Munster’s own lionheart

PAUL O’Connell doesn’t ask for miracles from those around him. Being the pragmatist he is, the Munster second row accepts that everybody has been endowed with different gifts.

However, there is one thing he does demand from his teammates - total honesty and commitment.

He readily admits he wouldn’t still be playing the game in this country if that wasn’t the case for both Munster and Ireland. However, he recognises the level of support he craves is there in spades and that’s one of many good reasons why he will play his heart out in the red jersey in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster at Lansdowne Road. To do anything else would be against his nature and totally unforgivable.