BRIAN O’DRISCOLL IS part of an elite club in New Zealand.
It takes a lot for Kiwis to consider a player from outside of Aotearoa to be seen as one of the greatest to play the game, particular from the northern hemisphere. And by and large, that’s how O’Driscoll is viewed in New Zealand.
But after the former Ireland captain called for New Zealand prop Owen Franks to be cited following an incident where his hands made contact with the face of Australia’s Kane Douglas last weekend, it caused an angry reaction from former All Black winger John Kirwan.
O’Driscoll further angered All Blacks fans when he tweeted: “You lot are so blinded by your beloved team. It bangs more of not having a whole lot of sense.”
However, O’Driscoll later deleted the tweet which he admitted was “petty”.
A Rugby World Cup winner in 1987, the former Italy, Japan and Blues coach Kirwan claimed that Brian O’Driscoll’s response was due to an issue he has with New Zealanders dating back to the infamous spear tackle on the 2005 Lions tour by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu.
“I still love you Brian but I think you’re still upset about Rotorua when Tana [Umaga] didn’t get weeks [of suspension],” Kirwan said on Sky Sport New Zealand.
With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Kirwan added that fuel was added to O’Driscoll’s Kiwi fire when Waikato man Warren Gatland didn’t pick the centre for the deciding Lions Test against Australia in 2013.
“You don’t like New Zealanders because you went to Australia and you didn’t make that final side,” Kirwan told fellow former All Black Jeff Wilson.
“Although we probably love each other deep down you don’t like New Zealanders at the moment but he’s totally wrong.”
After reviewing the incident SANZAAR, the governing body, decided Franks didn’t have a case to answer.
“The judge was there for that, they’ve made a decision. Get over it,” Kirwan added.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Horgan urges Leinster and Munster to scrap the conservatism and follow Connacht’s lead
‘We tried everything in the book to keep him but Ulster weren’t having any of it’
