Categories: Supporters Club

Ask Paul: Paul O’Connell Answers Your Questions

Get the facts straight from the man himself. Ask Paul about the Rugby World Cup on IRFU mobile internet sites on O2.

Paul O’Connell answers your questions throughout the Rugby World Cup.

The Supporters Club will be bringing you extracts from Paul’s Q&A on a regular basis during the tournament.

Over to the Big Man:

Rosemary Brown: Do you have lucky underwear for each game and what type of rituals do you go through before a game?

POC: I suppose the only thing that I would consciously do would be to bless myself just before going on the pitch. I remember reading English rower Steve Redgrave’s autobiography and the realisation that the superstitions he had were holding him back. He realised that he didn’t need those emotional crutches and in some respects they were ready made excuses. Just because you’re not wearing a lucky pair of shorts doesn’t mean you can’t win. There are plenty of guys who are superstitious. For example Donncha O’Callaghan puts on a new pair of white socks under his rugby ones before each game.

Gary Disley: Excluding Irish players who would be your selection for a second row partner if you could chose from anyone in the world game. Secondly if there was an Wallaby, an All Black and a Springbok and you only had enough money to but one of them a pint who would it be?

POC: The answer to the first part of the question would be the South African second row Victor Matfield. He is a brilliant athlete. He performs the basics of the position superbly but is also a huge contributor in general play because he’s a fine footballer; very mobile with great hands. As to the second part, I’d probably buy them all a soft drink if the money would stretch that far.

For the full ‘Ask Paul’ sign up to IRFU mobile internet sites on O2