Paul O’Connell reveals logic behind calling time on Ireland career

Paul O’Connell has explained that there was no option but to call time on his Ireland career in order to afford himself the best possible opportunity of making his post-World Cup switch from Munster to Toulon a success.

The Ireland captain spoke about his reasoning behind the move at yesterday’s unveiling of Ireland’s new Canterbury jersey, which will be the last he wears when he lines out at the upcoming global tournament in England.

After that he will move on, literally and metaphorically, to France.

For two years he felt sure that the World Cup would be his swansong as a player, only for an article in a French newspaper linking him with Pau and a subsequent chat with former Lions and current Toulon S&C coach Paul Stridgeon kickstarting a change of heart.

Still, his first response was to turn Toulon down after some time spent mulling it over Christmas. That was when the sense of regret kicked in and further contact from Toulon explaining they were close to signing another second row prompted a rethink. His sense of loyalty precluded any contract talks while Munster’s season was still ongoing, but he made it clear his interest was reawakened and a trip to the south of France two weeks after the PRO12 final loss to Glasgow Warriors ultimately resulted in him putting pen to paper.

So, though he made a point yesterday of thanking Munster and the IRFU for their decision to release him a year early from his contract, he was emphatic when knocking back the suggestion that he would be a handy man for Joe Schmidt to have on speed dial come the Six Nations.

Giving his all for his new employers will, therefore, be the be all and end all once he makes the move and it was instructive when O’Connell made particular mention of Jonathan Sexton’s workload this past two seasons in serving both Ireland and Racing Metro.

The Top 14 is a brutish environment, not least for veteran forwards, though Toulon have a good track record in rotating their gilded squad and thus ensuring their stars are not unduly overburdened as is the case elsewhere.

“It has been discussed,” said O’Connell of his likely workload with the three-time European champions. “I don’t have anything in my contract around getting every second week off. They’ve a very big squad. They look after their older players very well. Chatting to (former Clermont Auvergne and Scotland second row) Nathan Hines, the thing he said that helped him play on was retiring from international rugby. Those autumn windows and Six Nations windows you get a chance rest up and recover.”

So, that’s that, then. O’Connell sought counsel near and far. Toulon manager Tom Whitford delivered an impressive sales pitch, Sexton was cornered for advice and titbits of information, while his wife Emily was keen to take the plunge of immersing their family in a new way of life.

So, too, was the man himself.

“I spoke to Johnny from time to time,” said O’Connell, who will join Toulon after the World Cup and a few weeks holidays that have yet to be agreed upon.

“He certainly enjoyed France, but there were parts that he found really tough as well. I’m sure it’ll be the same with me. When you’re in an environment for so long you’re kind of institutionalised into doing things one way and you will struggle with certain aspects of it, but that’s part of the challenge that I’m looking forward to. It’s (about) trying to learn that and get outside my comfort zone.”

He will pitch up in France as the man who drove Ireland to back-to-back Six Nations titles — and who knows what in the World Cup? — and one who has won a string of individual awards for his performances with club and country this past two years. That form hasn’t surprised him, though his fortunes have.

“I’m surprised at how I’m on such an injury-free run. It hasn’t always been like that. When you go on that injury-free run it allows you to retain form a bit more. You look at the likes of Jamie Heaslip who is very rarely injured — it’s a big part of his consistency. You get fitter and fitter, sharper and sharper, and my career was always interrupted with operations and various things like that, so you begin to gather form and then you’re out for a period and you’re back to square one. For me being pretty injury free has been great.”

His mind is clear, his body is playing ball and his form is too. Paul O’Connell has cleared the stage for his Ireland exit.