As a former Eire famous person now guiding a brand new era of English rugby expertise at London Irish, Sean O’Brien is greater than certified to have his say on Saturday’s crunch Six Nations battle.
O’Brien doesn’t disappoint together with his views. ‘England ought to look to repeat the Irish system,’ says the now 35-year-old. ‘I do assume they may assist themselves by centrally contracting gamers – possibly two or three from every membership – particularly with the wage cap coming down.
‘England are nonetheless just a little bit misplaced by way of the way in which they need to play. Is it expansive? Is it direct? Eire are enjoying a pleasant model of rugby and shall be coming over absolutely eager to go after England this weekend. I think it received’t be an important day on the workplace for England.’
Sean O’Brien is now guiding a brand new era of English rugby expertise at London Irish
And what of Irish, the Gallagher Premiership darkish horses now fifth within the pile and mounting a play-off cost no-one noticed coming? ‘This may very well be a mega, mega membership and may very well be one of the best within the Premiership,’ O’Brien provides.
It has been just a little beneath three years since O’Brien final performed Take a look at rugby. Accidents greater than performed their half ultimately of his worldwide profession, however he’s nonetheless producing the products with Irish.
‘Watching worldwide matches not too long ago has made me realise I’m not at that stage anymore,’ says O’Brien. ‘With the depth and physicality of Take a look at rugby now I could be good for 15 or 20 minutes!
‘However that ship has lengthy since sailed. I’m content material sitting on the sofa watching Eire with a beer.’
O’Brien received three of his seven conferences with England. After greater than a decade of trophy-laden success with Leinster and Eire, he has now discovered himself a brand new house with Irish the place he’s working with England hopefuls Ollie Hassell-Collins, Tom Pearson and Will Goodrick-Clarke. All three have been members of Eddie Jones’ 2022 Six Nations squad.
‘The system in Eire is sweet and so they take excellent care of you, however there are different alternatives on the market. Enjoying in England has opened my eyes to that,’ O’Brien says.
‘I believe Irish gamers coming by ought to come over and expertise the Premiership and a membership like London Irish. It’s a troublesome league, an important place to reside, and an important expertise.
He’s nonetheless enjoying for London Irish, who’re sat fifth within the Gallagher Premiership this season
‘Once I was 20, I used to be very locked on to simply staying in Eire. If I used to be to return now, I wouldn’t be.
‘Having central management of the provinces positively helps the Irish system. Centrally contracting England gamers would unencumber lots of finance for the Premiership golf equipment.
‘I don’t know if it will ever occur due to the connection between the RFU and the golf equipment, however it will maintain England’s finest gamers in England and assist them dictate what number of video games their finest gamers play.’
Eire will arrive at Twickenham this weekend as the largest problem for Jones’ facet this 12 months to this point.
Since taking on from Joe Schmidt following the 2019 World Cup, former England assistant Andy Farrell has not solely guided the lads in inexperienced to a well-known win over New Zealand, but in addition developed his staff’s attacking recreation. It’s going to take a near-perfect efficiency from Jones’ facet to beat them.
‘Eire are enjoying a greater model of rugby than they’ve ever performed,’ says O’Brien, who labored with Farrell when he was Schmidt’s Eire assistant and with the British & Irish Lions in each 2013 and 2017.
‘It’s a Leinster-style of rugby, however with an offloading recreation. They’ve choices in every single place.
‘Hopefully by the point the subsequent World Cup comes round they’ll be in a extremely good place as a result of that’s the stumbling block Eire have come throughout in the previous couple of years. I believe that’s the trick.
On the identical day his countrymen face the English, O’Brien shall be in Premiership motion
‘If Eire had been to remain as they’re now proper up till the subsequent World Cup, they’ll most likely be in hassle once more. It’s about coming to a World Cup with one thing groups haven’t seen earlier than. At earlier World Cups, groups had us found out after we obtained there and we didn’t produce other choices.
‘Andy is a superb motivator and driver of requirements. He’s a enjoyable man. By all accounts the atmosphere is loads higher now and extra gratifying. There’s much less stress for the gamers.
‘Joe was an important coach, however he put lots of stress on individuals. If you’d go into camp, you’d almost be half afraid of not understanding your element.’
So, would Farrell be a sensible choice as successor to Jones as England boss? The Australian is predicted to go away on the finish of subsequent 12 months’s World Cup in France. ‘Sure, I believe so,’ O’Brien says.
‘It’s very laborious to teach at worldwide stage and Andy is doing an important job. It might go well with him down the road when he’s completed with Eire.’
With Farrell on the helm, Eire not look constrained by Schmidt’s straitjacket. They appear rejuvenated by the licence Farrell has given them to play and so they pushed Grand Slam-chasing France laborious in Paris.
England should win this weekend to maintain their hopes of beating Les Bleus to the tile on the ultimate weekend alive. O’Brien solely sees one consequence and predicts a nine-point Eire win.
On the identical day his countrymen will do battle with the English, O’Brien shall be in Premiership motion for Irish at leaders Leicester.
It has been just a little beneath three years since O’Brien final performed Take a look at rugby having represented Eire and the Lions
He’s a key determine for a facet guided by former Eire Grand Slam-winning coach Declan Kidney and has embraced life in England by teaching at Rosslyn Park. In his spare time, O’Brien – who comes from farming inventory in Eire – likes to shoot.
‘With the calibre that’s in our squad, lots of the lads anticipate to be successful. Everyone seems to be having fun with it and we play a pleasant model of rugby at Irish. We’ve improved immensely,’ O’Brien says.
‘It’s most likely taken three years to get to the place we are actually, however not at all are we the completed article. The way in which a few of our people have been enjoying, they’ve deserved England calls.
‘I genuinely don’t know the way lengthy I’ve obtained left. I nonetheless really feel match and really feel I’ve obtained loads to supply.
‘If the youthful gamers need to work on various things, then I’m very happy to do this. I’m additionally very happy to provide them a bollocking or inform them one thing wasn’t ok.
‘It’s nothing private, however drives the atmosphere and particular person to get higher. ‘We’ll see how my physique is on the finish of the season. If Deccie desires to provide me a brand new five-year contract subsequent week then we’ll take it from there!’
