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O’Driscoll Has Fond Memories Of His Under-19 Days

O’Driscoll Has Fond Memories Of His Under-19 Days

At Tuesday’s press conference to announce Kingspan as the title sponsor of the 2007 IRB Under-19 World Championship, Brian O’Driscoll recalled his days with the Irish Under-19s when they landed the world crown back in 1998.

ON IRELAND’S WIN IN 1998:

“At the time it was the major highlight (of my career). We beat France 18-0 in the final in Toulouse. How does it rate now? It doesn’t rate as highly as a lot that I’ve done since because I’ve had some great days.

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“As much as underage rugby is great, there is nothing like senior rugby. The standard is 100 times greater. But I wouldn’t take anything away from it. For anyone who has played 19s, it’s a stepping sone. That’s what it is. You look at the likes of great players like Dan Carter, they’ve all come through this.”

ON THE DRAMATIC QUARTER-FINAL OVER SOUTH AFRICA IN 1998:

“We were 17-0 down to South Africa in the quarter-final and got it back to 17-17. It eventually went to penalty kicks before we won those on a technicality because they had used one of their players that hadn’t finished the game as one of their five kickers.

“We had lost in the penalty shoot-out 4-3, I think. Yeah, I did take one. It didn’t go over, though.

“I was goal-kicker as well then. I’d been banging them over from everywhere (in a previous game), from the touchline and then a penalty from 40 out. I don’t know what it was (in the shoot-out), my concentration lapsed and I grazed the post. It wasn’t one of my finer moments.”

ON UNDERAGE RUGBY:

“I think it does give you a taste for professional rugby. And yeah, it gives you a taste for success as well. That counts for a hell of a lot. Once you get a taste for it, you get selfish and you want more.”