The Irish sporting world has been queuing up to pay tribute to Paul O’Connell after he called time on his career earlier on Tuesday.
But it’s not just in Ireland who are sorry to see Big Paulie go. England head coach Eddie Jones and back rower James Haskell are the latest to speak about what a great player and leader O’Connell has been throughout his career.
O’Connell scored the final try of his career against England in a Rugby World Cup warm up last autumn.
The former Munster man’s tournament was cut short when he tore his hamstring against France in what turned out to be his final game for Ireland.
Jones, who took charge of his first game as England head coach on Saturday, says the success of Munster and Ireland over the past decade is testament to O’Connell’s greatness.
“You just look at the success of the teams he’s played, Munster and Ireland, in over the last eight to 10 years to see what an impact he made.
“He’s been the centre of their success, which really says what a great player he has been.
“He was a tough, uncompromising leader. He was centre of the lineout, he could run a lineout, contest a lineout and he was brutal around the paddock.
“The game will miss him. Munster and Ireland will miss him. But I’m sure he’ll retire with good memories.”
England back row Haskell recalled the battles he had with O’Connell on the pitch, where the two didn’t always see eye to eye.
“I played against him many times,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of shared opinions from time to time but I have the upmost respect for him.
“The amazing thing about the World Cup was that all those Kiwis got to go out the way they wanted, on a high.
“He hasn’t had that but he has had an amazing career and will go down as an Irish legend.”
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