formidable rhetoric was on display in the depths of Croke Park in 2007. In the absence of injured captain Brian O’Driscoll, O’Connell was tasked with motivating the Irish towards a first victory over the French since O’Driscoll’s celebrated Paris hat-trick in 2002. Though the Irish went down 20-17 to a last-minute Vincent Clerc try, O’Connell’s pre-match plea for manic aggression will live long in the memory.
O’Driscoll gave a nod to that memorable day when he said: “Really disappointing to see Paul O’Connell having to retire. Sensational career in red and green. Simply Irreplaceable.”
An obvious choice. Alongside O’Driscoll, O’Connell’s personal excellence long warranted international silverware to match his bulging Munster trophy cabinet. The Irish delivered on their long-held promise in 2009 under the second-row’s former provincial Heineken Cup winning coach Declan Kidney. The indomitable second-row could not bear to look as Stephen Jones lined up a 50metre penalty attempt to deny Ireland their first Grand Slam since 1948, but when the kick dropped short O’Connell, O’Driscoll and co finally got their just rewards. Their 17-15 victory in Cardiff capped off away victories in Rome and Edinburgh, while they defeated England and France at Croke Park.
Joe Schmidt’s arrival from Leinster marked a new era for Ireland with O’Connell taking over as permanent captain and after waiting so long to clinch his maiden RBS 6 Nations victory, O’Connell and Ireland were victorious again five years after their Grand Slam triumph.
In losing to England at Twickenham, they became the first home nation to win outright while another claimed the Triple Crown and O’Connell claimed his first trophy as captain.
At 35-years-old, some may have thought Ireland’s captain’s best years were past him, but in 2015 O’Connell rolled back the years to lead the men in green to their first outright title defence in 66 years. Not only did O’Connell oversee a period of unprecedented success for the Irish, but he marked what would be his swansong RBS 6 Nations by being named 2015 Player of the Tournament – with 26% of the public vote. O’Connell’s impressive ability to rise to the occasion was evident again on that unforgettable Super Saturday when he dived over for a rare try after just three minutes at BT Murrayfield to establish the momentum that would lead them to a 40-10 title-clinching victory against the Scots.
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