One of the greatest ever figures in Irish sport turns 36 today and, in no particular order, we’ve come up with 36 reasons to celebrate the occasion from his remarkable career to date.
1. THAT hat-trick against France, 1999
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWr9Oz-cnzI
2. 133 caps for Ireland
The most capped Irish player of all time.
3. Try on his Lions test debut v Australia, 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaDz4rGMdVM
4. 4 Lions Tours
1 tour as captain, 18 appearances, 9 tries, 45 points.
5. The ability to withstand this knee in the head from Paul O’Connell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj5CZQG8DUc
6. Himself and Paulie having a laugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONQZ_MSBLnM
7. Great tap tackle on Rocky Elsom, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbxb3SP6Mlk
8. Pass to himself v Ulster, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvnexjWJYg
9. 245 points for Ireland
Sixth in the all-time list... behind five out-halves.
10. 46 tries for Ireland
Leading Irish try-scorer of all time, with 17 more than his nearest challenger, Denis Hickie (Tommy Bowe is creeping up fast on 28).
11. Unbelievable piece of skill and no-look pass in training on the Lions Tour, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWCuODjCXCE
12. 33 tries in the Heineken Cup
Second in the all-time list behind Ireland’s bête noire Vincent Clerc.
13. Celebrating a Heineken Cup success with one of his biggest fans
14. 186 appearances for Leinster
Sixth in the all-time list behind Gordon D’Arcy (248), Leo Cullen (219), Shane Horgan (203), Shane Jennings (201) and Jamie Heaslip (196).
15. 61 tries for Leinster
Second in the all-time list behind Shane Horgan (69).
16. Comeback try v Cardiff Blues, Heineken Cup quarter-final 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT35orm5-SE
17. Knowing that tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpLd-Vi8qZA
18. Crucial try v Wales in the Grand Slam game, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNeXZcrrROY
19. Drop-goal v Leicester, Heineken Cup Final, 2009
20. Shuddering tackle on Danie Roussouw, Lions Tour, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCVCXiVecl4
21. Amazing pick-up and try v All-Blacks, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GShXOh2a27k
22. Dressing up as Kiss for the Leinster Christmas party in 2013
23. Through the legs pass v Munster, Heineken Cup semi-final, 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMmhz0zQ7jY
24. Through the legs pass v Samoa, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZueOoqiCMEs
25. Through the legs pass v Northampton, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRPN9no0lxE
26. Sublime pass for Simon Zebo’s try v Wales, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5umGrR1jQnw
27. Double chip try v Wasps, Heineken Cup 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5UGFTLJ6-Y
28. Brilliant tackle and steal on Tony Marsh, Rugby World Cup, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkEaBSmxjT8
29. Crunching tackle on Denis Hurley, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3KFQ6Lkl6M
30. Intercept try v Munster, Heineken Cup Final, 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb_ujX_hFuw
31. Reaction to being dropped for the final test of the 2013 Lions Tour
"It wasn't exactly as I would have liked it scripted but you don't write your own scripts. Otherwise you'd be scoring hat-tricks every week.
"The main thing is we won the tour. One man's disappointment counts for nothing when there is a squad full of guys who are very, very happy to have won themselves a Lions series.
“This squad will always be remembered in Lions folklore as one of the tours that matches 1997, and 1989, and 1974 – 13 is now a number that will be remembered."
Class.
32. Consistently taking the piss out of Sean O'Brien
33. RTE's tribute to arguably the best Irish sportsman of all time on the occasion of his 100th Irish cap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfEBgPcHypg
34. His reaction to shouts for him to give it another year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhnaNOvmn0
35. His classy tweet after his last ever game for Ireland in Paris
Phew! Worked out ok! Thanks for all the messages of support. Unreal feeling. Not easy taking this off for last time pic.twitter.com/Sq89BdLOnw
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) March 15, 2014
36. His seamless transition to the world of rugby punditry
Tom’s hair will be higher than the hurdles! A joke about Tom Stanley’s hair and Constitution Hill turned into one of the standout moments from the latest episode of The Paddock. The new season of the horse racing podcast is now under way, and during a chat about how sport is changing online, Oli Bell, […]
We’ve a big weekend ahead. The Paddock podcast panel have landed their Paddock Picks for this weekend’s big racing. A new season of The Paddock is now under way, with host Oli Bell joined by fellow racing broadcasters Rishi Persad, Nick Luck, Tom Stanley, and special guests for weekly episodes packed with tips, talking points […]
Breaking news Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made his first statement after his controversial remarks about the state of immigration in the UK. Sir Jim, founder of the INEOS chemicals group and part-owner of Manchester United, stated that Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges. “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on […]
