They can both look back and laugh at it now.
Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll are two of the most recognisable, reliable and greatest players Ireland has ever produced. Decades from now, their names will be spoken of as highly as the likes of Jack Kyle and Willie John McBride.
The duo gave everything they had for the Irish cause and then some for Munster and Leinster.
O’Connell recalls his first ever encounter with O’Driscoll in his autobiography, The Battle. His tale of the Celtic League final, in 2002, shows he had some catching up to do with his Leinster rival.
O’Connell played the full final against O’Driscoll’s Leinster, who were down to 14 men for most of the game after Eric Miller was sent off. During one fracas between the forwards, O’Connell spotted O’Driscoll involving himself. He writes:
‘I said the first thing that came into my head – “F**k off and stop trying to be the hard man!”
‘He just laughed. He was only nine months older than me, still 22. But he had 20 caps for Ireland and three for the Lions.
‘When he was playing in the 1999 World Cup, I was a bouncer at Nevada Smyth’s bar in Limerick, hoping to break into the Young Munster first team.’
Leinster held the day but Munster would have their revenge.
Leinster would avenge that revenge and the battles would rage on, never to be well and truly settled. Such is the beauty of sport.
