Six Nations rugby: O’Connell wants to make an impression

If second row master and apprentice Mick Galwey and Paul O’Connell gel as well for Ireland as they so obviously do both on and off the pitch for Munster, then Wales had better beware.

O’Connell, in his first year on the Munster team at the age of 22, has been handed a surprise international debut for Sunday’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship opener against the Welsh at Lansdowne Road.

But the rookie could not be in safer hands than Galwey’s as he enters the passionate world of international rugby.

Sitting side by side at Ireland’s training base in the Wicklow mountains, O’Connell ignored the guffaws of laughter from his mentor and said of his captain: ‘‘He’s been very good to me.

‘‘He’s looked after me in different ways around the hotel, from people trying to set me up with tricks and jokes. I’ll be grand on the pitch, though.’’

Galwey had no hesitation in backing up that last statement and said: ‘‘Paul definitely doesn’t need looking after on the pitch.

‘‘He leads by example and he’s been a breath of fresh air for everyone this year.

‘‘This is his first season and he’s got on great. There’s plenty of competition in the Munster front row with the likes of John Langford, Mick O’Driscoll and Donnacha O’Callaghan and he’s managed to fight his way through.’’

O’Connell has been as surprised as everyone else by his rise from relative obscurity.

At the beginning of the season the Young Munster club man’s major ambition was to earn a contract with Irish provincial champions Munster.

But now the 6ft 6ins, 17-stone man mountain is towering above his rivals, having turned in a man-of-the-match performance in the Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Stade Francais in Paris.

He has jumped ahead of Ulster’s experienced lock Gary Longwell for the right to replace Malcolm O’Kelly in the Irish second row - but revealed: ‘‘I was surprised to be on the 22 initially - but when I heard I’d been picked I was absolutely delighted.

‘‘To get on the Munster team was my main ambition so after that everything else has been a bonus.

‘‘It’s unfortunate for Malcolm but it’s worked out for me luckily and now I’ve got my chance.’’

O’Connell is a fierce competitor in whichever sport he takes part in and has always set himself high standards.

‘‘When I do something I tend to take it very seriously and train hard at it,’’ he explained.

As a swimmer he was Irish national under-13 champion but added modestly and much to Galwey’s amusement: ‘‘But then under-13 Irish swimming isn’t that competitive.’’

O’Connell gave up rugby for two years at the age of 14 and took up golf instead but did not rate himself as a good golfer - despite a handicap of six.

He added: ‘‘I got it down to four but I hit a wall with it and lost interest because I wasn’t going to get any better!’’

For now, though, O’Connell has no plans on taking up another sport. ‘‘I think I’ll stick to rugby,’’ he said, which could be bad news for Wales - and Ireland’s other Six Nations rivals.