Paul O'Connell appreciation thread

thomond2006

It's been confirmed this morning that Paul O'Connell's World Cup and therefore his Ireland career is over.

All I can say is: Thank you Paulie for all the incredible performances and moments over the years! I hope you recover fully and enjoy Boudjellal's euros in the south of France!

PropJoe10

An absolute warrior and a class act on and off the field. Good luck, Paulie!

BBDBB

Ligind

total former

I was privileged enough to be there for his Ireland debut, it was obvious from the start he was going to be something special.

Hopefully this injury doesn't cut into his Toulon career too much.

Sanjuro

So sorry to see him go. Arguably our greatest player. Talismanic and inspirational. Thank you for the absolute dedication, Paulie.

aimee1

two guys more then anyone who dragged irish rugby forward, for people to believe, have played their last games in green 18 months apart. One got the fairytale, the other left on a stretcher.

we dont produce many greats in a world sense, but when we do, they tend to be something special


Iain Henderson has big shoes to fill.

Dave_The_Sheep

Some man.

Always found the story that he doesn't remember his debut - despite scoring a try - at all due to concussion fascinating.

I can only hope it's not a career ending injury and he gets to go on his terms at least at club level.

case885

A legend of the game, a shame it had to end like this but he's given it everything in his career.
Rather than it being the end of Paulie its the start of a new chapter, I'm hoping we'll see him back in red and green soon leading us on as coach!

AudreyHepburn

Gutted that he's finished....what an absolute legend and such a great ambassador for the sport and for Ireland.

I have never seen him do anything but give his all for the team, he put his body on the line time and again and he deserves all the plaudits we can give him.

Added to that it is clear that off the pitch he is a lovely man and a gentleman.

Let's hope the team finish on a high for him.

Thanks for everything Paulie!

aimee1

aimee1 wrote: »

Iain Henderson has big shoes to fill.

He appears to have big feet.

Paulie finishing with Ireland feel's to me like the final passing of a generation that brought the game onto a completely new plane of existence in Ireland.

He started in a generation of amateurs and delivered the game on these shores to a world class level of professionalism.

We'll keep producing great players and great leaders but I don't know if we will ever again produce an individual with such immense talent and crushing humility.

Disclaimer: All of the above ceases to be my opinion the second he lines out against Leinster for Toulon.

Rosie Gardens

Paulie you're a legend, and Chuck Norris is gonna be folding his Paul O'Connell PJs with a little extra care.

Thanks for everything, you're one of the greatest.

aimee1

Deleted User wrote: »

Disclaimer: All of the above ceases to be my opinion the second he lines out against Leinster for Toulon.

sadly looks like thats not going to happen this season anyway. Unless he times his comeback for the ECCCCCC [how many Cs are there again] final

connemara man

Such a shame to go out this way. a great player, a great leader, and by all accounts a great man.

fearruanua

The same injury happened to Tommy Walsh in Australia a few years back and it took him a long time to get back. "If" this is the end of Big Pauly's legendary career, I wonder will he be entitled to anything from Toulon?
#doitforpauly

kuang1

Tears in my eyes at half time on Sunday.
Thank you Paulie for years of inspiration. Console myself with the possible what-ifs from now on for his career within rugby.
(You'd do as you're told if he was your coach right??!!!)

Delighted to say I witnessed his last green shirt appearance in both the Aviva and Sunday.

Can't praise the guy enough.

deadybai

Huge loss for the World Cup. Thought he was playing the best rugby of his career this and last year. Its sad to see the last of the 'Golden Generation' that I grew up idolising finish.

For those who would know; how good was POC? Was he a World Great or a Irish Great? How do people outside Ireland view him ?

irishbucsfan

deadybai wrote: »

Huge loss for the World Cup. Thought he was playing the best rugby of his career this and last year. Its sad to see the last of the 'Golden Generation' that I grew up idolising finish.

For those who would know; how good was POC? Was he a World Great or a Irish Great? How do people outside Ireland view him ?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/autumn-internationals/victor-matfield-paul-oconnell-is-the-best-player-ive-ever-played-against-30717217.html

"I think he (O'Connell) is a fantastic player, I think he's probably the best player I've played against in my career," said Matfield.

"He is also a student of the lineout.

"You can see he puts in a lot of hours in analysing, preparing and getting his whole unit ready for the weekend.

"So it is always tough going up against him."

Leslie91

I second everything that has gone before. Paulie is such a great Irishman.

lbj666

aimee1 wrote: »

sadly looks like thats not going to happen this season anyway. Unless he times his comeback for the ECCCCCC [how many Cs are there again] final

Ya to be honest i think this whole playing for Toulon thing could be in jeopardy too. He was in so much pain on Saturday and had a really long slog with the Groin a few years ago that the thought of going through that again might be too much. This lad isn't gonna be happy to be on a couch for the rest of his life with a dodgy leg either, he'll be off doing triathlons and all sorts when he retires.

