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Rugby

18th Mar 2017

WATCH: Ireland starlet Tommy O’Brien is the greatest hit machine since The Vengaboys

Tackles like a train

Mikey Stafford

Win some, lose some, but whatever you do, leave it all out on the field.

Whether he plays at outside centre or on the wing, that is exactly what Tommy O’Brien does.

We have been to both Ireland’s Electric Ireland Under-20s Six Nations Home Games and, whether it was a win over France or Friday’s gut-wrenching defeat to England, we came away with one abiding thought…

We never want to be tackled by Leinster and UCD starlet O’Brien.

Three weeks ago the 19-year-old put in an astonishing tackle on France’s William Iraguha during the course of a man of the match display in Donnybrook.

He was at it again on Friday as Nigel Carolan’s men went down gallantly to England on a cold, blustery night in Dublin 4 when the visitors racked up two Grand Slams – the English women making it a double after the Under-20s had gone down 14-10.

Before we show you this chartbuster of a hit, let us assure you that Randall recovered sufficiently to win man of the match.

Which is really remarkable, when you consider O’Brien hit him with the energy of a thousand suns.

As impressive as that hit was, the best part of the whole period of play is the speed with which O’Brien picks himself off the deck to support his team-mates as they forced England’s Zach Mercer into touch.

This lad just loves tackling.

Electric Ireland are proud sponsors of the Ireland Under-20s Rugby Six Nations Championship Home Games.