PETER O’MAHONY’S LINEOUT skills have been heavily pointed to as the reason he must be an Ireland starter moving forward from last weekend’s win over England in the Six Nations.
That argument is certainly important and there is no back row jumper like O’Mahony in this country, but his contributions to the game are not limited solely to the set-piece.
O'Mahony with his daughter after the England game. Inpho / Billy Stickland
Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
The Munster man is a good ball carrier, with his footwork often meaning he doesn’t get smashed in circumstances where others might. He is mobile and athletic over the ground, while his handling skills could be a crucial point of difference.
Ireland have been increasingly playing an expansive game featuring lots of attempts to hit wide channels under Joe Schmidt since the 2015 World Cup, and O’Mahony possesses the decision-making and technical skills to greatly add to that philosophy.
He made four passes against England last weekend in wet weather, but has contributed much higher totals in the past for Ireland – go back to the Canada game at RWC15 and O’Mahony made 11 passes to his 10 carries.
The Cork native is an excellent ruck artist too, almost always finding a solution to clear a body away in attack – one of his primary roles with Munster – and also possessing the ability to jackal over the ball and win turnovers. His defensive work rate is high too.
But one of the most crucial parts of O’Mahony’s make-up is his leadership.
They say first impressions last and that is certainly the case for this writer, who first came across O’Mahony at an underage Munster skills screening session as a 17-year-old, when O’Mahony was still 16.
Even then, he was barking out orders and demanding perfection in the execution of basic passing drills. Unhappy with the delivery from the first receivers, O’Mahony moved himself into the out-half slot and showed everyone how to do it.
O'Mahony's handling skills are a real strength. Inpho / Billy Stickland
Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
While it may not have gone down well with the shamefully unprofessionally-minded of some of the others present, it left an impression that was only furthered by seeing O’Mahony’s relentlessness over the course of his early academy years with Munster.
Advertisement
A week-long training camp in Spala, Poland was physically shattering, with two weights sessions, two pitch sessions and two cryotherapy sessions each day. While many flagged at the demands, O’Mahony kept the group motoring, always demanding the highest level of application possible.
And things have never changed in terms of O’Mahony’s leadership, his demands on those around him.
As soon as he was involved in Munster’s senior set-up, the likes of Paul O’Connell spoke about being happily taken aback by the youngster’s maturity and habit of speaking up when he felt something needed to be said.
O’Mahony acted like a captain from day one and it was no surprise for him to be made the official leader in 2013, replacing Doug Howlett.
Injuries haven’t been kind to O’Mahony in recent times, but he has been a leader for Ireland on many occasions, actually captaining the side on the North America tour of 2013.
We should not forget that he was almost ever-present for Ireland’s back-to-back Six Nations titles under Schmidt in 2014 and 2015.
O’Mahony delivered a quite incredible performance full of leadership at the 2015 World Cup against France, before suffering the ruptured ACL that would keep him out for a year in the second half of that game.
O'Mahony hugs Simon Zebo after the win last weekend. Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
Finally reinstated to Ireland’s starting team against a Tier 1 nation for the first time since that France clash, O’Mahony stepped straight into the leadership group last weekend against England.
There were many moments – including incidences where he showed English players that Ireland wouldn’t be intimated or pushed around – but one in the second half stands out above the rest in underlining O’Mahony’s leadership.
It’s the 43rd minute and, trailing 10-3, England are desperate to get an early score after the break.
Mike Brown returns an Ireland kick and carries at Sean O’Brien, who tackles the English fullback but takes an apparent blow to the shoulder as Rory Best looks to assist in the tackle.
O’Brien is obviously in pain and stays down on the ground, meaning that Ireland’s defensive line is suddenly one body down.
O’Mahony is nearby, however, and he places the same demands on O’Brien that he has always placed on others and would expect of himself.
The sideline microphone picks up his communication with O’Brien.
“Seanie, we need you. Up! Up!”
There’s a beckoning with the arm to go along with the six words, and that’s all O’Brien needs.
Despite being in pain, O’Brien reacts instantly, pushing himself up off the turf and re-joining the Irish defensive line, with O’Mahony ordering him into position.
It’s a tiny moment in a game full of them and this kind of communication to team-mates when defending is not new, but O’Mahony is the kind of character who constantly, constantly demands work rate.
There are other similar personalities in this Ireland team, of course, and O’Brien is one of those who is always audible on the ref mic, encouraging and demanding, but O’Mahony has the force of will that others rarely fail to respond to.
It seems obvious that 27-year-old O’Mahony is one of the strongest candidates to be the next Ireland captain and if he is unfortunate enough to miss out on the Lions tour this summer, he is a certainty to lead the tour of the US and Japan under Schmidt.
