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'I never would have thought I'd be this close to making it'
Rookie Ireland utility back Jimmy O’Brien hopes his versatility will make his Rugby World Cup dream come true. The 26-year-old only made his Test debut in the 2022 Autumn Nations Series but has already played in three different positions across six caps.
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Head coach Andy Farrell will on Monday reduce his squad to a final 33 for the tournament in France following Saturday’s final audition against Samoa in Bayonne.
Leinster player O’Brien, who can operate at full-back, wing or outside centre, is determined to make the cut and does not mind which role he plays. “It’s a dream of any young lad growing up playing rugby in Ireland,” he said on the prospect of being selected.
“To be honest, years ago I never would have thought I would be this close to making it, so it would be a big dream of mine. Obviously, I have played a good few positions at this stage now and they [the coaching staff] kind of trust me in a few.
“Hopefully, it helps when they pick the squad but I’m not sure. When I started off, I was 13, I used to say that (was my favoured position). Then I used to say 15.
“I don’t really mind at this stage. I don’t think I change too much how I play. It’s mainly in defence that changes a bit with 15, wing and 13. But, wherever I can get on the pitch, I’ll play it. There is no real kind of preference.”
O’Brien was thrust into the Test arena in the number 13 role as a replacement against world champions South Africa in November following a first-half injury to Stuart McCloskey. He began at full-back against Fiji a week later before being moved to the left wing for the subsequent clash with Australia.
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Cameos in midfield and at 15 followed during the Six Nations before his third Test start came at full-back in a 33-17 victory over Italy earlier this month. O’Brien insists he will put the squad’s best interests ahead of his own.
“I’m just trying to fit into the team and do what I do well, not trying to go off on your own,” he said. “That is the opposite way of going about it. We talk about being the best version of yourself and that is how everyone else around you is going to play well.
“I’ll just try to do what I do well for Leinster and in the previous games I have played for Ireland and hopefully that gets me picked.”
Following the retirement of Rob Kearney after the 2019 World Cup, Hugo Keenan has nailed down Ireland’s full-back position. O’Brien appears to be the first-choice understudy for that role and has been taking tips from his provincial team-mate.
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“Hugo has been unbelievable,” he said. “He is one of my closest friends in rugby – and outside of rugby, to be honest. We get on great. The depth of the squad in every position, you need the next man up.
“Hugo has helped me out massively and the two of us talk about it a good bit, about the position, and try and help each other out. It’s important having someone (covering) in every position.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
41 Go to comments