BRIAN O’DRISCOLL REPLACED Ronan O’Gara with Colm Cooper on the Good Wall on the last episode of the series of Second Captains Live tonight.
O’Driscoll paid tribute to Cooper’s “phenomenal” ability, highlighting his “cunning and guile”.
In addition, he took himself off the number one spot and put golfer Padraig Harrington at the top of the list.
The former Leinster player also spoke candidly about finishing his career in rugby, as well as giving some insights into his new life as a pundit.
“Everything you do is a poor second to playing… I would have loved to have kept playing, but my body couldn’t do it anymore,” O’Driscoll explained.
He admitted to being “envious” of his former teammates when they won the Six Nations earlier this year and explained the challenges he faces in his new role as a rugby analyst, stating that it took him time to understand “what my voice was,” and adding:
“It’s difficult when you’re friends with these guys and you don’t want to get texts from them the next day.
“I’m still a huge Leinster fan, but you have to have credibility [as a pundit].”
He had some kind words to say about Ronan O’Gara and Shane Horgan, arguing that they have “taken rugby analysis to a new level” and praising their “understanding of the modern game”.
And as for pundits in other sports?
“Carragher and Neville are enthralling,” he said, adding that he sometimes prefers to watch their analysis instead of the actual football game itself.