O’Mahony himself would say he is still moving back towards his athletic peak since returning from that awful ACL injury, but his leadership credentials have never dimmed.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
A little moment that underlines Peter O'Mahony's leadership credentials
Updated 4.55pm
PETER O’MAHONY’S LINEOUT skills have been heavily pointed to as the reason he must be an Ireland starter moving forward from last weekend’s win over England in the Six Nations.
That argument is certainly important and there is no back row jumper like O’Mahony in this country, but his contributions to the game are not limited solely to the set-piece.
The Munster man is a good ball carrier, with his footwork often meaning he doesn’t get smashed in circumstances where others might. He is mobile and athletic over the ground, while his handling skills could be a crucial point of difference.
Ireland have been increasingly playing an expansive game featuring lots of attempts to hit wide channels under Joe Schmidt since the 2015 World Cup, and O’Mahony possesses the decision-making and technical skills to greatly add to that philosophy.
He made four passes against England last weekend in wet weather, but has contributed much higher totals in the past for Ireland – go back to the Canada game at RWC15 and O’Mahony made 11 passes to his 10 carries.
The Cork native is an excellent ruck artist too, almost always finding a solution to clear a body away in attack – one of his primary roles with Munster – and also possessing the ability to jackal over the ball and win turnovers. His defensive work rate is high too.
But one of the most crucial parts of O’Mahony’s make-up is his leadership.
They say first impressions last and that is certainly the case for this writer, who first came across O’Mahony at an underage Munster skills screening session as a 17-year-old, when O’Mahony was still 16.
Even then, he was barking out orders and demanding perfection in the execution of basic passing drills. Unhappy with the delivery from the first receivers, O’Mahony moved himself into the out-half slot and showed everyone how to do it.
While it may not have gone down well with the shamefully unprofessionally-minded of some of the others present, it left an impression that was only furthered by seeing O’Mahony’s relentlessness over the course of his early academy years with Munster.
A week-long training camp in Spala, Poland was physically shattering, with two weights sessions, two pitch sessions and two cryotherapy sessions each day. While many flagged at the demands, O’Mahony kept the group motoring, always demanding the highest level of application possible.
And things have never changed in terms of O’Mahony’s leadership, his demands on those around him.
As soon as he was involved in Munster’s senior set-up, the likes of Paul O’Connell spoke about being happily taken aback by the youngster’s maturity and habit of speaking up when he felt something needed to be said.
O’Mahony acted like a captain from day one and it was no surprise for him to be made the official leader in 2013, replacing Doug Howlett.
Injuries haven’t been kind to O’Mahony in recent times, but he has been a leader for Ireland on many occasions, actually captaining the side on the North America tour of 2013.
We should not forget that he was almost ever-present for Ireland’s back-to-back Six Nations titles under Schmidt in 2014 and 2015.
O’Mahony delivered a quite incredible performance full of leadership at the 2015 World Cup against France, before suffering the ruptured ACL that would keep him out for a year in the second half of that game.
Finally reinstated to Ireland’s starting team against a Tier 1 nation for the first time since that France clash, O’Mahony stepped straight into the leadership group last weekend against England.
There were many moments – including incidences where he showed English players that Ireland wouldn’t be intimated or pushed around – but one in the second half stands out above the rest in underlining O’Mahony’s leadership.
It’s the 43rd minute and, trailing 10-3, England are desperate to get an early score after the break.
Mike Brown returns an Ireland kick and carries at Sean O’Brien, who tackles the English fullback but takes an apparent blow to the shoulder as Rory Best looks to assist in the tackle.
O’Brien is obviously in pain and stays down on the ground, meaning that Ireland’s defensive line is suddenly one body down.
O’Mahony is nearby, however, and he places the same demands on O’Brien that he has always placed on others and would expect of himself.
The sideline microphone picks up his communication with O’Brien.
“Seanie, we need you. Up! Up!”
There’s a beckoning with the arm to go along with the six words, and that’s all O’Brien needs.
Despite being in pain, O’Brien reacts instantly, pushing himself up off the turf and re-joining the Irish defensive line, with O’Mahony ordering him into position.
It’s a tiny moment in a game full of them and this kind of communication to team-mates when defending is not new, but O’Mahony is the kind of character who constantly, constantly demands work rate.
There are other similar personalities in this Ireland team, of course, and O’Brien is one of those who is always audible on the ref mic, encouraging and demanding, but O’Mahony has the force of will that others rarely fail to respond to.
It seems obvious that 27-year-old O’Mahony is one of the strongest candidates to be the next Ireland captain and if he is unfortunate enough to miss out on the Lions tour this summer, he is a certainty to lead the tour of the US and Japan under Schmidt.
O’Mahony himself would say he is still moving back towards his athletic peak since returning from that awful ACL injury, but his leadership credentials have never dimmed.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Australian rugby to trial more stringent ‘blue card’ system for concussion
Ireland plans to engage its huge diaspora as part of 2023 World Cup bid
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
6 Nations Six Nations Ireland Leader Munster Peter O'Mahony pom Sean O'Brien sob