‘O’Mahony is a man for the outdoors . . . he could rustle up something’
TAKE 20
1. What’s your pre-training routine?
I just put the headphones on and listen to some music, get ready and get onto the pitch. I do my own warm-up, just a few things I have picked up from the past. I’m trying to get head in the right head space then.
2. You’re in charge of the aftermatch tunes, what goes on first?
Anything by Oasis would be my choice.
3. Imagine a world where you’re not a rugby player – what’s your job?
Kennel owner for dogs.
4. Stranded on a desert island, what three things do you take?
I would probably take my dog Bob with me for company and a boat to get off the island as well. I wouldn’t really need anything else.
5. Which team-mate would you want with you and why?
Peter O’Mahony – he is a man for the outdoors and would be able to rustle up something from hunting. Tyler Bleyendaal is very good at that too, so we wouldn’t be hungry. One or the other of those two.
6. What’s your favourite Instagram page you follow and why?
I like the National Geographic one, they put up some decent posts.
7. What do you do when not training or playing a match?
I used to be chilling out but we have a new baby so that will keep me busy now.
8. What’s your first sporting memory as a player or spectator?
As a spectator, I used to go and watch my old man play for our home club. As a player, when I made my debut against Saracens in the LV Cup semi-final. I came from 24th man to starting in the space of about two minutes before kick-off.
9. You have one moment from your career to do over. What is it?
I don’t think I would. I am pretty happy with how everything has gone. It has led me to being here.
10. What rugby skill would you most like to possess?
I think being able to bounce someone in the tackle would be ideal. I usually have to try and get past people but it would be nice every now and again to be able to just bump them out of the way.
I write songs but I can never remember the words.
12. What current player in your position do you most admire?
Probably Liam Williams of Wales and Saracens, he is a very good player. He is just so confident in everything that he does. He has got a great skill-set and is great to watch.
13. What former coach has had the biggest effect on your game and why?
Paul Deacon. When he came to Sale he helped me to take my game to another level on detail, how I played and how I did things. He had a massive effect on me.
14. What was your first car?
A 2011 yellow Mini. I have got four sisters so it was a hand-me-down car.
15. What sporting event makes your bucket list?
I would like to go to the Super Bowl.
16. One minute to go in the Champions Cup final, your team is four points down back on your own line. What do you do?
I would listen to what the nine and ten want to do, and we would go from there. I wouldn’t make the call, I’d just jump on the back of whatever they wanted.
17. What was the last concert you went to?
I have absolutely no idea. I haven’t been at a concert in years. When I was at college we had a summer ball, and a rapper, back in the day, Tinchy Stryder played there.
18. Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I was a flanker up until the age of 16 and then I changed. I played at blindside. The old man played second-row and he tried to make me follow in his path. But eventually sometimes you just have to break away from that.
19. What’s your best memory playing rugby for Munster?
The Leinster game at Christmas. That was my first experience of Thomond Park sold-out, the big spectacle. It comes to mind straight away.
20. Who’ll win the 2019 Guinness PRO14, Champions Cup and Rugby World Cup?
Munster, Munster and Ireland.
I would probably take my dog Bob with me for company and a boat to get off the island as well