SPEAK SOFTLY AND carry a big stick.
The idiom always suits Peter O’Mahony, if not the Peter O’Mahony we all see take the field on matchdays.
But after training at the Aviva Stadium today, he personified the expression like never before. The stick of wilful intent was gripped tight in his hand, his low voice took the feel of a calm before a coming storm.
A Six Nations opener is always going to bring that determined look to the Corkman’s face, when that opener is England at home, the drive is tenfold.
O’Mahony is cranked up and ready to unleash everything he’s got on England. Because the thought of anything else, the idea of losing, doesn’t bear thinking about.
“Fear is always a factor for us,” says the Munster captain with echoes of Paul O’Connell.
“Fear of letting people down, fear of losing. We hate losing.
It’s always a part (of you), it’s always a little bit there that drives you on and that’s across the board for any competitive athlete, that fear of losing, fear of letting people down, fear of letting your team-mates down is always there and it has to be a bit of a factor.”
That brand of fear grows as the loss ratio decreases. Ireland have only tasted defeat once in the last 19 Tests, a run of form that included a Grand Slam and a win over New Zealand. Yet O’Mahony balks at the suggestion there would be any difficulty in summoning the desire to chase that kind of success.
“It’s the hunger. The hunger you have to play for Ireland. If you don’t have that, you’re not in the right place being in this group,” he said methodically.
“That’s what drives us, having a chance to play in a green jersey. Whether it be starting or on the bench or having aspirations to do it, hopefully, in the Six Nations and beyond, that’s what drives us and drives our group.
“Obviously, we’re in the business to win but putting on the jersey every time, that’s the driving factor for this group.”
Asked whether a second consecutive Grand Slam was among the driving factors or targets for this group, the Corkman said:
“You always set goals but we certainly don’t put a huge amount down the line. We know we if we stumble against England at home, we’ll be on the back foot for the rest of the Six Nations.”
“England at home, it just doesn’t get any bigger than that. We know how a big a challenge it’s going to be. The quality across their side speaks for itself with the team they named.
“We’re under no illusions how difficult it’s going to be.”
A quiet word from O’Mahony resonates more than most. A slightly extended exhale, a deliberate pause and that intense look in his eyes only add weight to his sentiment.
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cometh the hour cometh the man, o Mahony has never let us down yet ,he leads from the front and nevers goes missing.
This man has turned into one of the most influential players in the world. Himself and Sexton will drive our standards higher and higher this year. Zero complacency in that team. Sitting in a good place for the year ahead!
@T Dawg: Zero Zebo Complacency
@Michael Carey: clown
@Martin Quinn: clown
The clocks in Peter O’Mahony’s house go forward in both Spring & Autumn.
…. He doesn’t know how to go backwards
@Jonathan Meany: will he turn up at the game on time so?
The game waits for him and starts when he arrives
@Jonathan Meany: zzzz
@Sean: he’s there already :)
If anyone ever worries Ireland might lose in a match, just think of O’Mahony or Sexton, and you just think they won’t allow it to happen. Add in Murray, Furlong, SOB and you have mentally as strong players as there is in the world.
@Andrew Hurley: and ryan??
@Eoin Murphy: And then think of how Ringrose is a diamond, and then of Stander/JVDF’s grit and workrate or Leavys potential.
An out and out warrior for Munster and Ireland. As tough as they come
should have his name stitched on the 6 shirt. Warrior. https://youtu.be/VJ58c-2w_lM
@Etherman: POM looked like he was going to punch poor Reggie. Great video!
@Michael Buckley: to be fair to Reggie he phrased the question clumsily and I’m sure has learned a great lesson. Peter now stands next to comrades in green and will defend them with the same terrifying menace.
@Etherman: To be fair, nothing wrong with the question – I saw the post match interview recently from Read just after the Chicago win and he openly admitted without prompting that they didn’t bring the right intensity.
@Etherman: I think they use iron on names these days instead of stitching them on.
Peter O Mahoney gave up smiling for Lent one year. And never has since. Love it!
What a servant his been for Munster and Ireland the last number of years,he would go through a block wall for his team.
@dick dastardly: who?, Jim?
@jl: good man
@dick dastardly: it wouldn’t be advisable for him to go through a block wall. He would get injured and miss the upcoming match.
