
Rugby
Share
Published 17:01 20 Feb 2015 GMT
Updated 17:34 20 Feb 2015 GMT
Explore more on these topics:
Making the hits, carries, clear-outs. O'Brien feels at home again; comfortable in his skin. As he told us in early February, he is back in the heel of the hunt.
He has played more than 120 times for province and country, since his 2008 debut, yet can still recall the biggest tackle he ever shipped.
O'Brien says, 'Yer man, Jacques Burger, the lad at Saracens. That [Heineken Cup] game over there, in 2010. It was off a five-man lineout and Johnny just said, “Crash this up.” I did but I ran into him.
'I remember thinking that every bit of air had come out of me. I went up and went on but I wasn't going too far. That's probably the biggest hit I've ever had. We met in the middle and the two of us fell down on the ground.'
Try as we might, a clip of the collision has been hard to find. However, to give you an idea of the sheer Namibian hulk that is Jacques Burger, check out this video:
*O'Brien was speaking at the launch of a Bord Bia campaign for Ham and Bacon that will be launched on February 23 and run for a month.The five players with most to gain from Ireland’s summer tour
We can’t wait! Ireland kick off their summer tour against Australia tomorrow at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney (kick-off: 11.10am). There are injuries aplenty, and those on the periphery of the squad and match-day 23 will be looking to stake a claim. Some have genuine ambitions to make the starting jersey their own, others will […]
Rugby
2 days ago
Ireland head coach strongly hints that James Lowe will be back in Ireland
Some light at the end of the tunnel…. Despite having a lot left to give, James Lowe has unfortunately been lost to Irish rugby, after contract negotiations between, himself, Leinster and the IRFU broke down. The New Zealand-born winger is on his way to Tokyo’s Suntory Sungoliath to take part in the Japanese Top League, […]
Rugby
2 days ago
Rugby
Simon Zebo delights in Leinster struggles as he slags off Leo Cullen
Rugby