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InternationalIrelandNew Zealand

Ref mic picks up Peter O'Mahony's choice remarks for Sam Cane


Sam Cane, captain of the All Blacks leaves the field during the International Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland at Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 09, 2022 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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46 Comments

Ireland back row Peter O’Mahony has never been one to shy away from the more combative side of the sport. Just ask Sam Cane.

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Some six years after their first victory over the mighty All Blacks, Ireland dominated a Test to walk away with a series saving 23-12 win and a historic first victory against the men in black on New Zealand soil.

O’Mahony was at the heart of it of course. Indeed, the Munsterman is never far from the face-to-face stuff when he takes the field, and the second Test in Dunedin was no different, with the blindside literally in the faces of the All Blacks over the 80 minutes.

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A few particular choice words for All Blacks back-row Cane were picked up by referee Jaco Peyper’s mic.

“Who do you think you are? You’re a shit Richie McCaw pal,” O’Mahony is reported to have told the Chiefs’ veteran.

Given McCaw is arguably the greatest player to ever pull on a pair of rugby boots, it’s hardly the worst thing you could say to a [professional rugby player.

It may however be a little close to the bone for Cane, who has never quite won over the wider New Zealand public or at least not quite convinced as McCaw’s heir apparent on the openside. Frequent headlines decry his continued selection when fit for the All Blacks.

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McCaw has been a hard act to follow and the comment will doubt be water off the duck’s back for the veteran of 79 All Blacks Tests.

Whether you’re a fan of sledging or not, O’Mahony certainly shone for Ireland, an eye-cathing 50:22 on the hoof the pick of the highlights from the 32-year-old.

He backed up an equally impressive first Test last week in Auckland even if on that occasion the scoreline was drastically different for the Irish.

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Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 9 minutes ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

Those first two games against England??? They were diabolical. They set the scene for the circus that followed.

England played so badly, and we matched them every step of the way. But for a once every 5 years performance from Beaudy in the second test we would have lost by 10.



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115 Go to comments
P
Phantom 25 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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M
Mzilikazi 27 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Great article, Nick. I do wonder if a fatigue factor might skew results in this July leg though. And injuries will certainly curtail Ireland, I fear. The opposite ofc will be a factor in the autumn leg, the NH players nicely into their season, with hopefully fewer injuries.

14 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 34 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Be tough for France if they don’t field the Toulouse and Montpellier players. I do think there is maybe a bit of overconfidence in the NZ press over the Rennie factor. We will see.

Ireland are very down on full strength. Badly at LHP. Depends what sort of team Schmidt picks too. He has already, imo, made a bad error leaving out LSL. ut I can see the WB’s winning this one. France will be tougher I feel, with the Toulouse and MP players coming in….like Meafou !!



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J
JM 36 minutes ago
'Your brain picks up there's less oxygen... it hits you from the start' - but does altitude still really matter?

When RSA came back into the rugby fold it seemed everyone in NZ was stressed about playing them at altitude. Not just the effects on the body but the effects on the ball and how it changed how the game was played.

I reckon for the first couple of years there was a chunky dose self psyching involved on our part, when in a normal game you'd start to feel fatigued at 60 it was just standard but when you started to feel fatigued at altitude after 60 you convinced yourself that it was the sign of you hitting the wall and that played games with you.



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S
SS 39 minutes ago
Erasmus is all too aware of the Pollock nightmare that threatens South Africa

The Boks are all salivating…😜

6 Go to comments
j
johnz 40 minutes ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

People make culture, you can't build a culture by reading a manual left behind by all the staff who were just sacked.

I don't buy the dyslexia thing. I was all for Razor based on listening and observing him before he got the gig. He was inspiring, thought outside the box, spoke the language of success, was open to new ideas and trying things. Unfortunately the guy that turned up was not the same guy. Even the players who knew him said the same thing.



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115 Go to comments
M
MV 45 minutes ago
Bought not built: Rassie's importing has sacrificed the identity of Bok rugby

Ahh Ben Smith the eternal bok hater. And this is called sports journalism! When you have depleted your entire arsenal and the one thing left at the bottom you have been avoiding until now is this, then you truly have nothing else left. Really I wasted 5 mins of life I'll never get back!

76 Go to comments
P
PM 58 minutes ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

My only quibble would be with ‘crushing’. I’d go with final nail in the coffin. They weren’t really up enough to be crushed.

30 Go to comments
P
PM 1 hour ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

I'm not actually convinced Miles does provide that much power and grunt. Looks like he should though.

30 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 1 hour ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

“He still has his sainthood from his time with Ireland”. He faded at the end in Ireland though, Conrad. Interestingly it was a key big lock in Devon toner he dropped for RWC Japan…..leopards and spots ??

“….obviously has an almighty ruthless streak in him.” I would agree. Friends in Ireland have commented on that, said was rumoured even Paul O’Connell feared him. Could be mean spirited too.



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P
PB 1 hour ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

You don’t have a country!!

You don’t even know who you are!



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115 Go to comments
B
Bazzallina 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

You want get leads of more than converted tries whether that’s 1 try or 2 or 3 so at 5-0 u might take that 3 to make 8-0 or at 20-10 teams most often think better going for that try because 23-10 you still vulnerable to 2 converted scores just better tactics around that awareness imo score lead building with 3s just don’t work that well the majority of the time just sometimes rarely like you kick 4 penalties miss 1 and the other team goes bang bang they got the lead some commentators just don’t get it still are dumbfounded when 3s aren’t taken

14 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 1 hour ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

“I’d like to see Amotosero blooded,” Against Ireland though, PP. He is still only 24, only just too. he will probably be facing Ryan and McCarthy. He has shown good lineout ability, I will grant.

30 Go to comments
B
Brett McKay 1 hour ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

Cheers Mizz, you’ve gone into great detail as always.

For what it’s worth, I think the expectation is that if there is going to be a change of Captain, it would be for McReight..



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30 Go to comments
j
johnz 1 hour ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

I don't know how you can call BS unless you were in my head. I can assure you you don't take up much real estate there.

Yes, both Razor & foz were poorly supported and handicapped in who they could recruit. Both had to answer to a CEO who's best skill was ruining relationships. There is a big improvement in the appointment & support structures now.



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115 Go to comments
j
johnz 1 hour ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

LF is one of our best? I'm a big fan of LF, but if he is one of our best loosies we’re in more trouble than I thought.

Fear is everything JW. A man controlled by fear can't execute under pressure. That's what we got with Razor..



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115 Go to comments
J
JohnS 1 hour ago
Bought not built: Rassie's importing has sacrificed the identity of Bok rugby

In short Ben Smith says that hiring the best to help you build to be the best does not make you the best. So due to Ben Smith being a Kiwi he is also not the best to write about South African rugby.

76 Go to comments
j
johnz 1 hour ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

l don't think what Razor bought to the ABs was much like what he bought to the crusaders. He didn't back himself to be himself, that's why he bottled it.

115 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 1 hour ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

I think the WB’s have a very good chance of beating Ireland this weekend. But the right team will have be selected, and already there is ,imo, a bad start with the exclusion of LSL.

Would like to see Bell starting the game, with Nongorr at TH. I’m saying this without having seen Tupou play this year. You are right, Brett, he has been used more off the bench by Racing. All Rugby stats show only 4 starts, and he did not play in 3 games since he arrived in Dec last year post his WB EYOT commitments. He did play in both playoff games at the end of the season.



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30 Go to comments
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