Calvin Nash has revealed that he was "terrified" of Peter O'Mahony upon first meeting the Ireland captain while breaking through at Munster.
O'Mahony is a hugely popular figure in the Ireland dressing room, not just down to his leadership on the pitch, but also because of his personality off it.
Whether he's delivering a one-liner, calling out an interviewer for questioning his teammates, or being the butt of the pranks himself, O'Mahony is the type of loveable character that every team needs, and it will be a sad occasion if he decides to call it a day after Ireland's latest Six Nations triumph.
Nash is one of those who appreciates what Ireland would be missing if O'Mahony walks away, having gotten to know the skipper over the years while playing for Munster and Ireland.
As Nash was breaking through with the province around 2017, O'Mahony had long been established as the Munster captain, and was one of the most recognisable faces in the dressing room.
It's no surprise, therefore, that a teenage Nash was a little bit intimidated by the flanker, even if his opinion on O'Mahony softened over time.
Calvin Nash was "terrified" of Peter O'Mahony
"First impressions of Pete, I was absolutely terrified to be honest," said Nash. "It was so scary. I felt like, ‘Jesus, it’s Peter O’Mahony,’ y’know? He obviously has such a leading presence.
“I was actually just terrified of him to be honest. But when you get to know Pete, he gets the p*** taken out of him 24/7 and he’s a gas man.
“And I’m obviously delighted to be up in the camps and get to know him way more. He’s a great father and a great person as well and we’re lucky to have him in the Irish system."
20 January 2024; Peter O’Mahony of Munster during the Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 4 match between Munster and Northampton Saints at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Following on from the retirements of Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls, O'Mahony's widely-expected announcement is another milestone in the passing of the torch over to the younger generation.
Thankfully for Ireland, Nash and his peers have shown in the last couple of years that they are well capable of taking it on.
See Also: In Praise Of The Ireland Front Row, Who Fronted Up When Needed Most Against Scotland
