IRISH GAMES STILL FIRE UP O’CALLAGHAN
FORMER Ireland international Donncha O’Callaghan says he is looking to earn the respect of the opposition when he steps out opposite old foes Connacht at the Sportsground tomorrow.
The 38-year-old veteran lock has been a captain on a Lions tour, played 94 times for his country and made 268 appearances for Munster but is now plying his trade as captain of Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.
The two-time Heineken Cup winner signed a one-year contract extension at Sixways earlier this season, having originally joined from Munster in September 2015.
And despite his vast experience the Cork native says stepping out opposite Irish opponents is still the biggest challenge in the game.
‘They are the ones that I always find the toughest. I don’t mind playing against any of the English teams and knocking lumps out of them but when you are looking over and it’s one of your own across the way I find it kind of tough,’ said O’Callaghan.
‘It’s about respect. The big one for me was that I never knew the value of Simon Easterby until I played against him.
‘I remember when you were playing with him you were wondering what Simon gets up to, but when you were playing against him he was involved in everything and he earned respect,’ added O’Callaghan.
Worcester have made a dreadful start to their Premiership campaign this season, where they have lost all six games and lie bottom of the standings.
But in Europe they have fared better and kicked off Pool 5 in the Challenge Cup with a bonus point win over Brive. O’Callaghan is confident that his team have what it takes to go far in the competition.
‘It was really weird for me but Europe was seen in a different light over here last year. Thankfully Gary Gold doesn’t see it that way.
‘He sees it as a competition to go out and do our best in,’ O’Callaghan continued.
‘Last year was a rotation and I found that so alien that Europe wasn’t the pinnacle. Thankfully it’s back to being up there.’
Worcester will lose director of rugby Gold at the end of this season, where he will head to USA to coach the national side there.
But O’Callaghan says the younger players are being given a chance and that’s vital for the future of the team, and the players trying to break through.
‘Gary is giving the younger guys a go and it’s about trying to make sure they know that you don’t get a whole lot of opportunities like that.
‘There aren’t a whole lot of teams in the Premiership that will take guys as young as we are going to go this season, and throw them in. They are going to make mistakes but that’s what we all did.
‘It’s funny, I remember ROG chatting, and I know myself personally, we were allowed to make mistakes but now there are so many guys and so many options. There was no one else when we were younger.
‘ROG was saying about that kick he missed against Northampton, if that happens a modern young fella now you look somewhere else because there are so many of them. Munster could look nowhere else.
‘That’s the same with us, there are younger guys, you have got to help them fulfil their potential but know they don’t get a whole lot of shots at it.’