In Pics: Paul O’Connell – Aviva Stadium Memories

Paul O’Connell is set to play his final home match for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday. We look back at the Ireland captain’s long association with the Lansdowne Road venue and some of his most memorable moments in action.

Will you be there to see Paul O’Connell play his final home game for Ireland? Tickets are still available for Ireland v Wales in the GUINNESS Summer Series – click here to buy.

Click here to view some of the best images of Paul in action at the old Lansdowne Road and in more recent years, the Aviva Stadium.

O’CONNELL’S AVIVA STADIUM NUMBERS –

32 Tests Played, 28 Starts & 24 Wins (75% Win Ratio)

4 Tries Scored (3 v Wales) & 11 Tests As Captain

7 Successive Wins On 2 Occasions (v Wales, Aug 2003-v England, Feb 2005; v Wales, Feb 2014-v Scotland, Aug 2015 (current))

O’CONNELL’S IRELAND RECORD AT AVIVA STADIUM –

Won v Wales, February 3, 2002 (1 try)
Won v Italy, March 23, 2002 (RP)
Lost v England, March 30, 2003 (RP)
Won v Wales, August 16, 2003 (2 tries)
Won v Wales, February 22, 2004
Won v Scotland, March 27, 2004 (Triple Crown)
Won v South Africa, November 13, 2004
Won v USA, November 20, 2004
Won v Argentina, November 27, 2004
Won v England, February 27, 2005
Lost v France, March 12, 2005
Won v Italy, February 4, 2006
Won v Scotland, March 11, 2006
Won v South Africa, November 11, 2006
Won v Australia, November 19, 2006
Won v Pacific Islanders, November 26, 2006 (1 try)
Lost v France, February 13, 2011
Won v England, March 19, 2011
Lost v France, August 20, 2011
Lost v England, August 27, 2011
Lost v Wales, February 5, 2012
Won v Italy, February 25, 2012
Won v Samoa, November 9, 2013 (RP)
Lost v Australia, November 16, 2013
Lost v New Zealand, November 24, 2013
Won v Wales, February 8, 2014
Won v Italy, March 8, 2014
Won v South Africa, November 8, 2014
Won v Australia, November 22, 2014
Won v France, February 14, 2015
Won v England, March 1, 2015
Won v Scotland, August 15, 2015 (RP)

O’CONNELL’S AVIVA STADIUM MILESTONES –

– Scored a try on his Ireland debut against Wales during the 2002 Six Nations. At 22 years and 106 days, he is the second youngest second row to touch down for Ireland. Kerryman David O’Loughlin (21 years and 228 days), who was capped in the late 1930s, is the youngest

– Famously scored the last ever international try at the old Lansdowne Road, as Ireland ended their 2006 November campaign with a 61-17 victory over the Pacific Islanders

– Has beaten seven of the world’s leading nations at the Aviva Stadium over the past 21 months, including southern Hemisphere visitors South Africa and Australia. He was man-of-the-match against the Wallabies last November

– Wales have played a big part in O’Connell’s Ireland career. He made his Test debut and scored his first try against Wales, added two more tries in the sides’ August 2003 meeting, won his 100th Ireland cap against Wales earlier this year and will make his final home appearance for Ireland against the Welsh this weekend

– On Saturday, he is set to become the oldest second row capped by Ireland at 35 years and 313 days, beating the record of the great Moss Keane (35 years and 220 days)