It's quite difficult to imagine Paul O'Connell as anything other than a titanic figure that commands instant respect from everyone around him. At this moment in time, he's the colossal elder statesman of the Irish team but, naturally enough, that hasn't always been the case.
There's always a more respected figure from the past and for O'Connell that figure is Willie John McBride. It's no surprise that the Ireland great is one of O'Connell's heroes, however, the first time O'Connell met McBride wasn't exactly ideal as far as the Munster man is concerned.
As part of BBC NI's tribute to McBride, which aired on Monday night, numerous Irish rugby personalities had their say on the man himself and O'Connell chose to tell the story of his nervous first meeting with McBride which was saved thanks to a packet of Milky Moos.
Ireland Captain @Paul_OConnell remembers the first time he met Willie John McBride. #WillieJohn BBC1 10:45 #MilkyMoos pic.twitter.com/lytPQuOSW2
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) March 2, 2015
