Irish rugby fans were given a bit of a surprise on Saturday afternoon when they tuned in to BT Sport to watch Munster take on Leicester in the European Champions Cup, as big Donncha O'Callaghan was staring back at them with a microphone in his hand.
Currently playing for the Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership, the lock linked up with Craig Doyle to give pitch-side views as Munster ran riot, with the score finishing a resounding 38-0. A dream scenario for a Munster man's debut it may have been, but even at half-time O'Callaghan was concise, articulate, and entertaining... He even slipped in an unintentional double-entendre, which is always a bonus (a "cross dressing room").
That's a difficult task, to analyse a game that is still in play during the half-time break, while live on TV and standing on what we can only assume based by his sharp jacket and gigantic scarf was a chilly Thomond Park pitch.
But he was great, and many took to twitter to express their happiness at seeing him in the role.
Loving @docallaghan4's work on @btsportrugby today. A career after retirement right there ?
— Sophie Neal (@SophieNeal333) December 10, 2016
Some performance from Munster. Also, @docallaghan4 jacket ??? #Munster @btsportrugby
— Chris M. (@flickybig) December 10, 2016
Wry smile when Donncha O'Callaghan said "we" #MUNvLEI
— Áine (@Aine_T) December 10, 2016
"Leicester will be a cross dressing room" - love Donncha O'Callaghan's 1/2 time punditry! C'mon Munster!!
— Kevin McGlone (@kdmcglone) December 10, 2016
Great quote from @docallaghan4 ref tigers on @btsportrugby :"it'll be a cross dressing room" #tiggersindresses #fnarrfnarr #FreudianSlip
— sean richards (@93swo) December 10, 2016
"I'd say @LeicesterTigers have a cross dressing room" - nice double entendre from @docallaghan4 #MunvLei
— Eoghan O'Neill (@EoghanLondon) December 10, 2016
The best thing about the build up so far is seeing @docallaghan4 take a selfie with santa ? #MUNvLEI
— Emma Wall (@munster_gal) December 10, 2016
However, as happy as many Munster fans were to see Donncha enjoying his punditry debut, the real talking point was his haircut.
Sadly, rather than praise his full-bodied, flowing locks for the achievement that they are, some simply could not handle the vitality and exuberance, which led to much discussion on social media, as well as the posting of many 'look-a-likes' which were rather hilarious to be fair:
Hey @docallaghan4, Joan Burton wants her hair back!
— Frank Glennon (@FrankGlennonII) December 10, 2016
Jesus, Donncha O'Callaghan could do with a serious haircut. You can tell Austin Healey is super jealous of the gruaige to his right.#Munster
— Liz Manley (@LizManley21) December 10, 2016
Seen this look before- popular in the U.K. ;-)@docallaghan4 @noeltoolan @Munsterrugby pic.twitter.com/mSHg5KtTVN
— Eoghan Stack (@eoghanstack) December 10, 2016
Anyone else think @docallaghan4 is looking a bit like Gaston today with his long hair at the #munsterrugby match? pic.twitter.com/OsxFaDw0UI
— Sarah Kavanagh (@slkav) December 10, 2016
Donncha O'Callaghan's hair has lost the run of itself completely
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) December 10, 2016
@eoghanstack @docallaghan4 @Munsterrugby more "a young Alice Cooper" (as Louis would say) #allintheeyeshadow pic.twitter.com/Avm5BMnXay
— noel toolan (@noeltoolan) December 10, 2016
I thought Donncha O'Callaghan was wearing a wig!! ??♂️??♂️? #MUNvLEI
— Gillian Holland (@GillHoll1991) December 10, 2016
Anyone else think @docallaghan4 is looking a bit like Gaston today with his long hair at the #munsterrugby match? pic.twitter.com/OsxFaDw0UI
— Sarah Kavanagh (@slkav) December 10, 2016
Nonsense. He looks glorious and you know it!
He's still got enough left in the tank to carry on playing for a while yet, but he took to the analysis and punditry like a duck to water, so we're looking forward to seeing more of him soon.
