“The scooters. I can picture you on a scooter, Donncha O’Callaghan wrapped around you like Roman Holiday.”
Andrew Trimble and Donncha O’Callaghan often dreaded heading into team meetings if Ireland had been beaten on the previous weekend.
“Declan Kidney was the coach,” Trimble recalled, “and myself and Donncha had this thing where if we got beat, it was either my fault or his fault and one of us got dropped. We’d be going into the next team selection meeting and we’d be saying, ‘It’s either you or me. Fingers crossed!’.”
On the latest episode of Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby (from 20:00 below) Trimble told co-host Jenny Murphy about a memorable trip he and the Munster legend took to Rome in 2013. Given Ireland’s result that day, the two lads were the only ones from the squad to enjoy the weekend.
![](https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20111807/Kearney-BOD.jpg)
During the 2013 Six Nations, Ireland’s title push imploded after an impressive start in Cardiff. England and Scotland defeated them and France scored a late Louis Picamoles try to snatch a draw in Dublin.
For the trip to Italy, in the final round, Kidney famously axed Ronan O’Gara and would later rue the call when Johnny Sexton was withdrawn from the matchday 23 with a foot injury. Trimble takes up the tale:
“On that occasion [before the Italy game] both of us got the blame so we were both chopped and were both 24th and 25th men going to Italy. And we were like, ‘Listen, not ideal but stuff it. Let’s have a bit of a city break, the two of us’.
“We’re like, ‘Listen, we’re going to Rome for a few days and we haven’t got that much responsibility now. We’ve got to go on the sessions, meetings and stuff but we may as well have a good time’.
“So we did the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, went out for coffees, went out for pizzas, ice cream. So, after the captain’s practice on the Friday, we went and did an open-top bus tour. And we were driving around Rome and then we went past a few of the lads who were sitting and having coffees, or whatever. And we were like, ‘Good luck at the weekend fellas! All the best!’“
One can just picture the scene, with Trimble and O’Callaghan saluting their coffee-drinking teammates as the tour bus trundled by. Donncha with his big map unfolded and his camera clicking away.
“We had the time of our lives,” Trimble recalled. “Not a care in the world.”
Ireland could have done with both men on match day at Stadio Olimpico as they lost Luke Marshall, Keith Earls and sub Luke Fitzgerald to injury before 30 minutes had passed. Brian O’Driscoll was one of three Irish players yellow carded and Peter O’Mahony ended up on the wing.
“Needless to say,” Trimble continued, “Italy played really good that day and Ireland were crap. The Azzurri won 22-15 and ended up finishing 4th (one ahead of Ireland) in the final table.
“Myself and Donncha were like, ‘For once, this is not our fault’.”
Trimble did get to play Italy in 2014 and 2016, scoring tries in both victories, as Ireland went on a winning run against their Guinness Six Nations opponents that is currently at eight.
WATCH THAT HOUSE OF RUGBY EPISODE HERE:
WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?
RELATED ARTICLES
![“Personally, I’ll defend our nation because I don’t think it is arrogance” – Lindsay Peat](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/03/arrogant-scaled.jpg?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“Personally, I’ll defend our nation because I don’t think it is arrogance” – Lindsay Peat](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/03/arrogant-scaled.jpg?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![England told to stop “chirping on” and put their money where their mouth is](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/02/ENG-1.jpg?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![England told to stop “chirping on” and put their money where their mouth is](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/02/ENG-1.jpg?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Andy Farrell should avoid the tempting option for Jack Crowley against Wales](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/02/14094745/CROWLEY.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Andy Farrell should avoid the tempting option for Jack Crowley against Wales](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/02/14094745/CROWLEY.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
MORE FROM Sports Joe
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Wales’ Warren Gatland ‘asking to be sacked’ as Cory Hill selected as captain](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1449997787.jpg?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Wales’ Warren Gatland ‘asking to be sacked’ as Cory Hill selected as captain](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1449997787.jpg?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Two France international rugby players arrested for sexual assault](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161353104-scaled.jpg?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Two France international rugby players arrested for sexual assault](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161353104-scaled.jpg?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![France international suspended over racist comment](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/france-rugby.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![France international suspended over racist comment](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/france-rugby.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Dan Sheehan set for lengthy spell on sidelines after discovering extent of injury](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/dan-sheehan.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Dan Sheehan set for lengthy spell on sidelines after discovering extent of injury](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/dan-sheehan.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Caelan Doris says there is “a lot of frustration” in the Ireland camp after loss to South Africa](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/doris-hey.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Caelan Doris says there is “a lot of frustration” in the Ireland camp after loss to South Africa](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/doris-hey.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![When are Irish athletes competing at the Olympics? Event details, times and more](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/ire.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![When are Irish athletes competing at the Olympics? Event details, times and more](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/ire.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 81](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Quiz-Feature-Image-17.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 81](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Quiz-Feature-Image-17.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
MORE FROM Sports Joe
![Politicians criticise ‘thugs’ after sectarian graffiti appears ahead of All-Ireland final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-sectarianism.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Politicians criticise ‘thugs’ after sectarian graffiti appears ahead of All-Ireland final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-sectarianism.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Roy Keane delighted after finally answering question about Ireland legend in quiz](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-ireland.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Roy Keane delighted after finally answering question about Ireland legend in quiz](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-ireland.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Orange Order want to hold Armagh parade in Nationalist area during All-Ireland Final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-orangemen.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Orange Order want to hold Armagh parade in Nationalist area during All-Ireland Final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-orangemen.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Quiz: Name every county to have won an All-Ireland football final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/gaa-final.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Quiz: Name every county to have won an All-Ireland football final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/gaa-final.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![‘He told me no.’ – GAA legend reveals he asked Roy Keane for a selfie at hurling final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-1.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![‘He told me no.’ – GAA legend reveals he asked Roy Keane for a selfie at hurling final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-1.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)