Locked and Loaded

THINK BACK to the really competitive rugby sides over the last 30 years and the one constant in all those teams was a second row combination that complemented each other and competed as a united force.

In the 1980’s the All Blacks had Andy Haden and Gary Whetton, while a decade later they were driven for a record period by a regular partnership of Ian Jones and Robin Brooke. The Australian touring Grand Slam side of 1984 was built around the towering presence of the two Steve’s, Cutler and Williams with John Eales and Rod McCall manning the fort with great effect in the 1990s. World champions South Africa laid the foundations for their successful 2007 campaign on the familiarity and working relationship forged over years of toil with the Blue Bulls in Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

And then there’s Munster – Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan – not too bad either. In a week when O’Connell earned the greatest individual honour the game on this side of the world can bestow, in being appointed captain of the British and Irish Lions, his long-term locking partner secured his second Lions tour with the minimum of fuss.

With O’Callaghan it has always been that way. This pair has progressed through the ranks since playing together at under 20 level for Munster. God only knows how many times they have locked arms together in a scrum.

Over the years I was blessed to play with some great second row forwards, and when the chemistry was right you formed an unbreakable bond. While O’Connell is an iconic figure in the world game, I am sure nobody appreciates the work rate and contribution of his locking partner than the new Lions skipper.

My first recollection of Cork’s finest was as a wild, gangly 14-year-old with a big mop of black hair running around Temple Hill watching his older brother Ultan playing for Cork Con. Even then he had a habit of making a nuisance of himself – in the nicest possible way. Thankfully he has never lost the art. After a great schools career with CBC, I followed his development with interest and knew from the start that he had something special. He was fearless and had an insatiable appetite for hard work. To his eternal credit it is a characteristic that defines him to this day.

Within two years of leaving school O’Callaghan progressed to the stage where he was ready to join his brother in the Cork Con senior side and immediately stood out. In those days many teams favoured a short penalty move close to the line where the forwards would line up and run at full pace to take a pop pass from the scrum half. Invariably Donncha was the first up to smash the recipient. There was an honesty to his play that marked him out. When it came to the unglamorous roles he was more than happy to put his hand up.

Rugby has changed immeasurably, even since those days, but significantly O’Callaghan has progressed with equal pace. He is a meticulous note-taker at meetings, constantly updating his bank of knowledge on his opposition and seeking clarity on his role.

Off the field, Paul and Donncha have been typecast as two completely contrasting characters, yet they do have a lot in common. Yes, the captain is an intensely focused individual at all times, while Donncha has always been happy in the role of court jester. He is great for the team dynamic. Most significantly once he crosses the white line either in training or on match day he is a changed man. No messing will be tolerated. Under Eddie O’Sullivan’s watch, Ireland did a huge amount of analysis, producing statistics on the individual contribution of every player – tackle count, carries, clean outs at the breakdown, lineout steals, etc. Donncha bought into it big time. It also opened the eyes of many of his team-mates just how hard he works over 80 minutes – not that they needed any convincing. While O’Connell is often more visible in his contribution as the “go to’ man at line-out time, a principal ball carrier and more often than not the recipient of restarts, O’Callaghan is always by his side doing the ground work. Somebody has to do the house keeping. For every O’Connell carry there is an O’Callaghan clean out at ruck time.

Go back to Denis Leamy’s crucial try in last season’s Heineken cup final against Toulouse. When the Cashel colossus drove for the line the man locked on to him, propelling him forward was O’Callaghan. Nobody recognised this more that Leamy, a tap on the head of his mate, his quiet show of appreciation. When O’Connell caught several restarts against the Ospreys, the man waiting to seal possession and drive on him when he returned to earth was O’Callaghan. Much of this is unseen to the casual onlooker (not that Munster have too many of them) but it is the hard grind that is so appreciated by his fellow players.

Countless hours spent studying opposition line-out plays on video also ensure that the Bishopstown brawler is not only assured on his own throw at line-out time but when the opposition target his marker, O’Callaghan always makes life extremely difficult for him. Think back to the Wasps pool game in the Thomond Park building site last season when the Londoners sought to avoid O’Connell and use fellow Lions tourist Simon Shaw at the front of the line-out. O’Callaghan quickly closed off that avenue with a series of steals that left the visitors’ set piece in tatters. They had nowhere to turn to. When he is called upon to deliver out of touch, he will not be found wanting.

Seven years ago O’Callaghan was getting frustrated with his lack of game time for Munster due to the presence of Mick Galwey, Mick O’Driscoll and John Langford and thought seriously about joining Wasps. Their new coach (by the name of Warren Gatland) was well aware of his potential from his time in Ireland and tried to entice him to London. In the end Donncha opted to stay and serve his apprenticeship. It has served him well. After all those years Gatland will finally get the opportunity to work with his man for six weeks in South Africa.

Ian McGeechan is already on record that with so little time to prepare his side for the first Lions test in Durban proven combinations may have an advantage in terms of test selection. If that is the case the odds on O’Connell and O’Callaghan renewing the partnership that finished the Lions series against New Zealand four years ago looks good. Before that can even be entertained, however, there is the little matter of crushing the challenge that is sure to come tomorrow from long-term rivals Malcolm O’Kelly and Leo Cullen with the potential of the 6’ 11” frame of Devin Toner to cope with also.

Whatever the outcome, you can be assured of nothing less than 80 minutes of honest toil and manic commitment from big Donncha. Because he knows no other way.