World of Boxing and Rugby Union
Lock
6. Paul O'Connell
Munster fans will tell you that Superman wears Paul O’Connell pyjamas. The Irish lock certainly has special rugby powers having been one of the world’s leading tight forwards for more than a decade. A three-times Lions who captained the tour of New Zealand in 2005.
Second-row Paul O'Connell is Munster through and through and holds the honour of having skippered the British & Irish Lions during their Test series with South Africa in 2009.
Born and bred in Limerick, second row O'Connell was an accomplished swimmer in his youth but opted for rugby and progressed through the Munster ranks to their first team. O'Connell made his Test debut with a try against Wales in 2002 and by the time he toured with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand in 2005 he was being hailed as a new Martin Johnson.
On the club scene, Munster won the 2006 Heineken Cup. In November 2006 he was the only northern hemisphere nominee for IRB player of the year (won by Richard McCaw). For Ireland, having scooped the Triple Crown in 2006, another followed in 2007, with O'Connell named Man of the Match in the 43-13 thrashing of England at Croke Park.
He steered Munster to Heineken Cup glory in 2008 but greater success would follow in 2009 when he played a key role in Ireland's historic Six Nations Grand Slam triumph. His performances were
rewarded with the captaincy of the 2009 British & Irish Lions for their tour to South Africa - becoming the 10th Irishman to lead the elite tourists.
O'Connell led the Lions in all three Tests in South Africa. On returning from South Africa.
After being named in Declan Kidney's 30 man squad for the World Cup, O'Connell showed signs of being back to his imperial best with a storming performance against the Wallabies in Auckland. In December of that year, with Brian O'Driscoll ruled out with a shoulder problem, O'Connell was confirmed as Ireland skipper for the 2012 Six Nations.
O'Connell missed the entirety of the 2013 Six Nations, but a barnstorming, man-of-the-match display as Munster overpowered Harlequins in the Heineken Cup semi-finals showed that he was still the man for the big occasion. He showed enough class through an injury strewn year for Warren Gatland to call O'Connell up for the tour to Australia, the third time O'Connell had been given the honour of touring with the Lions. O'Connell started the Lions in strong form and played the opening test against the Wallabies but was injury ruled him out of the final two tests. However he remained in Australia to help motivate the squad to a test series victory over the Wallabies.
There is no doubt in my mind if weren't for his knee injuries that have kept him on the sidelines for long periods, this talismanic lock would have a CV better than some of the individuals ahead of him on this list.