@Jim Demps: lol, thought it was apt considering your setting up of the fantasy rugby and obvious heart on the sleeve munster support
Last calls for The 42s fantasy rugby. There’s exactly 50 signed up to it at the moment. Try and use the same user name and pic as here, or whatever. If you’re not interested then don’t bother telling me about it.
league n°3768 : Demps 42
Password : EYGMR
By clicking on the following link : https://fantasy.sixnationsrugby.com/#welcome/register/?parrain=t2eweas&ligue=3768&mdp=EYGMR
@Jim Demps: I don’t know, if Rochelle beats me I could never live it down
@Jim Demps: good idea, had my team picked but league is full, ah well I’ll just allow I’ve won it anyway. Bring on Saturday!
@Adrian Harpur: ah didn’t realise there was a limit to the numbers. Sorry about that.
@Jim Demps: Lots of names I don’t recognise in there. Would’ve been good to see some of the regular contributors on here involved.
@Adrian Harpur: actually it says that there can be a max of 100 people in a league. Send me an email and I’ll see if I can add you.
Jimdemps1 @ yahoo . Com
@Eddie Hekenui: I’m in Eddie! Particularly happy with my super sub this weekend
@Jim Demps: which sites would be comparable to the 42 from the other nations? Would love to read some of the English comments, possibly troll one or two..
@John Thomas: sorry Martin…
@Jim Demps: Tried entering, but your league is full! That’s a success so Jim
@jl: try emailing me. It says that there should be 100 allowed but there’s only 50 in it.
@John Thomas: planet rugby used to be good but the comment section was ruined the last time they updated. The BBC rugby pages are normally good for the hardcore rugby fans. They get the biggest traffic anyway.
@Jim Demps: same issue Jim. Says it’s full. Did you get more in??
@Barry Ward: that’s disappointing. If you email me I’ll try and send you an email invite.
@Jim Demps: it’s all full Jim! Urgh can you expand it?
@Jim Demps: email sent Jim
@Tony O’Shea:
Ok I’ve started a second league. It says that there’s 100 allowed but it’ll only take 50. Join that one and I’ll amalgamate the leagues as they go.
Join me on the league n°7912 : Demps 42 (2)
Password : SAOEB
League for the 42 experts
By clicking on the following link : https://fantasy.sixnationsrugby.com/#welcome/register/?parrain=t2eweas&ligue=7912&mdp=SAOEB
@Jim Demps: done Jim. Good man thank you
@Jim Demps: hon Jim. Fair play
@Jim Demps: cheers!
@Jim Demps: sound Jim.
@Jim Demps: good lad Jimbo. Fair play for doing this
@Jim Demps: in the second one, thanks!
@Jim Demps: cheers. Best of luck in the league
@Xanadu Marmalade: if Rochelle enters the competition as many times she/he/it has profiles on here one of them is bound to beat you
@Jim Demps: just delete rochelles 15 entires
@Jim Demps: managed to get into the second one, cheers jim
@Jim Demps: fair play Jim. Got into this one.
This will be a very tight one…
@Desmond Cassidy: You’re right. England are ranked 4th in the world for a reason. In fact, 5 of the 6 nations are ranked inside the top ten.
Lovely warm up for Japan!
@Patrick Heavey: 5 out of 6 are almost always ranked in the top 10.
Having said that, having 3 in the top 4 is real watershed moment for the 6N.
Bring it on!!
He’s some man. The last two years he has been on another level. Mean this in the nicest possible way, but id say he is a right C word to play against
OMahony vital to the Irish cause, the look in his eyes, just like his fellow Corkonian who won all round him, Mr Keane. Along with Denis Irwin, Ronan O Gara, Donnacha O Callaghan, Sonia O Sullivan, Sean Og, O Donovan Brothers…..There’s something about Cork…..
Especially them!
@Marv: to them!
If we had of best Australia in first match would have the record for longest winning streak ?
@Tranceformer: Yes we would be on 19 now. I think the record was 18. A bit frustrating isn’t it?
@Shcoop: ah feck !
@Shcoop: well considering we stopped each of SA, NZ and England from extending their world record streaks I’d say we have a good streak going ourselves. I remember when 5 unbeaten games in a row was phenomenal for Ireland!
Still very nervous. When you have lads like this on the park though…..
@Rory Craig: an ellipsis has three dots. It has meaning. It signifies what has been left unsaid. What you have used is just a random amount of dots. It is without meaning. You disappoint me.
@Sean: slang ellipsis. i am woke
We are the new All Blacks!! We hate losing