“You’re joking me!” – Peter O’Mahony incredulous after early World Cup accolade

Patrick McCarry

“It was a right wake up call for us.”

Peter O’Mahony turns 34 next Sunday but had plenty of gas in his tank to score two second half tries in 35-degree Bordeaux heat, this afternoon.

The Munster captain shifted from blindside to openside for Ireland’s 82-8 victory over Romania, and did a fine job in the role. He was awarded the official Man of the Match and delivered a few typically frank and funny post-match comments.

Peter O’Mahony speaks to Rob Vickerman after Ireland’s win. (RWC)

Peter O’Mahony on Ireland’s winning start

Ireland found themselves 5-0 behind after only two minutes when Romania ran in an excellent counter-attack try. They held Ireland to 19-8 up until the 33rd minute, but then conceded nine tries over the remaining 46 minutes as they wilted in the heat.

Former England Sevens star Rob Vickerman was on post-match interview duty and he gave fans an insight into that Peter O’Mahony mentality. As he discovered he had been named Man of the Match, O’Mahony told him, “You’re joking me! How have I won it!”

“Credit to Romania, you saw the way they rocked up in those first two or three minutes they put us under the sticks.” the Cork native said. “It was a right wake up call for us – welcome to World Cup 2023, do you know what I mean?”

“We put some phases together we were happy with,” he added. “We’ll certainly go back and have a look at the stuff we left out there – there was plenty of it. It was a pleasure coming out here today to those fans – it was off the wall stuff.”

"Credit to Romania, you see the way they rocked up. First two or three minutes they put us under the sticks. It was a right wake up call for us!"

Player of the Match Peter O'Mahony speaking after his two tries helped Ireland win 82-8 in their opening game. #IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/3rSUk8JEyf

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

Ref mic picks up Peter O’Mahony remark

Peter O’Mahony was modest as they come as Vickerman spoke of his “incredible effort”.

“It is very special. We all consider it an honour – I certainly do – to wear an Irish jersey. To do it at a World Cup is different again.”

O’Mahony, earlier in the game, had been picked up on the referee’s microphone after Jason Tomane of Romania had ploughed into Johnny Sexton, moments after he scored his first try.

Peter O'Mahony to Nika Amashukeli after Sexton was hit late following his try: "It's just fucking silly."

Amashukeli, conscious everyone's listening on the ref app: "Please don't use that language." #IREvROM

— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) September 9, 2023

If you listen closely, you can make out some of that exchange here:

𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐎𝐍! ☘️

Scores under the posts before half-time!

Bit of a sore hand for his troubles. #IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/dBh997bZHJ

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

Sexton was able to continue and played on until the 65th minute, scoring another try in the second half.