O'Mahony looking beyond 100th cap as Irish face 'biggest hurdle'

IRELAND’S private heartbeat was desperate to talk about anything other than becoming his country’s 10th centurion

- Nick Purewal

Peter O’Mahony was almost embarrassed by the company he will keep when reaching 100 caps in tomorrow’s World Cup Pool B clash against Scotland in Paris.

Boss Andy Farrell and captain Johnny Sexton added to O’Mahony’s awkwardness by hailing a leader who sets the tone behind the scenes — and is happy for all that to stay there.

The 34-year-old flanker is always focused on nullifying threats, and kept to type when identifying the danger in tomorrow’s game.

Lose, and Ireland could be going home from a tournament in which they are one of the favourites to go the very distance.

Ireland are hell bent on ending their quarter-final curse, and then some, at this World Cup, but after already beating defending champions South Africa, now they have another big pool stage job on their hands.

“People have talked about not being able to get past certain hurdles in this tournament and this is the biggest one of our tournament so far, and that’s the way we’re considering it,” said O’Mahony.