O’Connell joins coach in wishing Micko well
Munster coaching director Tony McGahan and skipper Paul O’Connell added their views to those already aired by former Munster captain and ex-colleague Mick Galwey in yesterday’s Irish Examiner.
“Michael epitomises what Munster spirit is about and what a Munster player stands for,” said McGahan.
“He has been there at every call for us, whether it is through injury or through guiding the group in the Magners League or RaboDirect.
“He has stood tall and has seen some real disappointments across the way with selection, and I probably provided a lot of them for him, but he has backed himself, he has been a model trainer and he has shown example to the younger guys coming through.”
The skipper expressed some surprise that O’Driscoll was calling it a day given his age, at 33, and good physical shape.
“It’s a decision we will all have to make but he is still playing great rugby,” said O’Connell.
“I thought he had an excellent game last weekend. He has been a great player for Munster and is probably unlucky not to have played with Ireland more times [23].”
O’Driscoll insisted, however, that it was the right time to go even if he admitted it was a decision not taken lightly: “I’ve enjoyed my career but now is the right time to move on.
“This is my 14th season of professional rugby. Obviously I did a few before I went to France and then did seven since I came back. I’ve done the 14 and maybe for me I’m not playing in all the big matches I would want to be playing in. I’m not saying it’s a reason but it is a contributing factor.
“I’m happy to go now when I’m still playing relatively well, I’d rather than go on a big sliding scale.”
Is retiring at 33 premature? “A couple of people have said that to me but I have played for those years and I think the big thing for me is that I don’t want to plod on for the sake of it either. I’ve got what I wanted out of rugby and I would like to think I offered a lot here too.”
He will look back on plenty of highlights, not least his first game back in 1998.
“Yeah, my first game would be a highlight, but the two Heineken Cup wins were huge features. Also, I suppose, I’d have to pick out games in adversity like the Miracle Match [against Gloucester], the sort of games when we had our backs to the wall but came out on top.”
As he prepares to leave, O’Driscoll says the province is in pretty decent shape.
“Obviously we have been disappointing in Europe the last two seasons but we have built a good squad. We have good second rows coming through and you know there is still Donncha O’Callaghan and Donnacha Ryan, Paulie, then [Ian] Nagle and [Dave] Foley, you’ve got Billy Holland and Brian Hayes in there as well. There are plenty of second rows there, so I won’t be missed.”
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