O’Callaghan determined to grasp his opportunity
The father of a young family will pay due tribute to the Christmas festivities but once he wakes on St Stephen’s Day, it will be down to the serious business of dealing with the formidable challenge posed by Munster’s keenest rivals. And O’Callaghan senses the greater than usual importance of the occasion given the side’s run of three successive losses in recent weeks: “The mood in the camp is not great, not great at all,” he says.
“If you win, you are in great form, if you lose, you are not. When you have a few back-to-back losses, it kinda snowballs and it’s tough. Guys are edgy, guys are disappointed with how they have been going and how the team has been going. That’s the nature of it and we are used to it.
“But these are the games you lick your lips for, big matches, Thomond hopping. This is the one you want to be in. For me personally, when the team is not going well, there is blood in the water, an opportunity to get into the team, into the squad. I know there are an awful lot of us thinking like that as well. With disappointment comes opportunity for certain guys.
“For the squad, it’s about getting a good performance, getting back to winning ways. To be fair to the coaches, they’re prepping us well. It’s time now for the players to grab it and run with it. A lot of people will look at the teams you play around you at the top. They’re eight-pointers, you win four and you deprive them of four, so they are of more value.
“But for us it’s purely about Friday’s performance, we’re a little bit behind so we need a performance and start stringing together some results.
“We haven’t put in a ruthless 80-minute performance in a while. I know you’re looking back at the last three matches but the two before those as well, we only won by a score. These are the big games, it’s up there with European Cup pace and not far off international pace. We’ve been tested as individuals but also our structures and defence, if we have a weakness, it will be exploited. Knowing that is a great way to go into a match.”
O’Callaghan is not long back from a two-week suspension having been found guilty of a reckless kick after first citing of his career.
“The suspension was tough, no doubt about it,” he admitted. “It’s not something I want to go into but it hurt personally more than anything. I’d like to think I’m competitive and will go for every ball and I don’t think I’ll change from that but I’ve never looked to hurt anyone. I missed two European games... that hurt, too. There are no guarantees but you want to put your hands up and force the coach’s hand and you also want to go out and help the lads. When you’re not available, you are useless to guys.”
When it was suggested to O’Callaghan that he was in the twilight of his career, the familiar mischievous smile was back to the fore.
“I have eight more years, I promise you,” laughed the 35-year-old. “I’m loving it, training, knocking around with the lads. I love the group we have at the moment. Their want is through the roof. They want to taste the success I’ve been lucky to experience and you’d kill for them to have it.
“I’d love to go out this weekend and be quite ruthless and selfish. You’re thinking this is your chance, I don’t mean to be harsh, but that’s the way I’m thinking. I’m thinking we’ve lost three in a row and something hasn’t been going well and hopefully I can put my hand up for inclusion. It sounds crazy but you love putting yourself out there, you’re vulnerable and raw, and see where you stand.”
