Brian O’Driscoll’s announcement as IRB Player of the Year underscored the importance of style over substance. O’Driscoll, in truth, was not even Ireland’s best player in the six nations, let alone player of the tournament. That award was won for a country mile by the excellent Gordon Darcy. Sadly, he raises the question of profile in modern sport. The higher the profile, the higher the chances of recognition when the gongs are handed out. To be fair to Brian, he seemed just as shocked as the rest of the rugby fraternity. The prizes are, at best, just an excuse to market the cream within your crop. Like David Beckham before him, O’Driscoll is incredibly media friendly, a marketing agency’s dream. In modern sport, status is hard to gain and even harder to lose.
After exploding on stage with his Try Fest in Paris, Brian’s legend gathered momentum over the next two years. Like Becks, who stole the limelight at Old Trafford, the golden boy of Irish rugby could not go wrong. An attempt to score a pass or a big tackle in a game was already enough to elevate the ‘Bod’ to the top of the page. A quick pass here and a feint there, and the commentators were heading for their microphones. Objectivity flew out the window, like the now Teflon-coated center; couldn’t do anything wrong. Except, of course, if you remember his absence in Cardiff when Golden Boots Gavin Henson and the ferocious Welsh Dragons fed our superhero a massive amount of Kryptonite. Brian’s absence was attributed to a lack of quality service, a proper shelter for all the sports kop-outs. The endorsements kept coming, as did the barely deserved applause. Rugby purists noted that teams now had little difficulty ending Brian’s life.
Another no show against Munster in the All-Irish Heineken Cup semi-final confirmed that our Messiah was human after all. The electrical rhythm and lightning change of body shape don’t seem so threatening now. The advantage seems to have disappeared from O’Driscoll’s game. The fire in the belly, which ignites the tactile paper to the legend; is flashing. Our hero already seems to be looking at the Tunnel. Fortunately, Eddie O’Sullivan won’t kick any boots in his direction; aka Alex Ferguson. The only hair dryer treatment ‘Bod’ will receive will be on his own wavy locks. O’Driscoll’s place in the pantheon of Irish rugby is now secure. Ireland is the home of myth and legend, the myth that Brian O’ Driscoll is a true oval ball game great is now assured.