Peter O’Mahony: Through Ireland teammates’ eyes
CENTURION: Peter O’Mahony and Craig Casey during Ireland's captain's run at Stade de France in Paris. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
James Lowe: “He’s a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and he deserves all the praise he’s got this week, to play 100 caps for your country is obviously a huge achievement and the way he’s gone about his work is second to none.
“He’s grown into a very, very great leader and one of the best I’ve definitely come across. He’s emotional, he backs up his words with actions. You can think of many, many games that he’s been involved in where he’s had huge moments that have affected the outcome. He’s definitely the sort of guy that you hate to play against but love to have on your team."
Tadhg Beirne: “He wears his heart on his sleeve and is an incredible leader, an even better bloke, he's one of the most social guys around the place despite what people might think of him. He's always one of the last in the team room, having a cup of tea with the lads and chatting away.”
Iain Henderson: “Pete’s a massive leader for our group, not only in terms of rugby but in terms of what we stand for as players, the social side of things that we stand for, how well knitted together we are, he’s a massive part of that. Obviously I’m sure a lot of the cliches will come out now, but Peter rings true to most of them.
“He’s deserving of every minute of the jerseys he’s played in, and to this day, still nailing that down.. You can see in Faz’s selections. And how highly Faz speaks of him, I think that all rings true to the type of person he is. And long may that continue.”
Tadhg Beirne: “Incredibly impressed by him. My first experiences of him were in Munster and going over there I'd only really seen him in an Irish jersey and what he'd done for Munster. To see how he led the squad at Munster, the training, the effort he put through it. He's hugely liked within this group and it speaks volumes of the man he is. I'm very excited and delighted I get to share the pitch with such a momentous occasion for him.”
Johnny Sexton: “Obviously a leader in the group, very different to some of the leaders. He knows the dressing room, he's such a huge part of it. I don't think you guys get to see the real Peter O'Mahony. He gives very little away when he sits up here, one-word answers, but he's the life and soul of the dressing room behind closed doors and it's a privilege to play with him all the time. We'll be playing for him as much as we are for ourselves on Saturday.”
Josh van der Flier: “It’s unbelievable to be able to play with someone like Pete. I would have looked up to him a huge amount when I was growing up.
“That makes you sound very old, when I was growing up, but when I was in the academy and trying to get in and play with Leinster, Pete was probably the last person you wanted to come up against.
“He drives incredible standards and he’s such a leader and plays with such passion, always comes up with big moments, so he was always the last person you wanted to see on the pitch opposite you.
“Getting to play with him with Ireland, he brings such leadership, always shows up when he needs to and I think as well as that, he’s a great bloke.
“He’s a great man to have around the changing room. He just adds so much to the group and I think there isn’t a single person in the squad who wouldn’t be absolutely thrilled to see him getting his 100th cap and hopefully celebrating it with a win.”
Henderson: “The Haggard Badger, I think we’ve been calling him? I’m not 100 per cent sure where that came from….”
Lowe: “It’s very fitting if you ask me because, like I said, the first time I met him I thought he was more of a haggard badger than what I think of him now. He’s a grumpy old man in his age but, like I said, he’s someone you want on your team.”
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