Paul O’Connell – By Any Measure, One Of The Great Locks
I wrote about Paul O’Connell‘s test debut in 2002 for the Irish Times and his long test career that would follow. It was against Wales, against whom he’ll win his 100th cap this coming weekend in his 100th test start (incl. Lions). Published in the Irish Times of Wednesday, March 11th, 2015.
February 3rd, 2002. Laid out after attempting to tackle Welsh secondrow Craig Quinnell, a red-haired man in a navy scrum cap lies prone atop the blue Lloyds TSB logo in the centre of the field. Loud boos ring from the 49,000 Lansdowne Road crowd. Quinnell had raised an elbow going into the tackle, a forearm at least. They want a penalty. None given. “Debut, 1st Season of Professional Rugby”, the BBC caption reads on screen as barely 45 seconds later the redhead is shown giving a wry smile to his captain Mick Galwey as they arrive for an Irish lineout. So this is Test rugby, Gaillimh?
That was just 14 minutes into Paul O’Connell’s international debut. Ten minutes later he’d find himself driven over the tryline next to the old ground’s south terrace byAnthony Foley. Not that he could remember it, as O’Connell would recount in a 2014 interview with the Guardian’s Donald McRae.
Paul O’Connell. Totem, figurehead and, when he takes the field at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this coming weekend, Irish rugby centurion. His 100th Ireland cap earned in his 100th Test start in all colours.
Also, references to some other Irish sporting centurions.