I hope he makes it down to Toulon in some form anyway , Bojeddal as much a b*llocks he is , he seems pretty sound with his players and would be pretty sympathetic with POCs situation.

stadedublinois

lbj666 wrote: »

Ya to be honest i think this whole playing for Toulon thing could be in jeopardy too. He was in so much pain on Saturday and had a really long slog with the Groin a few years ago that the thought of going through that again might be too much. This lad isn't gonna be happy to be on a couch for the rest of his life with a dodgy leg either, he'll be off doing triathlons and all sorts when he retires.

I hope he makes it down to Toulon in some form anyway , Bojeddal as much a b*llocks he is , he seems pretty sound with his players and would be pretty sympathetic with POCs situation.

Toulon have a great record of taking older players and managing them well. Wilkinson was constantly injured before moving there. Is his contract one or two years?

2smiggy

2 year contract I think.

Sorry to see his international career finish like that, but hopefully he can continue with his club career.

partyguinness

Choked up with emotion that this great leader is no longer with us. I am going to the game Sunday so maybe I'll see Maradona instead...:(

Zzippy

lbj666 wrote: »

Ya to be honest i think this whole playing for Toulon thing could be in jeopardy too. He was in so much pain on Saturday and had a really long slog with the Groin a few years ago that the thought of going through that again might be too much. This lad isn't gonna be happy to be on a couch for the rest of his life with a dodgy leg either, he'll be off doing triathlons and all sorts when he retires.

I hope he makes it down to Toulon in some form anyway , Bojeddal as much a b*llocks he is , he seems pretty sound with his players and would be pretty sympathetic with POCs situation.

He won't be left with a dodgy leg, it's not a bad joint injury, it's a torn muscle. He's not 85, his body is well able to heal itself, and he has access to the best treatment, physio and rehab available. Absolutely no reason he won't be back playing in 5-6 months if rehab goes as it should.

stadedublinois

2smiggy wrote: »

2 year contract I think.

Sorry to see his international career finish like that, but hopefully he can continue with his club career.

Toulon will probably stand by him in that case (if he wants to).

It's a shame to see any player end their international career like that, but for someone like O'Connell it just seems unfair.

My only regret is that he's not coming to Paris instead of Toulon

chupacabra

What a privilage it is to have lived in this era of Irish rugby. I hope his recovery is swift and he can enjoy at least a season or 2 in France, he deserves it.

I always found brilliant the story that, during the Lions tour of 2009, Paulie learned a few numbers in Afrikaans in order to read the lineout plays of the boks and he could be seen mouthing them alongside Matfield on the pitch.

What a legend.

irishbucsfan

chupacabra wrote: »

What a privilage it is to have lived in this era of Irish rugby. I hope his recovery is swift and he can enjoy at least a season or 2 in France, he deserves it.

I always found brilliant the story that, during the Lions tour of 2009, Paulie learned a few numbers in Afrikaans in order to read the lineout plays of the boks and he could be seen mouthing them alongside Matfield on the pitch.

What a legend.

Was that the 2009 Lions tour or was it the 2009 Autumn Internationals?

I always thought it was the Autumn Internationals under Kidney and it was Gert Smal who he learned it off, but maybe it was only then when the story came out.

stadedublinois

deadybai wrote: »

Huge loss for the World Cup. Thought he was playing the best rugby of his career this and last year. Its sad to see the last of the 'Golden Generation' that I grew up idolising finish.

For those who would know; how good was POC? Was he a World Great or a Irish Great? How do people outside Ireland view him ?

He's definitely viewed by most as one of the greats in France.

thebaz

simple legend , really sad at his loss , hopefully the team can go on and deliver something that he deserves , similar to Keane in '99 with Man Utd

.ak

Tbh it's his on field communication we'll miss the most. Anyone who's played will tell you that communication is key, like someone shouting in a defensive line, so you're clear on your man and where you need to be. It's when your team goes quiet is when you start having issues. Poc's constant talking carries a lot of the quieter guys.

errlloyd

It hasn't sunk in yet. Not seeing him on the team sheet is gonna be weird.

His career was almost over a few years ago, I thought he was on the far side of the hill, but this summer he seemed to grow again, and surprisingly it was his ball carrying.

He's been making more gain lines, and more strong carries than any point in his career. POC was amazing, but I get the impression he has more to give, more to learn. It's not a case of an old player adapting to weakness, he was objectively, bona fide developing new better skills.

