EOGHAN DID HIS 2015 BIT
PAUL O’CONNELL has revealed the vital role his cousin Eoghan O’Connell played in the winning of the 2015 Six Nations Championship.
The soccer player, then on Celtic’s books, was with the squad the evening of the 40-10 win in Edinburgh.
Ireland remained in Murrayfield while the last game, France hosting England, played out in Paris.
Ireland needed France to win, and they did, 55-35.
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“We’re always following Eoghan in our family,” says O’Connell of a player in the news this week following his transfer window move from Charlton to Wrexham.
“When we won the championship in
2015, he was at the post-match function with us.
“He was holding my boy Paddy while we were watching England versus France, goIng crazy.” all of his domestic rugby with Munster.
“I would think Johnny or Alun Wyn haven’t had to play when injured as much as other people have, though most guys are carrying some bit of a knock at all times.
“That continuity at club level has probably been important.
“And then I suppose we don’t train like we used to, there isn’t as much contact, the load is managed better.”
“I think there’s healthier 34/35 year-olds coming through right now.
“And then you get exceptional guys like like Johnny and Alun Wyn, who have the competitive fire that, you know, winning doesn’t take the edge off — it just makes them want more.
Move
“I think they move on very quickly from winning and they just want to keep playing.
“So I do think being at one club all their careers probably has a big part to say in it and it’s a credit to them, a credit to their dedication and it’s probably a credit to the clubs they’ve come from in terms of how they manage players as well.”
Still, given his age profile O’Connell expects Sexton to be tested in the Principality: there will be some physical challenges in his vicinity.
“I don’t know how many tackles an out-half might have to make on average but Johnny will certainly have to make a good few here against Wales.
“An out-half probably gets nine touches of the ball in a game but he is the one who makes the most decisions in the game.
“So you would probably want to try and fatigue him, want to try and get him on the ground a little bit and take him out of the game because he is the principal decision maker.
“Every team does that and there’s no doubt Johnny will have to put up a bit of that and will have to take and make tackles tomorrow.”