In Conversation With

Donncah O’Callaghan,

“Well first of all it was a great win particularly after the beating we got in Castres the previous week. There was talk out there that maybe we were on the wane, we weren’t the side we once were so there was a few things for us to prove.

” The answer to the question most people asked – did we set out to get a bonus point – is no we didn’t. Beforehand and in the days leading up to the game, we just talked about getting the best out of ourselves, about improving on the display in France which really was pretty poor. We knew we were better than that and we wanted to make up for the diappointment of that day. Anthony Foley kept saying that if we could play the way we’re capable of, the result would look after itself and he was right.

“Early on we got a few rolling mauls going and we made headway so after that we sorta decided to keep it going that way.

“I think it was always going to be decided up front. In fairness they were a fairly big pack but we were never going to back off. I remeber the lads talking about the messing that went on during the international against Argentina but this time I experienced it first hand. It was tough stuff and maybe that’s why I ended up in the bin. I was really annoyed with myself for that because I knew whatever the reason, I’d let the lads down, I was going to be no use to them on the sideline. So after that I knew I had to behave myself. Mind you there was a load of provocation and a few of the boys had a pop. But we knew going out what it was going to be like and we had said we were going to look out for each other. With all the stuff that did happen I thought Rog (Ronan O’Gara) was unlucky to get binned but at that stage he was probably well off out of it.

“I was fairly sore afterwards but somehow or other it’s easier to take when you win. I didn’t hang around afterwards, met my Mum, had a bit of grub and headed home to Cork.

“I think I’ll remember the atmosphere in Thomond for a long time. It was unreal. The noise level, the way the crowd got stuck in was marvellous. Gave us a great lift”.