There is a myth of the laid-back, unflappable Andrew Trimble but Ronan O’Gara knows about his other side.
Last month, Trimble convened with ‘everyone in Ireland’ at Carton House for a two-day camp with Joe Schmidt.
The Coleraine native made his Ireland debut the same year as his senior Ulster debut. Selected to play No.13 by Eddie O’Sullivan, Trimble ran out at Lansdowne Road with a massive banner of Brian O’Driscoll smiling at him from the South Terrace. Don’t get too comfortable.
12 years on and Trimble is still fighting for his place in the Irish team. Despite the fact that he left him at home during the 2015 World Cup, the 32-year-old is one of Joe Schmidt’s trusted lieutenants. He featured in 10 of 11 Tests in 2016, including the victories over South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Trimble has only appeared once for Ireland [sub appearance against France] so far this year and was given the summer off as young backs like Jacob Stockdale and Rory O’Loughlin were given their senior debuts.
We are still a while off Schmidt naming his wider training squad for the autumn internationals but Ronan O’Gara has tipped him to line out at 14 when the Springboks come to town. He told The Hard Yards:
“Since his debut in 2005, he’s been that consistent in every Irish team for the last 12 years. That speaks for itself.
“As you heard [talking to him] for the last 20 minutes, he’s the most humble man and the modest player in Irish rugby. The guy is a perfectionist. You can see the way he talked about having the Ulster captaincy and how much it meant to him.”
O’Gara continued:
“For me, Trimby is absolutely fantastic in a group environment – a team environment – because he is so driven. I wouldn’t be fooled by his exterior outlook. People sometimes make the mistake of classing him as something that he isn’t. He’s a highly driven competitor for Irish teams and he’s absolutely crucial. Attitude is everything and, with that, he’s 80% of the way there.
“He’s a serious athlete and he just has to mind his body. If he does that then, come November, we know who’ll we be watching in the Aviva.”
Ulster fans know well what the versatile, selfless back delivers and he will soon pass Roger Wilson’s record of 221 caps for the province. He is currently standing on 217.
Trimble, who was still on the line, was quick to thank O’Gara but the former Munster and Ireland outhalf was not finished.
“I know what’s behind all the smiles and jokes,” he said. “There’s a serious side to it too and I think it’s important that people know that.”
