Joe Schmidt revealed on Saturday that Paul O'Connell lead the team throughout the week after the disappointment of losing the Grand Slam in Cardiff in the penultimate week. O'Connell was a man on a mission last Saturday, scoring a captain's try for Ireland in the 4th minute of the victory over Scotland.
This isn't something that surprises O'Connell's former teammate and friend Alan Quinlan. Quinlan has been in that position. Sitting in changing rooms and team meetings listening and watching O'Connell take control.
I’ve sat there as he’s gone around the squad looking fellas in the eye and telling them that we made a heap of mistakes last week and now it’s all about how we turn it around.
O'Connell asks questions of everyone. He questions player's attitudes and commitments. He questions the actions of staff and management. But no one in the squad is ever offended. He inspires rather than insults.
What are you going to do on Saturday? How are you going to react? What does this mean to you? Why are you here? What do you want to achieve? Who are you playing for?
Quinlan says that each player would really think about it, and an increased focus brings the team to the matchday. Quinlan has seen O'Connell set ground rules within the squad for the week, making sure everyone was on the same page.
The point with Paul O’Connell is that he never asks these questions just of those around him or those in front of him in a team room. His implication is always that he is asking those questions of himself. That’s how you lead.
O'Connell was always like that. He may not have lead the entire squad, but his actions and work ethic inspired those even when he was new to the Munster set-up. Quinlan gives us a glimpse into that O'Connell. That young O'Connell whose work ethic almost scared the proven players into working harder.
There are stories of O'Connell lead extra fitness sessions on days off, and despite the aching after a hard week, the players would always come in.
Paul loved pain. You learned to love it too.
The young O'Connell was an intense individual. Quinlan has seen him mellow through his career, as he realised that other players aren't capable of emulating his superhuman abilities. While now O'Connell can appreciate that different players prepare for games in different ways, before he demanded complete focus in the changing room.
There's an example that Quinlan gives where players were listening to music, while others were getting rid of nervous energy by taking the piss. Paulie was not a fan.
He was getting narky and telling everyone they had to get their game faces on and their headphones off.
It's a testament to O'Connell that he's been able to evolve and see that players aren't like the immortal that he is.
