What an impact the Cork man made today.
As news filtered through of Jamie Heaslip’s upper hamstring injury which he sustained in the pre-match warm-up, thoughts immediately turned to the kind of impact Peter O’Mahony would make on the game.
For a long time now, many had been calling for the 27-year-old’s inclusion in Joe Schmidt’s side with many citing his aggression, breakdown ability, work rate and lineout intelligence as essential attributes which need to be present in this team.
Many were left disappointed when O’Mahony was named among the replacements when the matchday squad was announced on Thursday but one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.
O’Mahony took this opportunity with both hands as he put in an incredible man of the match performance.
He tackled and carried like a man possessed and in the words of the late Bill McLaren, “he was digging like a demented mole” couldn’t be better applied to his breakdown work.
O’Mahony also proved crucial in the lineout, turning over English ball at crucial occasions and securing Irish ball when the pressure was being applied from the likes of Joe Launchbury and co.
You would forgive O’Mahony for perhaps feeling hard done by with regards to his absence throughout this year’s championship but he showed no sign of that in his post-match interview given to RTÉ.
“We’re disappointed with the way some of the results have gone but we knew deep down that there is a lot of heart there..fellas showing up for each other, fellas showing up for what is special to them, not just on the pitch but off it as well. It was a great performance from everyone.”
It’s typical of O’Mahony to take the attention away from himself and heap praise on his teammates.
Because that is the type of man he is.
A complete leader.
When asked on the disappointment of last week’s defeat to Wales, O’Mahony was brutally honest.
“It broke our hearts.”
You know he means it but boy, did he and the rest of the team make up for it today.
Passion. MOTM @peterom6 after the match #IrevEng #SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/6UADDbAJdI
— Seán McMahon (@Sean_McMahon89) March 18, 2017
