Go forward and do damage.
Joe Schmidt’s summation of Paul O’Connell is just brilliant.
The Munster man’s legend status in this country has almost reached mythical status but when men like Schmidt come along and laud praise on him like he does, it’s nice to know that we’re not just getting carried away with ourselves here.
Paulie announced his retirement on Tuesday and the world collectively wore a black armband in unified mourning.
But, back in October, Joe Schmidt appeared on The Late Late Show after the World Cup and after O’Connell’s international retirement and he spoke about the man, the character, the leader of men.
The Ireland head coach discussed his old captain on RTÉ and he did it almost poetically. Schmidt also said that he had hoped to see Paul O’Connell back involved in an Irish set-up in the future.
Now that he’s free, will the legendary lock get the call-up?
“It’s an ability to lead men without saying too much,” the manager said of the iconic number five.
“Paul is very much the axle that the hub turns on. We certainly haven’t seen the last of him involved in some way with an Irish team, I hope.”
