Advertisement
How will Ireland manage in the autumn and the 6 Nations without Sean O'Brien? Dan Sheridan/INPHO
with or without you

Small comforts: Ireland's record without Sean O'Brien is actually not that bad

He will be a big loss, but Ireland have coped with his absence since 2012.

IRELAND AND LEINSTER’S seasons were dealt a big blow today with the news that Sean O’Brien will be out for 5-6 months with a shoulder injury. And while fans of both teams will be mourning the loss of the Tullow Tank, Ireland’s record without the Carlow Cannonball actually hasn’t been that bad in the last two years.

Since the 60-0 defeat to the All Blacks in the summer of 2012, Ireland have played in eight games when Sean O’Brien has made an appearance (seven starts and one substitute appearance):

2013

NZ (L) 22 – 24

AUS (L) 15 – 32

SAM sub (W) 40 – 9 TRY

Italy (L) 15 – 22  

France (D) 13 – 13

Scotland (L) 8 – 12

England (L) 6 – 12

Wales (W) 30 – 22

Record with O’Brien: P8 W2 D1 L5

When Sean O’Brien has been absent since the summer of 2012, Ireland have played nine games:

 

2012

SA (L) 12 – 16

Arg (W) 46 -24

2013

USA (W) 15 – 12

Canada (W) 40 – 14 

2014

Scotland (W) 28-6

Wales (W) 26-3

England (L) 13-10

Italy (W) 46-7

France (W) 22-20

Record without O’Brien: P9 W7 L2

There are a lot of factors that can explain the discrepancy in Ireland’s win ratio with/without O’Brien; mainly the malaise that had set in towards the end of the Kidney era coupled with the bump in performance that Joe Schmidt brought.

A fully fit O’Brien would obviously make it into the Ireland XV but at least this shows that a pack shorn of his ball carrying ability can not only compete, but also win trophies.

-Reporting by Sean Farrell

The schools rugby aficionado and the young gun: 8 fans you’ll run into at Leinster vs Munster

‘It’s a dark enough place’ – Kearney feels for O’Brien after latest injury blow

Your Voice
Readers Comments
9
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.