Ireland star celebrates 100th cap in same city where coach died in team hotel
Peter O’Mahony says winning his 100th Ireland cap in the city where Munster legend Anthony Foley so tragically died makes it extra emotional.
The former Lions captain becomes the 10th Irishman to reach three figures when he lines up for tomorrow's World Cup showdown with Scotland.
He does so in Paris where seven years ago this month he awoke to the devastating news that Foley, coach of the Munster side he was skippering, had been found dead in the team hotel at the age of 42.
The passing of ‘Axel’, as he was known, devastated Irish rugby and particularly the southern province home to both he and O’Mahony.
"Myself and Johnny [Sexton] had a conversation on the way to the South African game," revealed the 34-year-old flanker. "About how it is weird to be in Paris and to think about Axel and what happened.
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"It certainly is an incredibly sad memory, particularly for that Munster team who were in Paris that week. Axel is somebody who is in my head on a very regular basis and when you come to Paris he certainly comes to mind. I’ve got the fondest memories."
Dan Sheehan returns to Ireland starting line-up (Peter Morrison/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Ireland coach Andy Farrell hailed O’Mahony as “selfless” when naming him to face Scotland in a match vital to both side’s prospects of qualification. His side includes Iain Henderson and Dan Sheehan, preferred to James Ryan and Ronan Kelleher respectively, but Robbie Henshaw is sidelined for a fortnight by a hamstring injury sustained in training.
South Africa top the pool on 15 points having completed their four games, with Ireland second on 14 and Scotland third on 10. The Scots will likely have to beat the world number one side by eight points to qualify.
However, should they win by 21 and secure a try bonus point, with Ireland also picking up a bonus for scoring four tries or more, the Boks would be out by virtue of having lost to the Irish.
Munsters legend Anthony Foley died in 2016 at the age of 42 (PA)Ireland are intent on leaving nothing to chance and providing a night to remember for O'Mahony who, unsurprisingly, just wants to get on with the game.
"There's 10 people who have got 100 caps for Ireland and it's almost a little bit embarrassing with the names that are ahead of me to be honest," he said. "People I grew up following and supporting, hugely inspirational characters. I'm trying to keep the emotions at bay.
"To be the 10th, it's going to take some time to settle in. It's nothing I ever expected or dreamed of. We all talk about having dreams but that one was way off the radar to be honest."
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell (Matthieu Mirville/DPPI/REX/Shutterstock)Ireland are only too aware of the threat posed by Finn Russell and his team, which includes Ali Price at scrum-half after Gregor Townsend chose him ahead of Ben White.
Sexton has no hesitation in billing it as a “knockout” game while O'Mahony says he will move heaven and earth to ensure his 100th is not the high point of the Irish campaign.
"I’m hoping there are going to be bigger moments in my career than this one," he said. "And hopefully in the near future."
Your chance to get England & Scotland 2023 Guinness Six Nations tickets
Ireland: Keenan; M Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Beirne, Henderson; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Murray, Crowley, McCloskey
Scotland: Kinghorn; Graham. Jones, Tuipulotu, van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie (capt), Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Nel, Cummings, M Fagerson, Crosbie, Horne, Smith.
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