Sean O’Brien is back in the green jersey and we could not be happier.
The Tullow Tank will play his fourth game of this Six Nations against Scotland on Saturday and is showing glimpses of being back to his best.
Ireland need O’Brien to have his best game of the Championship if they are to out-do England and Wales and bag Back-to-back Six Nations titles in the process.
Here are 13 reasons we feel certain the flanker will make his country proud again.
His insane pre-season training
Pre preseason is underway! pic.twitter.com/W485kqIUQ1
— Sean O’ Brien (@SeanOBrien1987) June 26, 2014
Picking up James Haskell like a dish-rag
Get awaaaaay from that ruck.
He is not a fan of the round [soccer] ball
Asked by a journalist, at the 2011 World Cup, if he would like to replicate Richard Dunne’s heroic performance against Russia, he replied, ‘I absolutely hate soccer.’
Pressed on his dislike of the game, he added, ‘I never really have liked soccer, to be honest. I played a bit when I was younger but I wouldn’t be a big fan of watching it now. I think they get paid way too much money for what they do, and they’re jumping and rolling around half the time.’
This monstrous clear-out against France
Why lift one Frenchman when you can lift two?
He loves his cows
‘Give us a second, will ya, and I’ll fill up yer bucket.’
In calf heifers absolutely flying it considering the cold down home today! pic.twitter.com/uMgdHRTUud — Sean O’ Brien (@SeanOBrien1987) January 21, 2015
This jaw-dropping fend-off on Dan Biggar
Fair play to the Welsh out-half for stepping up but he was soon sat down.
A spot of GAA in the off-season
Typical. You show up for your Junior B match and you have to mark this lad.
We take our Junior B seriously in Carlow #YouTakeHimIllTakeTheSmallLad pic.twitter.com/bh8gWPLyQv
— Fighting Cocks GFC (@FightingCocksIE) June 2, 2014
His unfailing honesty
Asked, in July 2014, how he thought his body would fare after he retires, he answered, ‘I know I’m going to be broke up.
‘It is something you’ll have to think of when it comes along but there’s no point in me worrying about if I’m going to be broke up. I’ve to make the most of what I’m doing at the minute and go along with it. Everyone says that to me, ‘Why do you do what you do?’ or ‘Why can’t you mind yourself a little bit more?’ You can’t mind yourself in this game. It’s the type of position I play and the way I play.
‘That’s the way it is and that’s the way it will stay.
Bouncing away from the best shot Courtney Lawes has got
‘Ooomph. Now, where was I?’
He fancies a shot at the NFL
After professing to be a Green Bay Packers fan, O’Brien was asked what position he would like to play. He responded:
‘Jesus, I don’t know. Just give me the ball. A punter. I can’t throw a ball anyway.’
Making Ian Madigan take the back seat
Sean does not need to call ‘shotgun’. He is shotgun. 
Coaching the local lads
O’Brien gets back to Tullow RFC whenever he gets the chance and helps out with some underage coaching.
Great to present @TullowRFC minis with their end of year medals! Very successful year #youths #Leinster #future pic.twitter.com/OC6zaiDFn4
— Sean O’ Brien (@SeanOBrien1987) May 7, 2013
The obligatory YouTube/crazy dance music compilation video
Tries, hits, fends, ruck-clearing, German electronica. Enjoy.
