Referee mic picks up classic Peter O’Mahony comeback to Springboks star

Patrick McCarry

“Apologies to anyone that might have heard that, over the ref mic.”

Ahead of Ireland’s first home tilt against South Africa in five years, Stephen Ferris set the scene about a man he knew would have a big say in matters – Peter O’Mahony.

The former Ulster, Ireland and Lions flanker crossed paths with O’Mahony before injury cut short his own excellent career. As a guy that has trained and played with the Cork native, and tracked his progress over the past few years, Ferris is so impressed with his consistent levels. And how he consistently gets in faces.

“You might as well write Peter O’Mahony off for every week,” Ferris told us, “because he’s going to come back firing his own shots. And how he does that is by playing really well.

“I don’t know what it is – when he plays for Munster, he’s always very good, but when he plays for Ireland, he’s bloody brilliant. He’s really, really good. You can arguably say that he, and Josh van der Flier, have been the best two out of that back row unit they have now.”

And so we had 33-year-old Peter O’Mahony getting named in an Ireland back row for another huge Test match. Again, folks questioned why he was there.

More fuel for the fire. More logs to burn up.

Peter O’Mahony of Ireland, left, is congratulated by teammates Josh van der Flier, red cap, and Caelan Doris, right, after winning a penalty. (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile)

‘Peter O’Mahony, a one-man choir’

Against a fired-up South Africa, Peter O’Mahony was throwing himself about, and chirping loudly, from the get-go.

In terms of his performance, it was typical O’Mahony – a healthy amount of carries into traffic for decent, but not significant metres, peerless in the lineout, dogged on the ground, sticking eight tackles and winning his side two turnovers.

He was the emotional barometer of how Ireland were faring – if his blood was up and he was chawing away, the home side were landing blows.

He got into it with Jasper Wiese, Jesse Kriel and Makazole Mapimpi, at different stages. There were stare-downs, cat-calls, pointed barbs and straight up foul language – anything to try get under the Springboks’ skin.

At one stage, when Ireland one a first half penalty inside their 22, O’Mahony had a big grin on his face. When a South African player complained with the call, the blindside was picked up on the ref mic telling him to ‘Go **** yourself’.

“Apologies,” interjected David McIntyre, on Virgin Media, “to anyone that might have heard that, over the ref mic.”

Peter O'Mahony has a brief word 🤷🏻 #IREvRSA

— Jonathan SC ن Esq. (@jonathansc) November 5, 2022

Don't you just fucking love Peter O'Mahony

— Gerard (Tuatha dè Danann) (@st4ender91) November 5, 2022

Peter O'Mahony, a one man choir 🎶🎶 #IREvRSA

— Emmet Oliver (@emmetoliver) November 5, 2022

#IrishRugby 6 – 3 #Springboks 40mins It's another Bok 22 lineout & this time they keep possession, attempting to barge over the 22, advantage being played and the whistle goes. Peter O'Mahony can't help but try to start a fight 🙄 #AutumnNationsSeries #IREvRSA 🇮🇪🏉🇿🇦 #Rugby

— RugbyUnplugged.com (@RugbyUnplugged) November 5, 2022

Peter O'Mahony absolutely bossing the mind games with the South Africans and he is just laughing at them #IREvRSA

— Brendan O'Mahony (@yallcanbeginger) November 5, 2022

It was the Sam Cane treatment, packaged and tied with a fresh bow for the South Africans.

Of course, Peter O’Mahony would not be the player he is, and he would not have received the send-off he did, late in the game, if he was all bark and no bite.

For 68 minutes, he was a splinter under the Springbok’s nail that they could not pick out.

He will be 34 when the World Cup rolls around, next year. The same voices, and maybe a few more, will be writing him off and wondering why Ireland need such a dog in their back row.

As Stephen Ferris says, the doubters can doubt. This man just keeps delivering in a side that have won 15 of their last 17 Tests and are deservedly top of the world rankings.

Related stories: