VIDEO: Ireland team pay tribute to ‘living legend’ Paul O’Connell

Paul O’Connell’s ears will be burning from all the praise heaped on him by his teammates in a video released today.

The Ireland camp and fans are still coming to terms with our quarter-final exit from the Rugby World Cup, but that doesn’t take from the respect due to our retiring captain.

His fellow players sat down for a chat about the Limerick legend’s influence and had only good things to say.

Fellow Munster man Simon Zebo called him “the best Irish rugby player that’s ever been”, while Dave Kilcoyne said he was “a living legend”.

“If you’re a young lad growing up, you’d learn a lot by looking at him and his approach to the game,” Rory Best said.

Darren Cave and Tommy Bowe said it was “a pleasure to play alongside a player as good as him” and added “players go out to play for him”.

Although, teammates being teammates, they also got a few sneaky digs in.

“He’s not as intimidating as people think he is, he’s a big child a heart,” Keith Earls said. “He played with my father, that’s how old he is!”

Kilcoyne added, “He’s constantly trying to fit in with the younger lads in the squad and he’s been failing now for the past year or two”.

Hmmm, dunno would you have the nerve to say that to his face Dave!