GAMES BEGIN...
Cudmore will relish rematch with O’Connell
JAMIE CUDMORE and Paul O’Connell are s et to r enew acquaintances today as the two enforcers l ock horns i n Ireland’s World Cup opener against Canada in Cardiff.
Clermont Auvergne veteran Cudmore and Ireland captain O’Connell infamously traded blows during Munster’s Heineken Cup victory over the French side back in 2008.
Cudmore was red-carded in the 19th minute following the fracas at Thomond Park, with the Munster lock sent to the sin-bin for his part in the skirmish.
‘I never really concentrate on one person. That’s more for you guys to do, creating your little match-ups in the Press,’ said Cudmore wryly on his impending rematch with the Irish skipper.
‘As I’ve said in the past, he’s a world-class player and it’s always great to play against world-class competition, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.’
Cudmore who, like O’Connell, is appearing at his fourth World Cup, will lead the 1,000/1 outsiders against the Irish in the Pool D game at the Millennium Stadium.
On the field, Cudmore is one of the toughest competitors on the scene but the 37-year-old forward has recently established a wine label in the Auvergne region.
A couple of bottles served as a good ice-breaker between the pair following Clermont’s 26-19 win over Munster in the European Champions Cup last season.
‘After the Munster game, I gave Paul a bottle of yellow and a bottle of red for me. It was kind of tongue- in- cheek for 2008!’ remarked Cudmore.
O’Connell, who will pack down in the engine room alongside powerful Ulster l ock I ai n Henderson, was equally effusive in his praise for Cudmore. With Ospreys flanker Tyler Ardron ruled out of the clash with a knee injury, the Canucks will need all of Cudmore’s experience and O’Connell has backed his former sparring partner to deliver.
‘He’s a big hitter in everything he does, not just the tackle but in the carry and the breakdown, and he’s a big scrummager,’ said the 2009 Lions captain.
‘It’ll be a real tough battle — I’ve no doubt about it.’
Meanwhile, Ireland full-back Rob Kearney is taking nothing for granted against the Canadians.
Kieran Crowley’s troops are ranked 18th in the world but Kearney warned: ‘One thing with rugby, more so than with other sports, if you bring a massive edge and physicality, you’ll be right in the game.’ IRELAND: R Kearney; D Kearney, Payne, Fitzgerald, Earls; Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best, Ross; Henderson, O’Connell (capt); O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip. CANADA: Evans; Hassler, Hearn, Blevins, Van Der Merwe; Hirayama, McRorie; Carpenter, Moonlight, Gilmour; Cudmore (capt), Beukeboom, Wooldridge, Barkwill, Buydens.