Archive for October, 2011
O’Driscoll: I’m not retiring
Posted by: | CommentsIreland centre Brian O’Driscoll insists he has no plans to retire from international rugby after Ireland tumbled out of the World Cup at the hands of Wales earlier this month. O’Driscoll, who has won 123 caps, captained the side that came undone against Wales at the Quarter Final stage while also wearing the armband in Ireland’s shock victory over Australia in the pool stage, and despite the disappointment of their early exit insists he has no plans to hang up his boots just yet.
“People are very quick to write individuals off. If you still feel fit and up to a certain standard that you have set yourself then why not play on?” the 32-year-old told the Irish Times.
“It is about either the body or the mind giving up. If both of them are working, as far as you are concerned, there is no reason to pay heed to what people are writing in their columns. The decision is left to you.”
The British and Irish Lions player is generally considered, even by those more interested in finding the best casinos, as one of the finest players in the modern game and is the leading try scorer in 6 Nations history, but believes that he can follow the lead of countryman David Humphreys, who played well into his thirties at the highest level.
“David Humphreys played until he was 36 and at a similar standard to where he was at in his early 20s. Part of it is about proving your critics wrong,” O’Driscoll commented.
“That your time isn’t up. When I was written off before I managed to do that and if I am written off again I will try my best to come back if I feel I still have it in me.
“In five, 10 years time after your career anyone under 15 doesn’t have a clue who you are. That’s the reality of it. A new generation comes through that has heard your name maybe but that’s it.
“Golden generation stuff is great and all but it is not golden generation to the sub 15-year-olds.”
O’Driscoll admits that he has thought about life after rugby when the time does come to step away from playing, and believes his future does lay in the sport, and refused to rule out following the likes of Martin Johnson from the pitch to the head coach’s seat.
“Rugby is going to be a big component in my life in the future in some shape or form. Whether it be as a supporter or involved in the Irupa committee or whatever branches you could find yourself involved in.” he explained.
“Never say never (about coaching). I don’t know. It is a difficult one to see. It is not something that is causing me sleepless nights at the moment. It is something that I will fall into if it is meant to be.”
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
O’Driscoll: I’m not retiring
Related posts:
RFU chief backs Johnson
Posted by: | CommentsActing RFU chief executive Martyn Thomas has backed England head coach Martin Johnson to keep his job after a disastrous World Cup campaign that ended with defeat at the hands of France in the Quarter Finals.
England were dogged by off the field incidents during the tournament, and courted media coverage following a drunken night out in Queenstown and a complaint from a hotel staff member against James Haskell, Chris Ashton and Dylan Hartley, who were accused of inappropriate behaviour and subsequently reprimanded by Johnson.
Johnson’s contract with the RFU is up at the end of the year and has yet to even declare an interest in continuing on with the job, but Thomas believes the criticism that the 2003 World Cup winning captain who hung up his Rugby Boots soon after has come in for unfair and that he could still carry on in the role.
“He was never ever set a deadline (in declaring an interest in the job), it was merely an informal situation, as and when you’ve made a decision as to whether you wish to carry on or not, let us know,” Thomas told Radio Five Live.
“I’ve not actually spoken to him since he left New Zealand but I have left him a message on his phone.
“He’s had a torrid World Cup, a lot of it not of his making. I’ve always expressed confidence in Martin. I believed he was the right appointment. I accept the fact he didn’t have the coaching experience, but it was about getting a man in who could manage the process, who understood the process and would appoint the right coaches. I will wait and see what the review says. That’s my position.” He added.
Thomas is leading a review of England’s disastrous World Cup campaign along with numerous other investigations into what went wrong in New Zealand. Since England’s exit after defeat against France calls have been made for the return of Clive Woodward, who guided England to glory in 2003, but Thomas insists he has made no contact with Woodward over the possibility of taking up the role.
“The media have said I wanted to bring Clive Woodward back to Twickenham.” He commented.
“That is not my position, and it has never been my position. What I have said is that we should openly advertise and we should interview people. If at the end of the interview process Clive Woodward is the right man because he ticks the boxes for the interview panel, they believe him the right man, then he should be appointed.
“If that panel interviews him and decides he’s not the right man he should not be appointed.”
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
RFU chief backs Johnson
Related posts: