For years Brian O'Driscoll has been considered the greatest Irish rugby player ever, with names such as Jackie Kyle, Mike Gibson, Paul O'Connell, and Keith Wood vying for second.
In the last number of years, Johnny Sexton has emerged as a true threat to O'Driscoll's crown, given his trophy cabinet, his elite status in world rugby for over a decade, and his sheer importance to the team in what is often the most pivotal and difficult position on the pitch.
Remaining coy and humble on his opinion of Ireland's best ever, BOD did admit that a World Cup win for captain Sexton and his Irish side would probably give him the title.
It’s none of my business what people think of me or Johnny. Those conversations will always go on, some people will say Paul O’Connell, people will say Mike Gibson, some people will say Jackie Kyle.
But I suppose, based on what Johnny has achieved so far and if he was to go and win a World Cup, it would be pretty difficult to argue with him - what he’s brought to Irish rugby, the impact that he’s had on the sides involved - as the greatest.
So we’ll have to wait and see what, what comes later in the year. But irrespective of that, Johnny is one of Ireland’s true greats, no doubt.
Brian O'Driscoll vs Johnny Sexton
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One of the most pertinent debates in the Irish rugby discourse revolves around Ireland's centre partnership, and which two among the four of Ringrose, Henshaw, McCloskey, and Aki, is the best.
Despite Henshaw and Aki showing their worth in the summer - in what is the longest running partnership - and McCloskey bringing a different and incredibly valuable set of skills, O'Driscoll was firm in his belief that, when fit, Ringrose and Henshaw are Ireland's best.
"When everyone is fully fit, fully fit deck, it’s still Robbie and Gary. But the great thing about this Ireland squad now is that, you know, Bundee has had very few poor games for Ireland.
"Anytime he’s come in he’s delivered. Maybe against Italy two weeks ago he wasn’t at his best, but then playing out of position at 13 is vastly different to defending at 12, in particular. His attack game still was good. So I think we’re in a lucky position that there is great strength in depth in the centre.
"Another guy who is waiting in the wings to for an opportunity is Jimmy O’Brien, who did a great job in November in his first cap against South Africa. So you think about all of that depth. James Hume can’t get a look in at the moment, look at the quality that we have at the centre.
"So all of that is driving the standards, but I do feel as though the best combination and the best two players are Robbie and Gary."
Guinness, proud title sponsor of the Guinness Six Nations has teamed up with Ireland and Leinster legend, Brian O’Driscoll ahead of their St. Patrick’s Day campaign for 2023.
As anticipation builds for St. Patrick’s Day and celebrations kick off across the country, Guinness has launched its biggest responsible drinking campaign ever, to encourage people to ‘Make it a St. Patrick’s Day to Remember’. The campaign has been developed to communicate a message of moderation, and to encourage consumers to try the non-alcoholic beer, with 50,000 free pints of Guinness 0.0 being made available across the island of Ireland over the course of St. Patrick’s weekend.
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