Peter O’Mahony was back to his brutal best as he played a starring role in Ireland’s 19-16 win against South Africa in Dublin.
The flanker hit the headlines during the summer for his burning one-liner to then All Blacks captain Sam Cane.
“Who do you think you are? You’re a shit Richie McCaw pal,” O’Mahony is reported to have told the Chiefs’ veteran.
And O’Mahony was up to his old tricks again in Dublin today, constantly looking on the brink of a total meltdown yet somehow being in complete control of what was going on.
He was spotted constantly in the ear of former World Player of the Year Pieter Steph du Toit at every scrum.
One fan wrote: “Did O’Mahony just say “F*** off Goldilocks” to du Toit there?”
“Peter O’Mahony absolutely bossing the mind games with the South Africans and he is just laughing at them,” wrote a second.
A third added: “Peter O’Mahony can’t help but try to start a fight,”
“I would be willing to pay a large amount of money to have the NFL/NBA-style ‘Player Mic’ on Peter O’Mahony for the duration of an 80 minute Test match. The subtle digs, continual bite and chat would be incredible,” commented a fourth.
Irish hard-man Peter O’Mahony ranks his three toughest opponents
Ireland hero Peter O’Mahony has recalled some of the toughest players he has come up against throughout his career.
The 32-year-old, who we included in our 2022 World XV, was a star performer as Ireland recorded a historic first away series win in New Zealand this summer.
Interestingly, his trio of toughest ever opponents, which you can see below, all played for the All Blacks.
This interview was done prior to the 2022 tour.
PETER O’MAHONY: TOUGHEST OPPONENTS:
#3. Kieran Read
- Age: 36
- Position: Number 8
- Caps: 128
A totem of the modern day All Blacks side.
O’Mahony said: “Read was probably the most skilful I’ve come up against whether it was backs or forwards – he’d be well up there as well.”
Kieran Read facts:
- He was Head Boy of the 2000-student Rosehill College, as well as Sportsman of the Year and Sports All-rounder of the Year
- Read was a talented cricketer, representing Northern District age-group teams and being selected for the New Zealand Under-17 tournament side in 200
- He is one of the most-capped players of all time, and the forth-most-capped All Black in history, having played 128 tests, scoring 26 international tries
- In the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Read was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby
- He was the IRB Player of the Year in 2013 and a key member of New Zealand’s 2011 and 2015 World Cup-winning teams