Sean O’Brien: ‘The more games I play, the better I get’

Sean O’Brien has endured a litany of injuries that would make a grown man cry but the Ireland flanker prefers to laugh off the run of bad luck that has crippled his career since a starring role for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2017.

Sean O’Brien: ‘The more games I play, the better I get’

Sean O’Brien has endured a litany of injuries that would make a grown man cry but the Ireland flanker prefers to laugh off the run of bad luck that has crippled his career since a starring role for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2017.

You name it, O’Brien has suffered it.

Shoulder, hip, and hamstring injuries have combined to keep the world-class forward away from the paddock in more recent times. Then he went and broke an arm against Argentina in November. Cue another two months in sporting purgatory.

It’s a medical history that meant some eyebrows were raised when it was revealed that he will join London Irish on a three-year deal after the World Cup. The attritional English Premiership season, after all, is closer to a workhouse than a rest home.

O’Brien doesn’t see that as an issue. “No, because when I get back fit I feel great and in good shape and everything.

“I’ve always said this as well, it’s always big things that break with me. If I break enough of them, they can’t break again hopefully,” he laughs.

“I don’t have mileage on the clock these past two years, that was a big part of it too.

“So, if I can get myself back battled-hardened again and match fit, my body’s in great shape otherwise. It’s about getting a run of games. At this level, getting back at this level, even playing 65 (minutes against Scotland) the last day, I felt pretty good after it even. So there was no doubt in my mind, if I’m fit I can stay at that level to compete and do well.”

O’Brien suggested two years ago that his career would be in jeopardy if he rushed back from the hamstring injury that ultimately saw him miss out on the historic defeat of New Zealand in Chicago but he harbours no worries about his physical wellbeing these days.

Game time is the one area in which he claims to be lacking and that is an obvious fix. He has already spoken to Declan Kidney about how he will be used once he joins the Exiles at the end of the year and he will be accepting no cotton wool or kid gloves when he lands.

“I’ll play every game if I can, if I’m fit,” says the 32-year-old, who is expected to feature again for Ireland against Italy this week.

“I won’t be managed, as such. He does know me well but that’s one thing I did say to him, that I wanted to play every game. I don’t want to be managed.

“The more games I play, the better I get. That’s always been the case throughout my career but we will see where we are at. Yeah, small little bits of conversation have happened like that but there has not been much detail on them.”

It was O’Brien who “pushed” for the third year on his new club deal, his reasoning being that he was giving up so much to make the move in the first place and that any impact he makes on arrival will be multiplied the longer he is around to contribute.

He’s clearly excited about the change but it is one that he admits was made all but inevitable by the IRFU’s failure to offer him a new central contract. Recent history suggests it will add up to the end of his time in national colours.

O’Brien admits that there were tears when he made a decision described as the toughest of his life but those shed seem to have been prompted by his impending departure from Leinster rather than any acceptance that his Test career will end in 2019.

Ian Madigan, Donnacha Ryan, and Simon Zebo all discovered just how fast the shutters can come down when you ply your trade abroad and, while O’Brien has not yet discussed this with Andy Farrell or the union, he harbours hope that the call will continue when he swaps Dublin for London.

“There have been no conversations like that had. It’s purely based on what I think. So that’s the current situation now. If you’re out of the country at the minute, obviously it’s a bit different, or if you’re not contracted to the World Cup, but thankfully I am.

“And you know, after that, when new management takes over, we’ll see where we are at then. But hopefully I’m in an environment where I’m playing well and I’m fit and I’m healthy. Hopefully you are always in with a shout.”

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

2015 Super Rugby: Cell C Sharks v Western Force Springboks legend John Smit says 'phenomenal' URC has proved doubters wrong
Joe McCarthy 25/3/2024 Cullen names raft of international returnees in side to face Bulls
Jake White during the warm-up 23/3/2024 Jake White: 'I'll keep coaching as long as I love it'
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited