Europes best second row could easily flourish in the south of France, writes former Munster player Paul Warwick.
Paul O’Connell is a giant of a man, on and off the pitch.
He is just as good a person as he is a rugby player. Given how good he has been for Munster and Ireland over the years, it is the biggest compliment I could give him.
Having confirmed that he is likely to finish up with Munster after the Guinness PRO12 final, on Saturday, he will leave a big hole in their squad. If he does hang it up, I would expect Anthony Foley to get him involved in the Munster coaching set-up.
Saying that, he could still keep playing for another year or two. Physically, he is in great shape. He always has been. Mentally, I don’t know. Only Paul can answer the question about playing on, for Toulon, or not. In the Six Nations, and with Munster this season, he has proved he is the best second row in Europe.
Toulon are definitely interested and it would be a new challenge for O’Connell. Although it will be good, money will not be the driving force if he does move. He would be playing with the best team in the world, week-in, week-out.
There is talk about him being a one-man club and what a move would do to his legacy. I don’t buy into that. No player has given more to the club than O’Connell. Munster have had so many good players over the years but he is a different class. If he were to move, it would not tarnish him in any way.
He deserves to be in this spot – where he can choose if he wants to join Toulon – after all he has given to the sport.
‘Go to the well’
I first met him, as an opponent [with Connacht] in 2004. He was committed as ever, back then, but he has since developed an all-round game – ball carries, poaches, support play – rather than just being that line-out technician.
When I joined Munster, in 2007, I got to see, first hand, what he brought to the team. There are too many great games and too many moments of sheer commitment to single one or two out.
There is the famous ‘manic aggression’ video [Ireland versus England] in which he was quite passionate. The O’Connell I recall was a composed leader. He was never flustered.
He had that punch-up with Jamie Cudmore, in 2008, was more a case of O’Connell defending himself. He would always step up for his teammates, to the Nnth degree.
What I will always remember, though, are his speeches.
‘Today we have to go to the well.’
It was his catchphrase. He only used it four or five times in the four seasons I was there. You knew, when he said it, that a big performance was really required.
Munster were a different team when he played. No-one ever wanted to let him down.
As for his final game with Munster, they will not have much fear of Glasgow Warriors.
They should have Peter O’Mahony for it but it is not looking so good for Conor Murray [knee] or Simon Zebo [concussion]. Glasgow have looked extremely vulnerable against Ulster on the past two weeks and have yet to win a league.
This is where the cup-winning experience of O’Connell may prove crucial.
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