Undoubtedly the most talented player this country has ever produced, Brian O’Driscoll has never shirked the hard stuff either…
The Leinster and Ireland legend will, sadly, be hanging up his boots for good before the end of next month and while everyone will remember the tries, the flicks, the tricks and the numerous examples of ingenious skill, rugby fans will also remember O’Driscoll the warrior, the man who regularly put his body on the line for the sake of the cause.
Here are six of the most memorable examples of him doing just that…
Tackle on Tony Marsh, Ireland v France, Rugby World Cup 2003
As if the pace and desire to haul Marsh down before the try-line wasn’t impressive enough, O’Driscoll also managed to snaffle the ball from his opponent, turn over possession and keep Les Bleus at bay… for another few minutes at least.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkEaBSmxjT8
Tackle on Denis Hurley, Leinster v Munster, 2009
Denis Hurley thought he could spot an opening through the Leinster midfield on the counter-attack. Denis Hurley was wrong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3KFQ6Lkl6M
Tackle on Danie Rossouw, Lions v South Africa, 2009
O’Driscoll didn’t manage to wrap his hands around the giant Springbok lock so this tackle wasn’t exactly street legal, but to see Rossouw, all six foot six and 18 stone of him, stumble around as if he had been hit with a tranquiliser dart just illustrated the force BOD had hit him with. Yikes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCVCXiVecl4
Tackle whilst injured, Leinster v Munster, 2011
Having been completely blindsided by Marcus Horan during a Leinster attack moments earlier, O’Driscoll was still receiving treatment when he managed to briefly get up off his feet and make what proved to be a crucial tackle in stopping a dangerous-looking Munster counter-attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onA7LCk_T3o
Tackle on Rocky Elsom, Ireland v Australia, 2011
O’Driscoll’s former Leinster colleague Rocky Elsom was galloping towards Ireland’s posts in their meeting with the Wallabies in 2011, until his old mucker stopped him in his tracks with an ankle-tap that Peter Stringer would’ve been proud of.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbxb3SP6Mlk
Saving a certain Kieran Read try, Ireland v New Zealand, 2012
Keith Earls did most of the hard work here, but were it not for the presence of O’Driscoll, Read would have got in for another of the tries that the All-Blacks seemingly can’t stop scoring whenever they come up against Ireland… or any other opposition for that matter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfaPJQLi28M
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