He has one hell of a vertical leap.
Peter O’Mahony is making a habit out of cutting the All Blacks off at the knees.
The Munster star missed out on Soldier Field, in 2016, and only played one game – albeit as captain – in the 2017 British & Irish Lions Test Series. When he faced New Zealand in 2018, he was so revved up that he played through considerable pain to deliver a 10/10 performance.
He then faced the backlash of the ABs at the 2019 World Cup and left Japan, like each of his teammates, with his tail between his legs.
Tough lessons would keep coming in a Covid-affected 2020. Andy Farrell was trying to make changes with this Irish side, but it was always going to take a while for everything to click.
We started to see Farrell’s vision take shape in the 2021 Six Nations. Ireland did lose their first two games, but they finished with comprehensive victories over Italy, Scotland and England. Two summer wins followed, before Japan got bounced 60-5.
The real test, we were all told, was when the All Blacks arrived in Dublin.
Peter O’Mahony and a mighty bench impact
They arrived, charmed us all in interviews by talking up our players and showing up at the Guinness Storehouse for some pints. All niceties would be shelved come kick-off, we were assured.
Peter O’Mahony started off on the bench but he knew his time would come. Johnny Sexton revealed, after the game, that the players had discussed how the replacements would be needed to produce big moments if they were to get the win.
O’Mahony came on with 22 minutes to play and he delivered not one big moment, but THREE.
There was a jackal turnover soon after coming on, another not long after that and, when James Lowe left his wing to make an all-or-nothing tackle on the half-way line, there was O’Mahony to win another turnover. This time, too, there was a penalty with it.
Joey Carbery stepped up and landed a long-range bomb to put Ireland six clear. O’Mahony saved his most animated reaction, though, for a turnover he was not responsible for.
On 78 minutes, Tadhg Beirne dipped in for a trade-mark poach and the Kiwis conceded a penalty in front of the posts. O’Mahony knew it was game over:
'Tis your field, Pete pic.twitter.com/ahEIBIROS1
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 13, 2021
21 months of lockdowns and restrictions and playing in front of empty stadiums, when you got clearance to play at all.
O’Mahony and that vertical leap was all of us. Blowing off the cobwebs, and then some.
Sure enough, Carbery slotted the kick and Ireland were 29-20 ahead with seconds to play.
O’Mahony was not finished there. He soared to win the AB’s restart and Ireland retained possession before Lowe had the honour of hoofing the ball clear to end the match.
If this is to be O’Mahony’s role in this Ireland team over the next couple of years – coming off the bench to make a big impact – we’re here for it.
