Paul O’Connell plays it cool to the end

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell admits retiring in a blaze of glory after this autumn’s World Cup would be the natural way to bow out from his stellar rugby career but a recent conversation with AP McCoy is preventing him from making any premature announcements.

Thu, 30 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Simon Lewis

Iconic jump jockey McCoy dismounted for the last time at Sandown Park on Saturday to end a record-breaking career in the saddle. Yet McCoy’s decision to announce his intention to retire in early February turned the intervening period into something of an ordeal for the jockey. O’Connell knows McCoy through racehorse owner JP McManus, whose green and gold racing colours are taken from those of the rugby star’s local Limerick GAA club South Liberties and speaking with him confirmed for the former British and Irish Lions captain that he should wait until he was 100% certain of any decision to quit or play on beyond the 2015 World Cup.

“I have chatted to so many people about it and people have been talking about retiring at the top. And while I agree with them it is very hard to walk away when you’re enjoying it. I love training more than ever and I love being involved in the build-up to matches, with the coaches and trying to figure things out. I’m looking forward to pre-season already.

“The Six Nations went well for me, the body felt great. I’ve a small shoulder injury but it’s no big deal. I didn’t think 18 months ago, two years ago that I’d be in such a good place and that’s probably what’s delaying me pulling the trigger on a decision. It’s a hard one. The day you 100% say ‘this is exactly what I’m going to do’ you’re kind of stuck with that. I met AP McCoy a few weeks ago and he said he was kind of punishing himself, he made a decision and he’s making himself stay with it. I thought it was a strange thing to say and I don’t want to do that to myself yet until I’m 100% sure what I’m doing.”

O’Connell drew comparisons between McCoy’s position and that of former Test team-mate Brian O’Driscoll, the Munster’s man’s predecessor as national team captain.

“It seems to be a huge wrench for (McCoy),” he said. “I envy the position Brian was in – he was 100% in no doubt it was the right thing to do. I think he kind of kicked on and went for another year. I spoke to him recently and he doesn’t regret that in the slightest. That’s the advice he gave me, if you are in doubt, he had no regret about going another year. Look, it’s not a bad position to be in, to be playing well and for people eager for you to play on.”