So many expeditions. The 100th cap is mere reminder of the plunging depths of service, the soaring peaks of achievement, so high they will never be repeated with true accuracy.
Another Goliath will eventually rise but there’s no more Paul O’Connells being made.
Alan Quinlan, when speaking of a career soldiering alongside his ageless leader, called him a controlled version of Roy Keane. It was the only peer Quinlan could imagine. Because really there are none.
Not before, nor again. Not like O’Connell.
Granted, not many of us met Tom Crean.
“Crikey,” was O’Connell’s typical reaction to the Keane comparison.
“Look, I’m very competitive. Suppose one of my big strengths, I can’t run over people or unlock defences with my foot work, but I’m very competitive. I enjoy being part of a team and driving them on, trying to make them successful. And trying to get the best out of people.
“I’ve always enjoyed a leadership role whether captain or not. That part of my personality is something that has featured in my rugby career. It’s never been a chore for me, never has, I still enjoy it.
“It’s probably one of the reasons I’m still playing.”
Being the man others follow hasn’t weighed too heavily upon his shoulders.
“At times, certainly, it does. When you have a group that’s quiet and there isn’t other leaders it can be a tough and lonely place. When you have a group with five, six, seven other guys eager to take the load and with opinions, driven individuals themselves, I wouldn’t say it is enjoyable but it’s a lot easier to do.”
O'Connell, probably not by accident, paired up with Jordi Murphy at the Millennium Stadium for today's Captain's Run. As a light drizzle peppered the grass, he found old wonder in the Blackrock backrow's gazing.
The 23-year-old has never played in this cavernous hall.
“I was jogging across the pitch with Jordi and he looked around and thought it was an incredible stadium straight away. A lot of us are very experienced, it’s very rare that you go to the grounds nowadays and the guy beside you hasn’t played there in some form or another.
“But it is an incredible stadium. Some great memories but some tough one’s as well.”
Remember the wind-milling O’Connell arms in 2009?
“Obviously the Grand Slam game. Towards the end I genuinely thought we’d lost it. I was over the moon when the kick came up short and we won it.”
Fuss diluted, on he moves to the latest expedition.
