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Brian O'Driscoll has explained the story behind his legendary 'tomato' quote

Poor aul’ Gordon D’Arcy.

BT Sport

“KNOWLEDGE IS KNOWING that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”

Those were the legendary words delivered by Brian O’Driscoll ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations clash with England in 2009.

O’Driscoll had been asked about playing with Martin Johnson, then England head coach, during their time together with the British and Irish Lions.

His words, delivered with studied precision, quickly became infamous. What exactly did O’Driscoll mean?

“It didn’t really matter what I meant,” he said on The Clare Balding Show, which airs on BT Sport this evening, and explained that it was all part of a bet with centre partner Gordon D’Arcy.

“It didn’t matter what the question was because that was my answer to it,” BOD continued.

“It just happened to be referencing Martin Johnson. I didn’t even hear what the question was because I’d just decided …

The bet had been with my centre partner Gordon D’Arcy. Every day we’d get an itinerary and ‘Thought of the Day.’ This was the thought of the day, Rala’s thought of the day, our bag man.

“He said to me in the dressing room before the press conference, ‘I bet you, some kind of forfeit, that you can’t get that into the press conference.’

“So, sure enough, I got it in.”

And D’Arcy’s forfeit?

“I just wanted to see Gordon D’Arcy getting a ‘back, crack and sack’ wax.”

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14 Comments
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    Mute Aidan Farrell
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    Aug 29th 2024, 5:31 PM

    No such thing as a friendly in rugby…!

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    Mute Lochlainn Garvey
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    Aug 29th 2024, 5:43 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: Think you need to try get more attention in real life rather than saying the same thing on every rugby post, bud.

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    Mute Johndoe
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    Aug 29th 2024, 8:29 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: in club rugby there is. There’s no ranking points, league table points or trophies on offer in matches like this

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    Mute melissa pollock
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    Aug 29th 2024, 7:24 PM

    Is there anywhere we can watch the game?

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    Mute Stuart
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    Aug 29th 2024, 7:43 PM

    @melissa pollock: can’t see any info on if this is being televised on any channel whatsoever, looked everywhere . Feeling starved of club rugby at this stage , can’t wait for the URC to start back.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Aug 29th 2024, 9:30 PM

    @melissa pollock: Pre season friendlies are rarely (if ever) televised. You will be lucky if there are highlights.

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    Mute Den
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    Aug 29th 2024, 10:53 PM

    @melissa pollock: you could try Bordeaux…if that’s of any help..

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    Mute Oran Burns
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    Aug 29th 2024, 5:08 PM

    Leo is trying to figure his depth chart out.
    Or does he know that already?

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    Mute Darth Vader
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    Aug 29th 2024, 9:54 PM

    Seeing that team I can’t help but think Jack Boyle should have moved he’s so good but probably 4th choice loosehead for Leinster. Would be at least 2nd choice in every other province.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Aug 29th 2024, 8:22 PM

    couldnt even find details of this on the Leinster website. Are there more friendlies planned? Think the squad officially started training on July 24th so they are back into games pretty quick!

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