Peter O'Mahony delivers yet another brutal dig during South Africa win

Saturday, 05 November 2022 at 22:08

byRugby Rucker

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.

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☘️ 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐎'𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 Not a position we see Peter O'Mahony in too often. #IREvRSA

6:26 PM · Nov 5, 2022

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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.”

HRH Prince Harry shares a laugh with Kieran Read of New Zealand - Photo mandatory by-line: Gareth Davies/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 31/10/2015 - SPORT - RUGBY UNION - RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 FINAL - New Zealand v Australia - Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London, England.

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

#2. Richie McCaw

Age: 41
Position: Flanker
Caps: 148

O'Mahony said: One of my heroes. I feel very privileged to have played against him. The All Blacks have never replaced him."

Richie McCaw facts:

McCaw's great-great-grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from the Scottish Borders in 1893. As tribute to his roots, the legendary All Black has learned how to play the bagpipes
He has won the World Rugby player of the year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020
McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021
It was revealed at his retirement announcement in 2015 that McCaw would work at Christchurch Helicopters, where he is a Director and Shareholder, and was obtaining a commercial helicopter licence
In December 2011, then Prime Minister John Key revealed that he had asked McCaw about the possibility of a knighthood in the 2012 New Year Honours, but that McCaw had turned it down

#1. Jerry Collins

Age: Passed away 5 June 2015 (aged 34)
Position: Flanker
Caps: 48

O'Mahony said: “In games, I remember for some reason that Ospreys team when I first started off. They had a back-row of Jerry Collins, [Filo] Tiatia and Marty Holah would have been playing in the back-row as well. I was only probably just out of my teens. It was a nasty enough back-row to be coming up against. Collins was a viscous bas***rd but a real gentleman off the pitch."

Jerry Collins facts:

Collins was a cousin of former All Blacks captain and Hurricanes teammate Tana Umaga
He played as a flanker and number eight, and was considered to be one of the hardest tacklers in rugby history, along with Brian Lima
Collins was born in Samoa but grew up in his beloved hometown of Porirua

Amazing story:

n October 2007, following New Zealand's exit from the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Collins was vacationing in Devon when he was spotted by Barnstaple head coach Kevin Squire who invited him to watch the team play a match at the weekend. Much to the club's surprise Collins turned up so they asked if he minded running a coaching session with the junior section. After doing this Kevin Squire thanked Collins and asked if there was anything they could do to repay him, to which Collins replied he just wanted to play rugby. So the following Saturday Collins turned out for the club's 2nd XV match against local side Newton Abbot. In a match a few weeks later for the Barbarians he wore the Barnstaple socks.