BRIAN O’DRISCOLL REPLACED Ronan O’Gara with Colm Cooper on the Good Wall on the last episode of the series of Second Captains Live tonight.
O’Driscoll paid tribute to Cooper’s “phenomenal” ability, highlighting his “cunning and guile”.
In addition, he took himself off the number one spot and put golfer Padraig Harrington at the top of the list.
The former Leinster player also spoke candidly about finishing his career in rugby, as well as giving some insights into his new life as a pundit.
“Everything you do is a poor second to playing… I would have loved to have kept playing, but my body couldn’t do it anymore,” O’Driscoll explained.
He admitted to being “envious” of his former teammates when they won the Six Nations earlier this year and explained the challenges he faces in his new role as a rugby analyst, stating that it took him time to understand “what my voice was,” and adding:
“It’s difficult when you’re friends with these guys and you don’t want to get texts from them the next day.
“I’m still a huge Leinster fan, but you have to have credibility [as a pundit].”
He had some kind words to say about Ronan O’Gara and Shane Horgan, arguing that they have “taken rugby analysis to a new level” and praising their “understanding of the modern game”.
And as for pundits in other sports?
“Carragher and Neville are enthralling,” he said, adding that he sometimes prefers to watch their analysis instead of the actual football game itself.
Thank god I never watch that arse licking crap. Especially with Dickko lapping it up tonight! All were missing is that brown nose parkinson pr1(k.
Ah poor Philip bitter as ever. The greatest rugby player Ireland ever produced maybe the best European ever.
It hurts Philip I know, don’t worry it’ll get better just keep taking the happy pills
Drico was a legend of a player, a once in a generation player. However, his punditry is terrible. He is infected with corporate blandness which makes his punditry safe and boring. He’s also an ambassador for Coca Cola when obesity is becoming an ever greater problem in Irish society. Great player, ordinary pundit. He’s right about Shane Horgan though. Horgan is the best Irish pundit around.
no prob with Bod, aside from his blandness, it’s getting hard to watch and listen to him getting rimjobs from starstruck journalists. The off the ball lads on newstalk are particularly bad
I enjoy ROG as well as Horgan. I think they work very well together.
And I god damn hated Shaggy as a player :P
Unfortunately have to agree… His punditry is way to safe… Considering some of the shockers Leinster have had this season, there’s been many an occasion where he could and should have stuck the boot in. Where he comes into his own however, is during the “demos” on rugby tonight. I think coaching is where he’ll end up. He’s too much of a competitor to just stand on the side and “comment”
Are you suggesting that by endorsing coca cola O’Driscoll is in some way responsible for obesity?
No Sonia O’Sullivan or Derval O’Rourke on the list? They should be #1 and #2
Sonia yes, derval no, lovely girl and all though
No Sean Kelly either
Unfortunately cycling can never appear on these as there will always be doubt about the validity of the achievements. Are they true human performance or drug enhanced. Cycling is doomed forever unless there is more drug testing and a code of honour
Katy Taylor shouldn’t be on the wall. Very much a minority sport with amateur boxing playing second fiddle to professional womans boxing. Also she actually lost the olympic final the Russian girl landed more punches.
My god some of you take this ‘good wall’ far too seriously