Distracted: Brian O'Driscoll
Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll has admitted to losing his focus in the game against England following the birth of his daughter.
O'Driscoll became a father for the first time on the morning of the match with England and put in a subdued performance in Dublin, which the former Lions captain put down to his mind being elsewhere following the morning's events.
"I don't even remember a lot of the game and I was in my own world for much of the time," said O'Driscoll to The Daily Telegraph.
"It was the sort of match that needed a bit of leadership from me but which I wasn't quite able to deliver as I usually would have hoped to have done. It was all quite bizarre. I didn't make any great errors but I didn't add a huge amount either. It was a day of extremes."
"I saw Amy's name flash up and I knew we were under way. She was unbelievably calm, a lot more so than I was. I rushed to the hospital, Sadie was born [by caesarean section], we all had an hour together and then I had to pack a bag and go to play rugby.
"It was very weird. The management had given me until 1.15pm. I was back at the hotel about midday. I didn't want to talk to anyone but I had to wolf down my food to refuel in time for kick-off.
"I was playing a game of that importance and yet, in an instant, my whole perspective had changed. This most wonderful thing had happened. Everything else paled into insignificance.
"Any loss to England is a sore one, but right after the game my mind switched back over to my wife and newborn daughter.
"I went straight there and didn't give the game another thought. At about 11 that night I met up with [former Ireland team-mates] Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie for a couple of beers to mark the occasion. It had been an unbelievable day, a draining day but the most amazing day imaginable.
"That was the greatest achievement of my life. Rugby has been and is important. But it's eclipsed at every level by a long way when you have a child. Games will come and go but some things are here to stay. It dominates your life. I would have thought a lot about rugby matters at this time of year. Now I don't have time to think about rugby at all. That's no bad thing, perhaps, with the results we've had over the last couple of weeks."
Comments
Rugby_rockstar says...
GOOD GRIEF!!!! A PLAYER TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LOSS!!!!! Doesn't he know that Declain Kidney is solely responsible for all of Ireland's problems???
To be fair to BOD, you'd expect nothing less from him but to hold his hand up, and I wish him and his young family all the very best. It couldn't happen to a more likable, kind gentleman.
Posted 12:55 27th February 2013
J_Hdk says...
Carpelone. ...daughter
Posted 12:51 27th February 2013
Jediboy says...
I'm not surprised his mind was elsewhere. I too was surprised he was playing. I can't help but feel that he shouldn't have been as he was never going to focus on the game after the birth of his child.
Congrats, and enjoy.
Posted 11:54 27th February 2013
melkdave says...
To be honest ,i was surprised BOD was even playing against England.The birth of a child is a momentous thing,it changes everything in your life.Espically your 1st as this was for BOD You have all that worry,followed by relief ,followed by befudalment Adrelaline surges ect ,its an emotional rollacoster,and totaly drains you .No way can you concentrate on playing a match or any kind of work for a day or two really,you just go though the motions.Followed by months of sleepless nights which turn you into a physical wreck.But i have to say its all worth it ,and once again CONGRATULATIONS to Mr and Mrs O;Driscol.
Posted 10:31 27th February 2013
pentwynfarm says...
Firstly, many congratulations to Brian, but please let's have no more talk of him as Lions captain, I don't think his mind would be on the job and reading between the lines he probably wouldn't want to go on the tour anyway. It sounds like mentally he's already made the break from rugby and is looking forward to retirement with his family, which is fine. Good luck to him.
Thanks for the memories BOD.
Posted 10:20 27th February 2013
carpelone says...
Congratulations, Brian.
You will see that your life will never be the same and in a positive way.
Sons make us much better persons.
Posted 09:59 27th February 2013