O'Connell the obvious choice

RUGBY: In a decision that hardly ranks as an earth-shattering surprise, Paul O'Connell was last night named Player of the Year by his peers at the fourth annual BT Irupa (Irish Rugby Union Players Association) awards.

It was due recognition for a force of nature who, according to current legend, triggers seismic effects when he does push-ups.

The 26-year-old Munster and Ireland lock thus follows in the footsteps of Malcolm O'Kelly, Gordon D'Arcy and Johnny O'Connor in scooping the prestigious award after a campaign (not over yet, by any means) in which he led from the front in Ireland's Triple Crown success and in Munster's march to the Heineken European Cup final.

O'Connell fended off the other nominees, Felipe Contepomi and Denis Leamy, either of whom might have been worthy winners in any other year, to accept the award at a banquet in Dublin's Burlington Hotel in front of over 700 guests last night.

"It is very nice to receive this kind of an accolade," he said. "We always say that no one worries about what people think of their performances except for their fellow players and coaches; their opinion matters the most anyway. And that's what makes this award very special. There was no online voting or whatever. It's a big honour."

Nonetheless, there's a part of O'Connell that feels a little embarrassed about receiving personal accolades in the context of rugby.

"Rugby is unlike most other sports, certainly compared to soccer, where they have their player-of-the-year awards and it's very easy to play individually in soccer when you see the brilliance of players like Ronaldinho or Thierry Henry. But rugby is based more on what a team is doing. The number nines and 10s depend on the forwards to be providing quick ball, and those outside of the halfbacks depend on them. As a secondrow, you need a good hooker, you need good lifters and you need good video analysts. Individual honours don't apply as easily as they do in other sports. Ireland and Munster have done very well this season, and I wouldn't be receiving this award if they hadn't."

Ironically, O'Connell effectively missed four months of the season after breaking a hand in his seasonal re-emergence, against Llanelli, in late September, and didn't reappear until Munster played Connacht on December 27th. He marked the occasion with a try, his first of five in just nine games for Munster this season.

The lay-off probably did him the world of good, for he is finishing the season fresher than most. Coming after the rigours of a Lions tour in which he was one of only two to play every minute of all three Tests, O'Connell admits that the enforced absence was something of a blessing.

"As it was only a hand injury, it meant I could carry on training for 12 weeks. I was still able to do a lot of weights and I'd already put down seven weeks of pre-season. It stood to me a lot.

"You have to give a lot of credit to the IRFU. Unlike internationals from other countries, after the Lions tour we were given four weeks' holidays and a seven-week pre-season. That's 11 weeks without a rugby match, and if you don't get that, that's when your form dips.

"You have to give the IRFU credit for recognising this and resting the guys."

O'Connell was unable to celebrate too hard, in view of Munster's impending four-day trip to Wales for Celtic League matches against the Ospreys on Saturday and Llanelli next Tuesday.

Longer-term, O'Connell maintains Ireland and himself have achieved relatively little yet.

"We need to start beating Southern Hemisphere sides down there and looking at the World Cup. I know this may sound crazy, but we need to start believing we can win that thing, and the sooner we do the better chance we'll have."

There were others honoured last night. Another Ireland and Lions lock, Dungannon coach Jeremy Davidson, was inducted into the Irupa Hall of Fame.

Ulster flanker Neil Best won the Unsung Hero award. Andrew Trimble was voted Newcomer of the Year.

And Shane Horgan's Triple Crown-winning try against England was voted Try of the Season.

"What makes these awards so special is that they are voted for by the players from the four provinces," commented Niall Woods, chief executive of Irupa.

Mike Maloney of BT Ireland added: "The ultimate accolade is to win by nomination from your peers. We congratulate Paul and the rest of the winners in what has been another great season for Irish rugby."