SIX NATIONS SPECIAL WALES IRELAND, 3PM V

Beirne: Paul is great and I should know, I was double for his TV ad

TADHG BEIRNE was once Paul O’Connell’s double for a TV advertisement – now he wants to follow in his footsteps again.

When O’Connell accepted Andy Farrell’s invitation to become his new forwards coach, the Limerick great (below) reached out to a number of players before they came into Ireland’s Six Nations camp.

In Beirne’s case, it was to chat about the lineout – a source of massive frustration for Ireland over the last two years – but while the topic was serious they could laugh about their first-ever meeting.

“Before the 2015 World Cup I think, I was in Leinster and on Academy wages and I was doing a few nixers [odd jobs] around the place,” recalled Beirne.

“And I ended up having to do a Vodafone ad and be his dummy.

“That was our first meeting, when I was sitting down beside him and I then had to go up and do a shoot to make sure that the angles were right before the main man went in and did the actual shoot. We were just laughing about that.

“You look up to someone like that growing up, someone in my position. He’s an Irish idol – if anything, he’s a role model.

“I would have grown up watching him play, my dad was a massive fan of him and his leadership qualities.

“It was a bit surreal meeting him then and when you look back now you can kind of smile about it, going full circle and now he’s coaching me playing for Ireland.”

Beirne is clear on what O’Connell is delivering. “He’s definitely a massive influence on the lineout and around the ruck as well,” said the Kildare man.

“He’s definitely put down a marker in terms of how he wants us to look after our own ball.”

In-form Munster forward

Beirne will meet another major figure in his development today.

Wayne Pivac took a chance on the 29-year-old when his time at Leinster ran out after a series of injuries and the then Scarlets boss was repaid in full with Beirne helping to inspire the Welsh region to PRO14 success.

“He took a punt on me when no one else probably wanted,” said Beirne. “I will always be grateful for that.”

There will be no divided loyalties though as Beirne knows that having been given the nod as James Ryan’s second row partner – ahead of Iain Henderson – he must deliver.

“For me it’s a massive opportunity to put down a marker for myself,” he said. “I’m getting an opportunity to call the lineout. The last few Six Nations I’ve picked up injuries.

“The quality of Iain Henderson and James Ryan, they are so experienced in the Irish jersey.”

The quality of Iain Henderson and James Ryan, they are so experienced