They often faced each other on the Six Nations battlefield. They were also teammates on two Lions tours.
Speaking to Off The Ball on Tuesday night regarding Paul O'Connell's retirement, ex-Welsh international Martyn Williams was effusive with his praise for the Irish second row.
Williams told of the lift which O'Connell gave him following defeat to Ireland at Croke Park in 2010.
I was probably at my lowest ebb in 2010. I was captain of Wales in Dublin and we got blown off the park.
I think every player comes to a stage where you realise, that’s it, you’re not good enough anymore. I was at my lowest ebb going into the captain’s press conference.
I’ll never forget, I was passing Paul in the corridor and he asked to swap jerseys with me, which for me, just gave me an immediate lift. A second row and an openside don’t normally swap, but the fact the great man asked me to swap really picked me on that day.
The jerseys of just two players opposition players are present in Martyn Williams' home. One of them was worn by fellow openside Richie McCaw. The other is the one he received from O'Connell back in 2010.
To this day in my house I’ve got two other players’ jerseys, Richie McCaw and Paul O’Connell. I can’t speak highly enough of the man. Just a great, great player and a great, great man.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
