Brian O'Driscoll career winding down thread

[GunsGerms]

First topic message reminder :

So far in the six nations he has been pretty good without being spectacular but has in my opinion once again justified selection and shown what he can offer. In case there was any doubt here are some of his highlights clips from the six nations so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddOhXr64wUs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Obviously BOD divides opinion. Some say he is over the hill and should have retired years ago some appreciate what he still offers to the teams he plays for. Whichever camp you fall into, the game v Italy will be his last game in the oldest rugby stadium in the world and he will become the most capped player of all time with 140 test caps so post your tributes here.

and a nice tribute on the road to Landsdowne here:

tribute:

BODs injuries over the years:

Injuries:

Awards:

Awards:

O'Driscoll's Predator boots:

Boots:

On his boots:
A&S - Amy and Sadie, his wife and daughter
Leinster - province
Ad astra - to the stars his club UCDs motto.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

It's a fruitless albeit entertaining exercise coming up with the best player in a position.

I get the feeling from Irish fans that there's just as much relief as there is regret that BOD's career is coming to a close and that relief comes out of respect for the man. Much like is the case occurring with Richie McCaw for NZ. You don't want to see a player go but much like life in general, we all know our number's up at some stage and we can't go on forever. But what can become immortal is the legacy a player leaves behind on the field and BOD has earned the right to have that legacy. And that's what every player aspires to do but only what very few actually achieve.

[rodders]

O'Driscoll is 35 so to play with the intensity he did v England is pretty impressive. He outplayed his opposite number in all three games he has played so far. What more can you ask?

A hat trick against France would be nice.....

[GunsGerms]

Yeah well its very rare that any player scores more than two tries in a six nations match never mind v France. Ashton in 2011 was probably the last player to do it?

[fa0019]

Tbh, fa I would rate O'Driscoll higher because its harder to stand out in test rugby in the way he did if you're not an All Black or Springbok- Fourie and Smith have spent their career in sides that have had better coaches and been surrounded with better players and not stood out like BOD did from 2000 to 2007 so it cuts both ways of course. I'd argue the opposite- to stand out in a lesser team is a real achievement.

Understand where you are coming from re. caps though  

Yeah its difficult... certain players suit certain teams more, their style etc. Fourie thrives with the boks direct running and wave attacks, put him in Ireland's side and I don't think he could do the same as BOD.... but I don't think BOD could do as well as Fourie with the boks set up. Just one of those things really.

[fa0019]

Yeah well its very rare that any player scores more than two tries in a six nations match never mind v France. Ashton in 2011 was probably the last player to do it?

Think Cuthbert scored 2 vs. England last year?

[GunsGerms]

Yeah well its very rare that any player scores more than two tries in a six nations match never mind v France. Ashton in 2011 was probably the last player to do it?

Think Cuthbert scored 2 vs. England last year?

I said more than two. Campagnaro for Italy scored two tries v Wales this year.

[fa0019]

Yeah well its very rare that any player scores more than two tries in a six nations match never mind v France. Ashton in 2011 was probably the last player to do it?

Think Cuthbert scored 2 vs. England last year?

I said more than two. Campagnaro for Italy scored two tries v Wales this year.

I see. the consequences of skim reading.

Yeah I don't think too many hat tricks have been scored..... Probably a few against Italy in the beginning. Henderson, O'Driscoll from the top of my head not against Italy.

[GunsGerms]

Haha. Nice to know you skim read my posts Fa.

[Cyril]

Yeah well its very rare that any player scores more than two tries in a six nations match never mind v France. Ashton in 2011 was probably the last player to do it?

Think Cuthbert scored 2 vs. England last year?

I said more than two. Campagnaro for Italy scored two tries v Wales this year.

I see. the consequences of skim reading.

Yeah I don't think too many hat tricks have been scored..... Probably a few against Italy in the beginning. Henderson, O'Driscoll from the top of my head not against Italy.

Greenwood got a hat-trick against Wales in 2001 but they haven't happened often (except v Italy - Healey got 3 vs them in 2001).

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Ben Smith in first test against Australia last year. Scored two in the following.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Not 6N I know but the most recent.

[GunsGerms]

Not 6N I know but the most recent.

That was some year for Ben Smith. I would have given the world player of the year award to him.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Probably could've gone to him if he had stayed on the wing.

140 games for BOD: incredible longevity in the game considering how much rugby he plays and how he throws himself about like a loosie in the backline.

Last home game for him as I was reminded in this article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/9802634/Record-for-O-Driscoll-at-Lansdowne-Road

Hope it's a memorable one for him and he scores a try.

[profitius]

I think he has 47 tries in international rugby. An incredible record considering the way Ireland has played and the talent ( lack of) around him.

[aucklandlaurie]

And there are some that say that the way to judge a centre is not by the number of tries he scores, but the number of tries his outsides score.

[asoreleftshoulder]

 And there are some that say that the way to judge a centre is not by the number of tries he scores, but the number of tries his outsides score.

Really,that's the first time I've heard that and imo it'd be pretty dumb to judge a player on either criteria.You have to take his entire skill set into account.

[Sgt_Pooly]

BOD has looked a yard of the pace this year imo.

The problem is there's no real contender to replace him because none have been blooded.

I've seen stated he's outplayed all of his opposite numbers this season, that's incorrect.

[Golden]

 And there are some that say that the way to judge a centre is not by the number of tries he scores, but the number of tries his outsides score.

Set up two tries so far

[Golden]

3 now.

[TJ]

BOD has looked a yard of the pace this year imo.

The problem is there's no real contender to replace him because none have been blooded.

I've seen stated he's outplayed all of his opposite numbers this season, that's incorrect.

Really? Who has outplayed him?

[Sgt_Pooly]

I personally thought Burrell did.

The majority of publications have them as equal which is fair enough, BOD certainly didn't out play Burrell.

[Engine#4]

BOD has looked a yard of the pace this year imo.

The problem is there's no real contender to replace him because none have been blooded.

I've seen stated he's outplayed all of his opposite numbers this season, that's incorrect.

Season? No. Six Nations? I reckon so and a glance at the stats seems to back it up in as much as you can read into stats. Naturally you might disagree

[TJ]

I personally thought Burrell did.

The majority of publications have them as equal which is fair enough, BOD certainly didn't out play Burrell.

Stats.

Burrell 2 passes 5 runs 39 m 2 defenders beaten no clean breaks no offloads 10 tackles 3 missed made one turnover given away no points

BOD 2 kicks 12 passes 11 runs 50 m 4 defenders beaten 1 clean break 3 tackles made 3 missed 1 offload no tunovers given away no points.

Offensivly BOD wins hands down.  Defensivly Burrell.  

BOD clearly more involved in the game and created more

http://www.espn.co.uk/six-nations-2014/rugby/match/180672.html

[Sgt_Pooly]

I personally thought Burrell did.

The majority of publications have them as equal which is fair enough, BOD certainly didn't out play Burrell.

Stats.

Burrell 2 passes 5 runs 39 m 2 defenders beaten no clean breaks no offloads 10 tackles 3 missed made one turnover given away no points

BOD 2 kicks 12 passes 11 runs 50 m 4 defenders beaten 1 clean break 3 tackles made 3 missed 1 offload no tunovers given away no points.

Offensivly BOD wins hands down.  Defensivly Burrell.  

BOD clearly more involved in the game and created more

http://www.espn.co.uk/six-nations-2014/rugby/match/180672.html

Yet nearly every report I read had Burrell & BOD at equal ratings.

Stats aren't massively different, BOD shades them but when you watch the game there's little between the two.

As I said, BOD certainly didn't outplay Burrell.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Also doesn't show BOD failed offloads which cost his team in key attacking positions, he made quite a few errors against England.

[The Great Aukster]

It's personally great that O'Driscoll is retiring as the best outside centre the world of rugby has ever seen and even now at the very end of his career would still make the team of the tournament.

[rodders]

Seconded Aukster - has this been posted elsewhere? :-

http://www.joe.ie/rugby/six-nations/video-beautiful-tribute-to-bod-from-the-kids-at-temple-street/

[SecretFly]

Sick kids are so.................... it's so difficult to see them in that environment. Makes everything else so small and pointless. You just have the passionate wish that you could make it all better for them.

They showed some of that on RTE. I hope every one of them recovers and leaves hospital healthy and happy

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