Peter Stringer and Donncha O'Callaghan were once again involved in a Munster game last week. Curiously for two players who spent so much of their careers at Thomond Park, they were on the opposition side.
The veterans, at a combined age of 77, lined out for Worcester Warriors in a 36-25 pre-season defeat to Munster at Sixways Stadium. O'Callaghan is heading into his third season with the Aviva Premiership club. Stringer joined six weeks ago on a six-month contract as cover for Francois Hougaard.
Speaking to the Premiership Rugby website this week, O'Callaghan joked that while the two are great friends, he also has some reservations about playing with Stringer again.
I don’t know if it’s great to see Strings back.
We’re great friends and stuff, but when he comes on the pitch he’s the boss and he bosses his pack around and I know you’d probably say it’s something you miss, but when you’re living it out and he’s shouting and roaring and dictating to you, it’s quite tough.
Ultimately, he knows that the roaring in his ear is worth enduring.
But you know because he wants you to achieve and do really well. He’s really high standard and that’s what I love about him.
He knows what good is, he’s what it takes to win and he’s the model professional and I know these are hollow words to hear sometimes but just how he looks after himself, how he presents every day to get the job done, for younger guys coming through, just the amount of work he does off the pitch is incredible.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
