If it comes to pass that Peter O’Mahony’s last appearance wearing the green of Ireland coincided with St Patrick’s weekend’s Six Nations crowning, it was indeed a fitting farewell. Alongside O’Mahony, Iain Henderson, Conor Murray, and Cian Healy all share the honour of being five-time champions of the tournament, yet this victory had the additional honour of O’Mahony leading as captain.
The records highlight that O’Mahony has been in the starting line-up for all except three of the 25 matches of the Six Nations that resulted in championships in 2014/15 as well as this year and the Grand Slams of 2018 and the previous year. The Italy matches in 2014, this year, and when he was introduced as a substitute against the Azzurri last year were the exceptions.
With the URC trophy won with Munster concluding the last season, the 34-year-old’s career’s twilight years have been rewarding indeed. “I’d say this was likely the most remarkable. The nerves beforehand were some of the most severe that I remember and discussions with the lads showed we all felt the same, which was comforting. This day unquestionably ranks at the top end of career highs for me, if not the very top,” he declared.
O’Mahony also stood with Tadhg Furlong, who had lost his father within the year. “It was a touching reflection for him and his family, given what he’s gone through of late,” he added. When probed about whether this might be his last outing for Ireland, O’Mahony deferred, stating that he had yet to make a decision and needed to confer with his loved ones. “I’m not going to announce anything just yet. We’ll be discussing this next week. But, I am still revelling in it and relish these moments, they are undeniably the best in the world.”, he responded.
“We need to have a genuine and realistic discussion, and if my previous performance was my last, it was a commendable exit. If so, I can retire my jersey with a sense of pride. This is a conversation I am set to have soon”, said the player. Andy Farrell, the team-mate seated next to him, voiced his opinion saying, “What would be best for him”, expressing that he had always held an admiration for Pete throughout his career. They share a candid relationship and have discussed the end of Pete’s career frequently over the past year.
Farrell added, “We are realists and I am certain we will delve into a deeper discussion about this in the coming days.” The coach of the team exuded confidence about the potential growth of his team and believed that the campaign was outstanding for the team. However, he was aware of the inevitable changes in the team dynamics due to variations in the team members, staff turnovers, injuries, and so forth.
Despite a narrow loss to England the previous week, which thwarted their chance for consecutive titles and Grand Slams, Farrell expressed that he believes the defeat was a beneficial experience for the team. Many players have become accustomed to winning, and this loss could jolt them into the reality of the game. He expressed that there is never a guarantee of victory in the Six Nations as things could change any week.
The defeat against England in the previous week’s Test match was a stark reminder of this fact, but Farrell believes the team will learn from their mistakes, and this will only strengthen their approach for the future matches.
“He commented, ‘This was a true Test match. Scotland boasts a strong team. I saw their perseverance, their resilience, and I think our game was highly commendable. Our second-half start was outstanding. The energy, the speed we injected into the match, were all exceptional, though we didn’t score. But that’s part of the game.
“The Scots played a significant role in this. It was the sort of Test match where the stakes were high with trophies to be won. The upcoming fortnight will be insightful for us.” Farrell explained.
Eventually, Irish resistance was broken by a smart, short-range penalty, when Ronan Kelleher cunningly pulled back the ball to Andrew Porter, who finished decisively.
“Who’s set that play up?” Farrell rhetorically questioned, “We prepared well didn’t we? We iterated three different plays right before the five metres line, one of them new. We hadn’t employed any so far and were practising consistently to perfect them.”
At this point, O’Mahony interjected, “But we totally messed up one.”
Farrell laughingly concurred, “Yes, we indeed botched one at yesterday’s captain’s run.”
He added, “We had the situation under control as the initial play was direct; the second one had a bit of finesse with Andrew Porter charging from the inside which did us good. However, we still have a play left.”
For O’Mahony, reflecting on this momentous day brings immense joy. On expressing what representing his country meant to him, he said with passion, “It is everything.”
“I’ve mentioned this to players and the press often. Being chosen to play for your country is an honour that demands deep respect,” he explained.
He continued, “It had been a challenging week. We didn’t want to lose the previous week but knew we had to rebound stronger.
“With the Championship at stake and playing on home turf; it was a crucial match for us, and we felt the pressure, the intensity. It was a significant day for us,” he concluded.
“It’s difficult as it holds such a unique significance. Indeed, I must admit, it’s a scarce occurrence. I had a conversation with Willie Bennett, our long-serving masseur, who is bidding us farewell. He has dedicated 35 years of his life to the Irish team. For a significant part of that time, and similarly a part of my own career, we were not in contention for Championships. The final games were of no real consequence.
Winning a Championship of this kind is something we never underestimate. Our performance today was a testament to this, we certainly did not overlook its importance. It was a genuine Test match and uniquely memorable day.”