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'I have always played fairly': Peter O'Mahony breaks silence on his Six Nations red card
Peter O’Mahony has broken his silence about the red card he was shown when playing for Ireland in the opening round of this year’s Guinness Six Nations. The back row was banished by referee Wayne Barnes for contact to the head of Wales’ Tomas Francis.
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The February 7 sending-off for what was deemed reckless play resulted in a three-match for the 31-year-old who has since seen Rhys Ruddock and Tadhg Beirne (twice) wear the No6 Ireland jersey in his absence.
Now back in the mix and available for selection to play against England in next Saturday’s championship finale, O’Mahony has reflected on the red card incident 37 days after 14-man Ireland were beaten by the Welsh in Cardiff.
“When it comes to breakdown and it comes to international rugby you have got to be incredibly urgent, you have got to be incredibly accurate and you have got to bring physicality and these incidents happen,” he explained.
“It’s a very physical game. I have always played hard, I have always played fairly in my opinion. Look, I 100 per cent was wrong in what happened in the incident but the guys know better than anyone, my teammates know that I was acting on the best intent to make the best intention for the team that day and unfortunately that is what happened.
Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton hadn't a clue what was going on when called to a Monday meeting with Andy Farrell and CJ Stander#SixNations #IREvENGhttps://t.co/ySfpjf9zhH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 16, 2021
“I don’t think they will be looking for me to put in any different performance that I go out any other week to play for Ireland, that would be unjust to the jersey. I go out every time to play as best as I can and more importantly than anyone the lads around me know that.
“It’s been hard,” he added when asked about coping with his enforced layoff. “It’s different when you are injured, you’re on a different buzz. But when you are fit and healthy and ready to go and you are raring to go and you can’t it makes it a little tougher.
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“But I spent a couple of great weeks with Munster, training with the A team, trying to help the seniors prepare for their games, back in here last week to prepare the lads as best as possible which I certainly enjoyed but I am not going to make any bones about it. I’m looking forward to getting back playing.”
While O’Mahony’s suspension coincided with him agreeing to a two-year IRFU central contract extension, CJ Stander, his similarly aged Munster and Ireland colleague, has taken a very different decision, spurning a new deal in preference of retiring from rugby next summer.
“Very shocked when he told us all last night,” said O’Mahony about the South African back row who first came to Ireland in 2012. “I didn’t see it coming, I don’t think anyone did, but he explained his reasons and his reasons are very valid ones, very noble ones and everyone will respect his decision.
“The man has given an incredible amount to not just Ireland but Munster as well, Limerick, an incredible teammate and he has got to give a bit back to his family who have sacrificed a huge amount for him. We will hopefully make this week and the couple of months he has left to play with us and me certainly as special as we can.
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“From the day he arrived in Munster he did his best to buy into our culture and now he is creating bits of our culture. I’d always think who do kids look up to? You want to be someone who the young fellas look up to and it’s a nice compliment to give to someone, that there are kids around probably not just Ireland, around the British Isles and beyond, who want to be like CJ which is a huge compliment.
“He is an incredible family man, which he has spoken about and how important that is to him, an incredible friend and an incredible teammate. I can’t say much more… it’s no secret that he has never had a long-term injury or any sort of an injury at all.
“It’s down to how he looks after himself, his professionalism, his recovery, he brings an incredible edge, not just when it comes to the weekend but in training as well. He is an immaculate trainer, incredibly coachable which is something I would rate him also as one of the best.
“His ability to listen and learn new skills, like the player he arrived as and the player he is now, he has come such a long way and he has lapped up the great coaches that myself and himself have spent a huge amount of time with.
“Just a competitor, you can see it in him. We have all watched him play 50 off times for Ireland and way over 100 for Munster. He is just competitive with everything. That is what makes him such an incredible teammate.”
Former Ireland international Mike Ross thinks Tadhg Furlong's extended lay-off 'did him a favour' https://t.co/d3sUvBjoDQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments