THERE’S A CERTAIN similarity between the pair of them, Peter O’Mahony and Jamie Cudmore.
These are rugby players with distinctive ‘game faces,’ visages that speak of aggression. If the pushing and shoving starts on Saturday in the Millennium Stadium, we’d wager that O’Mahony and Cudmore will be central.
The chest bumping and posturing is far from what these two are all about however, both men playing integral roles in their sides’ lineout operations. O’Mahony is a vital breakdown foot soldier for Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, while Cudmore blasts rucks and carries ball for Canada.
O’Mahony’s defensive mobility and agility is a plus, while both players are more than capable of releasing a pass before the tackle.
The 37-year-old lock will be key to Kieran Crowley’s side this weekend in Cardiff, a central figure to their faint hopes of an upset.
“I’m not 100% sure how many caps he has for Clermont but he has a high number of first-class games under his belt, he’s a very experienced player,” said O’Mahony of Cudmore this afternoon in Carton House.
He’s hugely physical. I’ve played against him a couple of times and he really drives Clermont’s pack. He’s a real go-to guy for them and I’d imagine he’s the same for Canada.
“He’s someone that we’ve looked at hard and someone that we’ll have to pay a huge amount of respect to on Saturday.”
Cudmore has certainly calmed as he’s grown older, although he remains an uncompromising physical force.
O’Mahony respects that style of leadership.
“Absolutely, he’s a hugely tough opponent, hugely physical and a good athlete, a very good rugby player. So if you’re going to name off all those attributes he’s got to be someone you’re impressed by.”
The early pages of any ‘Causing a Shock at the World Cup’ guide would surely involve encouragement to get under the favourite’s skin, incite them into losing focus on the game plan and instead concentrating on off-the-ball matters.
It’s a classic formula early in fixtures where one team is heavily playing against the odds, but O’Mahony and Ireland aren’t expecting the Canadians to bring anything other than a clean approach.
It’s something that we don’t have any interest in,” said O’Mahony. “I think it’s pretty much gone out of the game of rugby at this stage. There’s too much going on, there’s too much at stake to be worried about little things like that.
“We’ll worry about implementing our game plan, and stopping a very good Canadian side.”
- This article and its headline were updated to change an error indicating that Jamie Cudmore, rather than Tyler Ardron, was the Canada captain.
Just a point of order. The 42 has been calling Cudmore Canada’s captain for about a month. Tyler Ardron is the Canadian captain. It was Aaron Carpenter before that. Cudmore, as far as I’m aware, has only captained them once- in a warm-up friendly- when Ardron was rested.
I’m sure Paulie will show him all the respect he deserves.
I would say studs at the ready but then we don’t want to lower ourselfs to that thugs level .
Not like you to get your facts wrong Murray, but the Ospreys lad Ardron is the Canadian Captain..
In relation to Cudmore- he a Botha style old school enforcer.. While he can cross the line at times no denying he is a smashing player
Cudmore’s experienced enough by now to understand the risks such play involves. Especially at wc time and as captain.
I don’t think it would be a good idea for Maloney to pick a fight with Cudmore. He’d come off second best by a distance
Who is Maloney?
Your man from the Dubliners Paddy Maloney is playing?
Did he captain your J1 team Gary?
Philip, crash and burn.