PAUL O’CONNELL HAS announced his retirement from rugby, bringing a glittering career to an end.
O’Connell is Ireland’s third most-capped player ever and 12th on the all-time list of internationals, having made 108 appearances in total for his country.
The 36-year-old’s honours include three Six Nations titles with Ireland and two Heineken Cups with Munster, while featuring on three Lions tours including the series-winning one in 2013.
O’Connell often features in lists of Ireland’s all-time top sportspeople and with that in mind, do you think he was the all-time greatest player to wear the green jersey? Pick Ireland’s best-ever performer from our selections below.
Poll Results:
Paul O'Connell (2530)
Brian O'Driscoll (1975)
Ronan O'Gara (202)
Willie John McBride (119)
Other (70)
Jack Kyle (65)
Keith Wood (52)
Ollie Campbell (17)
Still kind of has to be Drico doesn’t it…. certainly munsters best anyway
Surprised Gibson isn’t on the list (no disrespect to any of the others, just…)
Ronan was tempting.
Easily wins the award for most consistent player! Coldest blood running through his veins.
O gara was irelands most important player. Over 1000 points scored.
I agree. How little fanfare he got when he retired compared to BOD annoys me.
BOD went out at something approaching his peak while ROG was sort of shuffled off stage. Making a big deal out of him while Jackson was starting ahead of him and Ireland were having an awful Championship would have probably been the last thing he wanted.
Wasn’t it Sexton that was starting ahead of him?
I really think Gibson would have to be included here…Otherwise very tricky to pick between BOD and POC.
Question shouldn’t be asked because we are incapable of being impartial ! Just let’s enjoy them both !
Not the greatest ever. One of the greatest ever.
In terms of importance to Ireland maybe. But given caliber and longevity of world wide peers its gotta be Drico.
When ODriscoll lost his pace he cleverly changed his game and was still capable of moments of brilliance and his defence was always immense. Pauli on the other hand I thought got better as he aged and gained more experience. His carrying alone over the last couple of seasons was brilliant. Anyway great to have them both. Two legends of Irish sport.
No Mike Gibson! You just wait till my dad finds out Paul!
Was Jack Kyle not made player of the century by the IRFU ? Don’t think many of us are old enough to remember him playing, but still, can’t believe he has so few votes
I think that’s the nature of us as human beings. It’s difficult to look past our own generation. Polls like this are very subjective but I guess our lives are all the better for having these players entertaining us. Any one of the above worthy of consideration
We’re in a new century now Naomi. Ireland’s most consistently successful period has been in 21st Century. On a separate note, I would add Fergus Slattery to that list. He was a real warrior for Ireland for many years.
Best Forward. Yes Best Leader. Yes O’Driscol was better skill level though
But was he as hard, strong and teak tough as O’connell? NO! O CONNELL is our greatest ever!
I’ve withheld from voting – the list just shows how blessed and talented our rugby icons were. I’ll come back later and vote.
No. Behind Keith Wood,Brian O’Driscoll and David Wallace of his generation for pure talent.
Best Second Row of his generation. Yes.
Best Second Row ever. Probably
Played his best rugby at the start and end of his career. A period in the middle where he was overated.
A legend of Irish Rugby no doubt.
Matfield would pip him to best ever unfortunately
That’s the reason this is silly. Best ever lock seems to then exclude Willie John. Everybody on their merits
Keith wood by miles… He was just starved of talent in his generation
Bod no question!
For me o gara just about edges it. Don’t get me wrong Paul o Connell was and is right up their as one of the best ever to Don a green shirt it’s Just on how many occasions did o gara get us out of sticky situations. O gara, bod and o Connell are 3 of the best athletes the country has ever produced. Will be hard to find many better.
If you were to ask who you would put on your team first in their respective positions Bod Poc or Rog for me you would have to say Rog, at his peak absolutely irreplaceable
Irreplacable? Declan Kidney is that you? Rog was a great player for sure but probably wasnt even the best out half Ireland ever had let alone best player. He also was never the best player in his position in the NH never mind the world whereas Bod, Poc, Wood, Gibson, Slattery, Kyle and McBride probably were at some point. Also McBride, Poc and Drico all captained the Lions and were multi tour test starters as were Slattery and Gibson. However, Rog was never a Lions test starter. 8Rog was no doubt a great player but also probably one of our most over rated of all time.
So, I ask 10 years ago rog at his peak if he were to get injured there was paddy Wallace, rest my case
Whats that got to do with being Ireland’s best ever player? That just means for part of his career we had no back up. Big deal.
I’ve always hated this Bod, Poc & Rog crap. Just as well we didn’t have a Gerry O’Donoghue, David O’Grady or Paddy O’Toole :-)
It’s very difficult to compare rugby players, almost impossible to compare a back to a forward where roles are completely different. But I do think that the game of rugby is mostly won in the forward pack. And if I had to choose one of POC or BOD to have in my team, I’d go for POC everytime.
Don’t think Greatest ever is necessarily the way to refer to anybody. In recent years Paul, Brian, and Donal all fulfilled that in their own ways. As did Keith and Willie John in years gone by. It’s more complex than greatest ever.
Maybe Paul was the greatest ever servant to Irish Rugby.
When I say Ronan, my phone thinks I want to say Donal.
Gibson played for abt 15 seasons won Lions series against All Blacks in 71 and was part of 74 squad too Still rated best Irish player in Nz Right up there
Only one of us on the list. However as a leader of men it’s hard to look beyond O’Connell. A legend a Gent and an inspiration to athletes who strive to be the best in their fields.
Lists of teuly great irish sportsmen out there that reach a great level & no one can say a bad word about: Roy keane, conor mcgregor, Sonia sullivan, john tracey, Barry mcguigan, Keith wood, BOD, shefflin etc. But few legends:paul mcgrath, eamonn coughlan and now Paul o connell
I was at Paul McGrath’s testimonial, and Paul’s last match in Lansdowne. So I won’t disagree!
Eric Elwood. Simon Geoghegan. Should be listed too
Shane corry
Shane the answer to your post is we would have won fu(k all
Moss Keane not even getting a mention?
Would argue O’Driscoll as Ireland’s greatest player, but O’Connell as the greatest Captain.
Keith Wood
Greatest ever forward… But BOD greatest ever player.
Gibson by a mile. Was even capped for Ireland in 3 different positions.
POC a giant a great player ,one of the greatest.My template at their peak Wood. and BOD would be selected in a World XV ,not so sure about Paulie
Why do pundits always get this question wrong? Rugby doesn’t stop because someone retires. Please ask in future “Is he the Best Player so far?” The Best Player so far is Keith Wood…but what do I know!?
Irelands greatest ever player captained Ireland to their first grand slam in 60 years
Uh, this feels a bit like making a (shit fest) negative out of a positive… I’ve no problem with this sort of poll generally but POC has just retired and and clearly the big man is not our greatest ever player (not that this is an insult, but can’t we just focus on this particular hero on his own terms for now?), it’s the other fella, the one with the big banner unfurling behind his head and a retirement lived in skinny-fit trousers.
Also there are two players who don’t belong on that list, in fairness, excellent though they both were (and omission of Gibson is clearly just an oversight). Won’t say who they are, seeing as I’m trying to avoid pie throwing.
Its fruitless comparing forwards to backs like this. And its fruitless comparing players of the amateur era to the professional.
Paul O’Connell was the greatest Irish second-row of the professional era.