Hours before Ireland fly out to Cardiff for their latest Six Nations test, Paul O’Connell is at the front desk in Carton House. He is looking to mail off some signed trinkets to fans.
He converses with a receptionist and, following a brief hesitation, takes up her offer of jelly beans. He carefully selects four – ‘I only like the yellow ones’ – before turning on his heels.
Before he can head back up the corridor to the Irish team room, he is halted by two well dressed ladies and asked for a picture.
Two days before one of the biggest matches of his career, the Irish captain is happy to converse with the women as they figure out just how the cameras on their respective phones work. During a pause to figure out how to get the flash working, O’Connell asks the other woman where she is from and what she is doing in Kildare.
‘Ah, Kerry. I love it down there,’ he says. ‘One of my favourite counties.’
Five minutes later, O’Connell and the ladies exchange hugs. They head back to their seats and find their tea getting cool. O’Connell strides back to the team room. One wonders if he is mulling over the rousing speech he will deliver before kick-off at the Millennium Stadium as he chews on his last remaining jelly bean.
Tributes
For those that may not know, the Saturday, against Wales, will be the 100th time Paul O’Connell plays for Ireland. Victory in Cardiff will take his country to the brink of only their third Grand Slam in their 136-year history.
His words and actions over the past month have almost inspired us to compile another 48 Reasons Why Paul O’Connell is Ireland’s Greatest Human Being.
Tributes have been pouring in for the Limerick native all week. Here is a mere fraction.
Joe Schmidt: Paul’s pretty happy with that, there’s a part of him that would love to play forever, but he’s excited about playing right now to be honest. He’s incredibly motivated to play as well as he can.
He’s been a fantastic leader, and we’ve got a group then who lead with him and the other players lead themselves. So it’s a great environment for us to have Paul there.
Will he continue beyond the World Cup? That’s a decision he and his body will make post the World Cup.
Robbie Henshaw [aged 8 when O’Connell made his Ireland debut]: He is a true leader and he carries a lot of charisma with him. To see what he has done, in reaching 100 caps, is a massive milestone. He really deserves it. Fair play to him.
Keith Wood: Every international he has played this year, in the last 10 minutes he has been extraordinary. He is making three and four tackles in that time when, really, he should be sitting at home, having a cup of cocoa. He has put his body through the wringer and he delivers, every time. Absolutely talismanic.
Massive congrats to skips @Paul_OConnell reaching 100 Ireland Caps tomorrow. Phenomenal player & leader. Go well. #1Hunjynotout
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) March 13, 2015
Ronan O’Gara: I don’t people realise how good this guy really is… He is very, very special, in terms of the ability he has to deliver the right message at the right time… At times it is very heated and you could see steam coming off his big red head.
Johnny Sexton: He is our leader. When he speaks, everyone listens. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I don’t think he knows how important his words are.
Sean Cronin: Whenever Paul is playing, he makes you play better. That’s due to the enthusiasm, the physicality and the passion he brings. He instils it in the players around him… It is great to play under him
Here is what the Welsh lads have had to say about O’Connell…
Alun Wyn Jones: You associate words like icon and talisman with him. He is the ultimate team player.
I remember a quote of his a while back that puts the role of a forward, particularly a tight-five forward, into the right perception for anyone – ‘it is a job you do to make other people look good’ – and he has been doing that for Ireland since he has had the jersey.
Shane Williams: As a player he’s got this presence. Obviously, physically, he’s a big man, but when you play against him he’s in the middle of everything. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Paul O‘Connell play poorly. Not in my time certainly, he leads from the front and is just a massive presence on the field.
A very intimidating character to play against. not only physically but he has this aura, everyone seems to look up to him and as a captain he always leads from the front and you know you’re being led by a true leader.
I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside him with the Lion, I’ve roomed with him a couple of times as well. What’s great about Paul is that anything he expects from you as a player, you know you’re going to get it from him as well. As a captain I enjoyed playing alongside him because he’s a top guy as well.
He’s one of these guys you can go and have a pint with. He can be shouting at you in training for an hour and a half and really intimidating you for an hour and a half on the training field, but you can go and have a pint with him and discuss it with him. A top, top guy. These are the players you look up to and kind of admire on the field and on the training paddock. but then you meet him and find out he’s a top guy, as well, even elevates you a bit more. That’s what Paul O‘Connell is, as well as a fantastic captain, he’s a top guy and it’s been a pleasure to play alongside him.
*Hat-tips to Sports Review [for AW Jones], Newstalk [Wood] and Three [for O’Gara and Sexton]
