PAUL O’CONNELL ADMITTED recently that he’s picked up the phone and called a former team-mate for advice on the next move he faces in his glittering rugby career.
And Brian O’Driscoll isn’t a bad man to ask.
The legendary Leinster centre tacked on an extra season to his playing days and didn’t regret it as he added a Grand Slam to his honours haul. Speaking on Off The Ball last night, O’Driscoll said his advice is ‘if in doubt, play on’ but admits only O’Connell can make the call.
“Only Paul O’Connell knows how he feels every morning after a game. He wants to get out of the game, relatively unscathed,” he told Joe Molloy.
“And he’s probably there now. But at the same time you are a long time retired and that was my advice to him. If you feel you are capable of still playing then go for another one.
“I’m glad I went for the extra one as much as it was dragged out from a press point of view. I was delighted that I played it. Not just because there was success at the end of it but because I would have felt I left too much in the tank if Id gone the year previously.
“You just get that sense that Paul’s playing so well; arguably or definitely Ireland’s Six Nations player of the tournament. He just looks in phenomenal condition too. We’re all saying why would you? But he’s the one who has to deal with the aches and pains so we can’t fully understand it.”
Should O’Connell decide to play on past the World Cup, he may well do so in France if Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has his way. O’Driscoll admits the move to the south of France would be a perfect way to end a career.
“I would have said very very tempting,” he said. “If, I presume there’s no smoke without fire. I presume the offer is there and Boudjellal has been trying to coax him across.
“If I was him it would be a perfect opportunity to go spend eight months down the south of France, play with an unbelievable team, he’s got a young family. People that say you’d undo the legendary status… I would rubbish that talk. I really don’t buy it.
“He’s cemented his status down there and can always go back as a coach or as an ambassador for the club or whatever he wants. He’s done magical things for Munster and that can’t be undone.
“He’s not going down to get himself a tan. He’s going to have the Steve Staunton hat on the whole time. But he would have ambition to go and play with those brilliant players and win a fourth European Cup I’m sure if he did go down there.
“But I haven’t wanted to ask him, I’m just reading the same as everyone else in the papers. He’ll come to his own decision I’m sure.
As a Munster fan I wouldn’t begrudge him for going. Why not make some money before you retire. But saying that I hope he doesn’t leave.. man, myth, legend.
John – I would hate to see him go too – but sometimes it’s not all about the money – I would love to see him go out with his beloved Munster – After all he has a Huge future in Managing them too ?
*Jon
Exactly, so perhaps playing a season in France could really broaden his knowledge about a different rugby culture. Also playing with Bryan Habana and Quade Cooper in the south of France would be a fitting end to legend’s career that owes Munster nothing! Here’s hoping he stays one more season though!!
Sorry Jon !
He’s still top of the class. While your there stay there
A Grand Slam? Really? The rest of the squad only won a Six Nations Championship
POC has more than earned the right to finish his career however he pleases. End of story. Fantastic servant and will be a loss to munster , but he’s given a hell of a lot more
Will always be a munster legend no matter what happens and deserves the nice retirement package if he goes.
BOD didn’t win the grand slam in his last year, 6 nations yes, grand slam no – they lost to England..
Drico was in the same position a few seasons back n had plenty of chances to join French teams but didn’t #contradicting spanner
Exactly. If it is a perfect opportunity why didn’t he do it ? A tad contradictory alright.
Maybe here regrets the decisions?
I am amazed at the journalistic inaccuracy – grand slam in 2013/4! Does he realise how rare grand slams are for Ireland – two in the last 66 years! Anyway, I certainly wouldn’t begrudge Paul spending his last year in Toulon and neither would I criticise BOD for expressing that view. Both legends in Irish sport.
Perhaps he didn’t want to finish his career in France cuz Leinster were the best team in Europe during his final years…
Would a great move and I think the vast majority of Munster and Irish fans would support him- he deserves it. I seem to remember reading a few years back about negative tax implications for Irish sports people not finishing their careers / last few playing years in Ireland. Can anyone shed any light on this??
It used to be the case that if you finished your career in Ireland you got a certain amount of tax back. I think there were legal issues with that so now you get it no matter where you finish your career. Wouldn’t begrudge O Connell a move to France, he owes nothing to munster or Irish rugby.
Mouthpiece.
Shock horror, BOD expresses an outrageous opinion! How dare he…..
Robert, careful now, you’re in bandit country.
Grand slam???? Eh no It was a championship .
BOD is on the money..Paulie owns us nothing.I don’t think one old school limerick rugby man would be grudge him a Swansong.on the continent. ..lets name a stand after him @ least..
Money isn’t the issue with Wat he’s making with endorsements and everything
His status is secure. Might as well go get some mullah and actually have a chance of winning the ERC cup again.
What does “having the Steve Staunton hat on” mean?
Remember the USA football world cup?
I do
He should finish his career where he’s most needed. Unfortunately Munster don’t have Irish water money to throw away.
He should finish his career where he’s most needed. Unfortunately Munster don’t have Irish water money to p*ss away.