O'Mahony: 'I've plenty of miles on the clock at the moment and with that brings experience'

Peter O’Mahony is very much his own man and Ireland boss Andy Farrell earlier this week said the Corkman had remained true to himself since he named him captain.

EXPERIENCE: For a player described this week as a “natural born leader”, it comes as a surprise to hear Peter O’Mahony to talk of an “immature version” of himself yet even captains have to grow. Pic: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

For a player described this week as a “natural born leader”, it comes as a surprise to hear Peter O’Mahony to talk of an “immature version” of himself yet even captains have to grow.

The 34-year-old will lead Ireland out against France at Stade Velodrome tonight, 11 years after being handed the Munster captaincy, a role he called time on before Christmas after just over a decade as his province’s inspirational leader. Yet listening to him yesterday following his first captain’s run media conference as permanent successor to Johnny Sexton and ahead of his 102nd Ireland cap, the veteran flanker painted a picture of himself as “different animal” now to the man he was when he succeeded Doug Howlett as Munster skipper in the summer of 2013.