Gonna miss him.

Bandana boy

A real giant of a Man we may never see his like again .

Been an absolute privelge to watch his career and his impact on the game in Ireland.

P_1

Knew the announcement was coming once I saw him stay down on Sunday. He will be back though, say what you like about Toulon but one thing they have down to an art is getting players back from bad injuries.

efb

I was there when he lifted the Heineken Cup in Cardiff, The triple crown in Cardiff the year we won the Grand Slam and there when he lifted the 6 Nations trophy in Edinburgh

The man, the legend Paul O'Connell

BlitzKrieg

maybe in 10 years or so he can come back and help coach a new generation of irish forwards. Couldnt think of a better man to kick a team into shape between matches.

razorblunt

I remember being in Landsdowne Road in 2003 when the English hammered us. POC came off the bench and tore straight into Martin Johnson, it was the only time their pack went backwards that day.

Did everyone have the same reaction on Sunday? When I saw him being helped up I thought, he'll try and play through this, then after the ITV ad break they came back and showed him collapsing back down in agony, knew then it was over.

On a funnier note Zebo will be relieved he won't be getting pushed into tackles anymore!

gamma001

legend

sad to see him go out like that. Deserved to lift the big one.

efb

I wouldn't expect he'd have left the field any other way- warrior to the end

efb

gamma001 wrote: »

legend

sad to see him go out like that. Deserved to lift the big one.

He will.

justsomebloke

efb wrote: »

He will.

Ye but will he tog out and do a John Terry?

AudreyHepburn

gamma001 wrote: »

legend

sad to see him go out like that. Deserved to lift the big one.

He may lift it yet

efb

justsomebloke wrote: »

Ye but will he tog out and do a John Terry?

No. The man has class

chupacabra

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Was that the 2009 Lions tour or was it the 2009 Autumn Internationals?

I always thought it was the Autumn Internationals under Kidney and it was Gert Smal who he learned it off, but maybe it was only then when the story came out.

It could well have been. I just remember it as from the Lions tour.

partyguinness

In February 2002, I was a young graduate trying to secure a training contract (still older than POC mind) and had just secured my first full time 'proper' job which was to start on the Monday.

I will always remember watching his debut in a a particular pub over lunch with my parents on the Sunday as they dropped me and the little personal belongings I had to begin my new life and career.

Sorry...just a little personal story.

Bridge93

The last of that generation which got Ireland believing in it's rugby team and aiming higher than we had in decades.
We've always had a few great players but that team changed everything for me and Paul was along with his mate BOD, the cream of the crop.
I'm only starting to realise how lucky I am as a guy in my early to mid twenties that the only experiences of the Irish national team are ones of good teams and legendary players. To have been able to enjoy POC and BOD at such a young age can be taken for granted. We may not see their likes in this country for a very long time

SlickRic

a huge part of his legacy is that along with O'Driscoll and O'Gara, he changed the way we thought about ourselves when it came to rugby.

he didn't accept 2nd.
he didn't accept that Ireland couldn't win.
he didn't accept that Munster should play second fiddle to anyone.

he set standards that, as Rory Best said after the France game, have now been ingrained into the Irish rugby psyche. Irish rugby's competitive future is secure because O'Connell, possibly more than any other, demanded nothing less than excellence.

and he personified it.

legend is almost too small a word.

partyguinness

There are legends and then there is POC.

I can defo see Peter O'Mahony trying to emulate the great man in his still of play- and doing quite well ATM.

wp_rathead

This has upset me more than I expected..
He deserved the fairytale send off BOD got, not to be taken off on a stretcher. Sometimes things just aren't fair
What he has given to Irish rugby, from grassroots up is hard to quantify. That winning mentality. Legend.

efb

Memories

rrpc

He's the last of that generation of players that took us through the turn of the century and became the first true rugby professionals in Ireland.

All are gone now from the National Squad:

Paul O'Connell
Gordon D'Arcy
Brian O'Driscoll
Peter Stringer
Ronan O'Gara
John Hayes
Jerry Flannery
David Wallace
Geordan Murphy
Girvan Dempsey
Simon Easterby
Denis Leamy
Marcus Horan
Shane Horgan
Denis Hickie
Donncha O'Callaghan
Malcolm O'Kelly

That he endured for so long at such a high level of commitment and intensity is the true legacy of the man.

For those saying it was not the way he would want to end his career, I will just say that it is exactly how I envisaged he was always going to end it; not quietly in the background but in the heat of battle fighting for the ball.

JP Liz V1

Thank You Paul #Legend

MadYaker

If we somehow win the whole thing he HAS to be there!